Originally, the rear of the property consisted of a covered driveway with open-air space above it. Through rigorous spatial analysis, our solution was to design an “elevated backyard” in the empty void above the driveway and achieve a true duality of program. By dividing the air space both vertically and horizontally, we were able to identify potential spatial opportunities for the urban backyard living area and properly capitalize on the unused space.

The strategy resulted in elevating the backyard 17-feet above the ground and extending it to the rear edge of the property. Pulling the garage away from the existing rear wall of the building allowed for more natural light to enter the new first floor master suite and hallway, creating an absence of space and a private ground-level courtyard.

An intricate cantilevered staircase welded to the side of the wall allows indirect sunlight to enter the courtyard and first floor. Made of a combination of horizontal wood/resin panels and vertical zinc panels, the staircase serves as both an anchoring design feature and a critical structural component.