From Earthquake Shelter to Towering Duplex

Before, back

Homeowner Sandra Vivanco is remodeling her 1906 earthquake shack into a stunning new duplex. The building was originally constructed as temporary shelter for victims of the Great Quake. Vivanco is also an architect and is eager to take on the job of adapting this older building to 21st century living. This includes revising the floor plan and opening up the small, compartmentalized rooms to increase the useable living space.

After, back

Her design basically added a new building beneath the existing earthquake shack and increased total square footage from less than 700 to more than 2,700 square feet of living space. Vivanco also tied in the new exterior with the existing neighborhood and gave it a style that reflects the look of the nearby shipping yards. The back of the exterior resembles a tall tower and is covered with concrete panels for an industrial look. The inside is open and airy, with lots of new windows to bring in extra sunlight. Other highlights include a dramatic two-story living room with a gallery space and a large deck outside.