![Switchback House by Edmonds + Lee](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2017/06/switchback-house-edmonds-and-lee-architecture-residential-usa_dezeen_hero-1-852x480.jpg)
Edmonds + Lee creates white Switchback House for sloped street in San Francisco
The founders of US firm Edmonds + Lee Architects designed this urban dwelling for themselves, including a bright white facade, a slanted roof and retractable glass walls.
![Switchback House by Edmonds + Lee](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2017/06/switchback-house-edmonds-and-lee-architecture-residential-usa_dezeen_2364_col_36-852x1276.jpg)
Located in San Francisco's Noe Valley neighbourhood, the Switchback House sits on a steep road lined with low-scale dwellings. The site was formerly occupied by a modest, one-storey house.
Vivian Lee and Robert Edmonds, a married couple and founding partners of local firm Edmonds + Lee Architects, designed the home for themselves and their two young children.
![Switchback House by Edmonds + Lee](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2017/06/switchback-house-edmonds-and-lee-architecture-residential-usa_dezeen_2364_col_39-852x610.jpg)
Rather than occupying the full residence, they opted to divide the three-storey building into two discrete units. The upper floors are used by the family, while the bottom level is leased to a tenant.
"The lower floor can be – and currently is used as – an income-producing rental, but the house is designed flexibly enough that the owners can turn the structure back into a single-family home," the studio said.
![Switchback House by Edmonds + Lee](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2017/06/switchback-house-edmonds-and-lee-architecture-residential-usa_dezeen_2364_col_27-852x1140.jpg)
The duplex is clad in white, pre-manufactured trim boards, with the street-facing elevation featuring a large expanse of dark glass. A rectilinear volume protrudes from the front of the residence, providing a contrast to the home's sharply slanted roof.
![Switchback House by Edmonds + Lee](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2017/06/switchback-house-edmonds-and-lee-architecture-residential-usa_dezeen_2364_col_42-852x1102.jpg)
Inside, the architects placed on emphasis on quality over quantity. "Working as not only their own clients but also their own developers, they were able to avoid the typical market-driven pressure of maximising square feet and instead focus on qualitative issues," the studio said.
![Switchback House by Edmonds + Lee](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2017/06/switchback-house-edmonds-and-lee-architecture-residential-usa_dezeen_2364_col_6-852x637.jpg)
The overarching goal was to create a home that embraced its urban context while also feeling "light, airy, spacious and open to the sky".
In the upper-level unit, three bedrooms were placed on the first storey, while the public spaces were situated on the top floor in order to create a loft-style atmosphere.
![Switchback House by Edmonds + Lee](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2017/06/switchback-house-edmonds-and-lee-architecture-residential-usa_dezeen_2364_col_25-852x1137.jpg)
Occupying the front portion of the top floor is the kitchen, which opens onto an outdoor deck. Wide, wooden stairs lead down to the living room, which also opens onto a terrace, providing sweeping views of the city.
The master suite and rental unit also feature outdoor terraces.
![Switchback House by Edmonds + Lee](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2017/06/switchback-house-edmonds-and-lee-architecture-residential-usa_dezeen_2364_col_28-852x635.jpg)
Throughout the residence, retractable glass walls enable interior spaces to be fully open to the outdoors. Gallery-style white walls and streamlined furnishings help create a feeling of clarity and serenity.
Cost-effective materials were used throughout the project, including basic drywall and painted steel. "Much of the house's detailing made creative use of everyday materials," the team said.
![Switchback House by Edmonds + Lee](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2017/06/switchback-house-edmonds-and-lee-architecture-residential-usa_dezeen_2364_col_3-852x1138.jpg)
As with many economical projects, the team turned to Ikea for its storage needs.
"The architects undertook the ultimate Ikea hack: measuring the standard size of the big-box retailer's shelving, and building closet spaces to fit to the centimetre – creating a custom millwork-level aesthetic for a fraction of the price," the studio said.
![Switchback House by Edmonds + Lee](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2017/06/switchback-house-edmonds-and-lee-architecture-residential-usa_dezeen_2364_col_33-852x1140.jpg)
Other homes in San Francisco include a residence by IwamotoScott that has an angular, wooden facade and a zinc-clad duplex by Stephen Phillips Architects that aims "to challenge the normative San Francisco housing typologies".
Photography is by Joe Fletcher Photography.