This multi-level dwelling by Californian firm John Maniscalco Architecture rises high above a San Francisco street, enabling the homeowners to enjoy ample natural light and expansive views.
Photograph by Blake Marvin
The Dolores Heights Residence occupies a sloped, corner lot in an urban neighbourhood. Local studio John Maniscalco Architecture (jmA) designed the home to capture light and cityscape vistas ? and to serve as "a place of refuge" for a growing family.

"This new home takes advantage of rare siting to maximise the experience of changing daylight and sweeping city views," the firm said in a project description.
Rising four levels, the home features setbacks, protrusions and angled lines, giving it a dynamic appearance. Facades are primarily clad in western red cedar and large stretches of glass. Deep roof overhangs help minimise solar heat gain and shelter numerous outdoor terraces.
The spacious residence, which totals 6,050 square feet (562 square metres), contains both stairs and an elevator. The ground level houses a south-facing garage with board-formed concrete walls. The rest of this level is turned over to a sloped landscape with a variety of bushes, shrubs and trees.
The living spaces begin on the first floor, where the team placed a media room, gym, wine cellar, bedroom and laundry facilities. A slender lawn was incorporated into the west side of the property ? one of the dwelling's many outdoor features.

Connecting the home's firs...