Chen Loft

Chen Loft: Design Build Completed 2007
Clients: Albert and Stephanie Chen
Location: San Francisco, California

This project is a renovation to an existing loft in the Potrero Hill district of San Francisco. The client asked K Bieg Design to divide the lower level of their loft into a master bedroom and office. Dividing the room in two would have blocked all natural light to the new office, so we designed a scheme that would provide privacy and separation between the two programs, while maintaining the passage of natural light into the office.

We used computer software to accurately test the bouncing of light through the space. This allowed us to selectively reduce the solidity of the cabinet. We also structured the cabinet so their were no opaque vertical surfaces parallel to the existing window. By maximizing the amount of natural light passing through the cabinet, painting reflective and bright colors on the interior of the cabinet and using a light scattering translucent surface we were able to increase the overall illumination of the space and meet the clients programmatic needs.

Floor plan and acrylic panel layout drawings for the new renovation.

Photos of the Chen Loft under construction. We built a majority of the project in our San Francisco warehouse to minimize disturbance to the occupants.