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A San Francisco Architect Transforms an Old Boiler Room

  • August 5th 2015

by Tianna Mañón

A San Francisco Architect Transforms an Old Boiler Room: Figure 1
A boiler room was rebuilt into this three-story lofted apartment.


Welcome to UrbanTurf’s Property Week, a week-long series devoted to some of the most intriguing residential properties in the DC area and beyond. From a train station-turned-brothel-turned home to a clever way of making 140 square feet livable, this week is all about cool residences. Enjoy.


There are probably easier ways to afford a home in the expensive market of San Francisco than to rebuild a laundry boiler room into a three-story loft apartment. However, Christi Azevedo, a California-based architect has done just that.

The “Brick House,” as it’s called, was originally a laundry boiler room but Azevedo redesigned it into a fully-functional guest apartment. It measures just 93 square feet and was built in 1916 but Azevedo managed to make it a home by raising the roof about five feet and relying on her experience in metalworking.

A San Francisco Architect Transforms an Old Boiler Room: Figure 2

The windows of the space are expansive, with one being well over human height with a beautiful arch at the top formed from the brick exterior of the home.

The space has a full kitchen and a couch with a table, and the brick and exposed beams add a rustic element that contrasts the modern furnishings.

Upstairs, there is a small bathroom with frosted glass to allow light but retain privacy. There is also a lofted bedroom across a glass tread that’s large enough to hold a queen-sized bed.

“Whether it’s 100 or 1,000 square feet, it’s about going in and looking at opportunities,” Azevedo told Dwell about approaching the space.

More photos of the home:

A San Francisco Architect Transforms an Old Boiler Room: Figure 3
A small bathroom is still well-lit and spacious, given the size of the home.
A San Francisco Architect Transforms an Old Boiler Room: Figure 4
A queen bed fits in the bedroom space, demonstrating Azevedo’s ability to work in small spaces.

See other articles related to: micro units, san francisco

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/a_san_fransisco_architect_transforms_an_old_boiler_room/10151.

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