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Projects   Residential Quarterly – January 2007
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Artist Bridge Studio

San Diego
Safdie Rabines Architects

Safdie Rabines Architects’ Artist Bridge Studio deftly spans the gap between man and nature


Photo: © Undine Prohl
   

By Jane F. Kolleeny

While downtown San Diego occupies a relatively flat plain hugging the Big Bay, the rest of the city consists primarily of canyons that separate mesas and create small pockets of desert landscape for the urban fabric to back up to and take inspiration from. In such a place, one barely notices an arroyo that inspired a modest intervention to an existing residence northeast of town. Referred to as the “Artist Bridge Studio,” the project was designed by Safdie Rabines Architects as an expansion of an artist couple’s small residence. While the owners appreciate small spaces, they needed more room; retiring from their day jobs as university professors and spending more time at home working at their respective crafts—he a writer, she an installation artist—they needed their home to respond to their changing lifestyle.

Built in 1964, the original house was dark and faced inward. Renovations by Safdie Rabines in 1993 turned the focus outward, maximizing distant ocean and nearby desert views. While this earlier intervention opened the building’s exterior walls, the 1,200-square-foot addition completed this year added a deck, guest bedroom/bath, library, office, and artist studio, the last of which occupies the “bridge” that hangs over the V-shaped gully. The project enlivens a neglected backyard, taking cues from the environment: “We wanted to frame the view of the hillside in which the colors of sage and sandstone are dramatic. The terrace at the end of the bridge allows people to experience this wilder landscape,” says Taal Safdie, who, along with her husband and partner, Ricardo Rabines, designed the house.

While villa-style McMansions creep up the slope that leads to the 3-acre hilltop property, mature trees and arid native plantings help protect the owner’s privacy. Garden sculpture peeks out from behind the Mexican lavender, monkey trees, and mansinita that frame the winding pathway. As one arrives on the patio outside the house, chimes ring in the gentle Santa Ana winds.

Entering from the patio into the vestibule/living room portion of the original house, one moves toward the back and encounters the addition—a guest bedroom and library on the left; an office and bath on the right. Then one enters the artist studio proper. It comes as a surprise to look down and realize the space is suspended above the tiny canyon, supported on a pair of concrete piers with two trusses, at top and bottom, made of glued-laminated timber chords with steel cross members. On the north side of the studio, a wooden deck extends the space outdoors.

Want the full story? Read the entire article in our January 2007 issue.
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the People

Owner
David and Eleanor Antin

Architect's firm
Safdie Rabines Architects
1101 Washington Place
San Diego, CA 92107
619.297.6153 / 619.299.6072
www.safdierabines.com

Personnel in architect's firm who should receive special credit
Ricardo Rabines   & Taal Safdie were the Principal Designers

Charles Crawford was the Project Architect
All are registered architects

Architect of record:
Safdie Rabines Architects

Engineer(s)
 Burkett & Wong Engineers
www.burkett-wong.com/

Consultant(s)

Landscape:
Leslie Ryan

Lighting:
 Safdie Rabines Architects
www.safdierabines.com

Other:
Biological:
Rod Dossey

General contractor:
Dana Cavanaugh
Cavanaugh Construction
www.cavanaughconstruction.com/

Photographer(s):
(provided to you by Undine)

CAD system, project management, or other software used:
Autocad - 2D drafting
www.autodesk.com

FormZ- 3D modeling and rendering
Rhino - 3D modeling and rendering
Microsoft Office - general project management and administration

the Products

Structural system:
Glulaminated Alaskan Yellow Cedar and Steel Truss on Concrete Footings

Exterior cladding

Metal/glass curtainwall:
Trespa
www.trespa.com/

Concrete:
F.J. Brawley Concrete
Cast-in-Place, high strength, reinforced integral color    
www.fjbrawleyconcrete.com

Wood:
Cedar Wood Siding

Roofing

Built-up roofing:
D’Andrea Roofing (contractor)
Dibuten

Windows

Aluminum:
Fleetwood Windows & Sliding Doors
www.fleetwoodusa.com/

Glazing

Glass:
Lowe, Insulated

Skylights:
Velux
www.velux.com

Doors

Entrances:
Fleetwood
www.fleetwoodusa.com

Wood doors:
TM Cobb
www.tmcobb.com/

Sliding doors:
Fleetwood
www.fleetwoodusa.com/

Hardware

Locksets:
EMTEK
www.emtek.com/

Hinges:
EMTEK
www.emtek.com/

Cabinet hardware:
Blum
www.Blumhinge.com

Interior finishes

Cabinetwork and custom woodwork:
Courington Woodworks

Paints and stains:
Frazee Paints
www.frazeepaint.com

Vista Paints
www.vistapaint.com

Special surfacing:
Stainless Steel

Floor and wall tile:
Fir Wood Floors

Window Shades:
Smith Shades
Sunscreen Shade, 95% shade, chalk color

Furnishings

Office furniture:
Custom Red Desk by J. T. L.  Keenan

Lighting

Interior ambient lighting:
Tazz Lighting (Alera)
www.tazzlighting.com/

Downlights:
Tech Lighting
www.techlighting.com

Exterior:
Lithonia
www.lithonia.com

Controls:
Lithonia
www.lithonia.com

Track Lighting:
O’Connor Sales (MP Lighting)
www.mplighting.com/

Contractor:
R.J. Electric
www.rjelectric.org/

Plumbing

Fixtures (faucets & showerhead):
Grohe
www.grohe.com/

Kohler
www.kohler.com

Exterior Steel Columns:
Modern Masters Metallic Paint
www.modernmastersinc.com/

Metal Guard Rails:
Fabricated by Long’s Welding / Cable by Reissinger Rigging 
Battered Walls:
 F.J. Brawley

Red Stone Tile:
Adoquin Stone (set by Atlantis Tile & Stone)
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