LITTLE RED HOUSE
A PELTON COTTAGE
Workers’ housing, Pelton Cottages originally dotted the Dogpatch Neighborhood of San Francisco, now a few precious ones are left including this Little Red House. The front of the home retained the features and charm a Pelton Cottage is known for. The rear of the home had been divided up and added onto with multiple small spaces. The bottom level of the home was unused. The renovation knitted the spaces together upstairs and down.
The rear of the home was opened to the peak to become an airy kitchen and living space with windows to the yard. The stairs inline with the front door and signature railroad Victorian hall lead you to the lower level where the master bedroom looks out on the garden. The stairs double as a display and storage device allowing the homeowners plants and collections to be on display.
The home had a full foundation replacement and systems upgrades preparing it for the next hundred years. The home has skylights positioned for daylighting, roof runoff diverted to a rain garden, cellulose and natural fiber insulation, recycled and reused home features, equipment and appliances as well as debris reduction during construction. The homeowners were committed to going all electric even though there were a few impediments in their way.
Spatial Designer
Project featured on Sheri Koones’ book, Bigger than tiny, Smaller than average.
Project developed with Red Dot Studio. Photographies by Henry Gao for Red Dot Studio.