Skip to main content

An Old Garage Is Transformed Into an Artist’s Home and Studio in San Francisco

Cesar Rubio / Kirsten Hepburn

It can be argued that free-spirited artists are responsible for the urban industrial design style that’s become so trendy in recent years. In the early days of converting warehouses into residences, the spaces were more ascetic than stylish and comfortable. But all of that has changed now that converting abandoned commercial buildings has become more mainstream. Today, these innovative spaces are full of refined style with just a touch of the grit we love about the urban industrial look. And such is the case with Dumican Mosey Architect’s SOMA Residence, a home, studio, and art gallery for one San Francisco artist and her family.

Recommended Videos

Located in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood (or SoMa), SOMA Residence is a jaw-dropping example of what can happen when a creative artist teams up with an architect capable of bringing her vision to life. The building was a rundown auto repair garage when internationally exhibited artist Klari Reis and her partner Michael Isard first came upon it. With the intuitive know-how of architect Eric Dumican, the 1923 structure was transformed over the course of five years into a residential loft, studio, art gallery, and rental apartment.

Due to age and earthquakes, the garage required extensive repairs and increased structural support before any renovations could begin. Original elements were preserved where they could be (like the cupids on the facade) and materials were carefully chosen to compliment the history of the building while also incorporating a fresh, modern element. Standing outside of the building, the blending of old and new can be seen, creating a striking and intriguing visual. Of course, the red Fiat hanging upside down from the ceiling is more than enough to get people to stop and stare.

Inside, SOMA Residence is split into two floors. The studio and gallery make up most of the first floor, along with the separate rental apartment. In a nod to the building’s history as a car garage, the studio and gallery were outfitted with hydraulic lift glass garage-style doors, allowing Klari to turn them into open-air spaces. When open, these doors also act as a protective roof over the terrace, allowing the space to be enjoyed even on rainy days.

Upstairs is the family’s private residence, a three-bedroom, loft-style space. Climbing the stairs, the red Fiat hanging from the ceiling is a whimsical indication that you are stepping into the home of an artist. Knowing that his clients were avid art collectors, Dumican was careful to blend rougher, industrial elements with plenty of bright white walls for displaying their collection. Throughout the space, there is a combination of drywall and exposed elements like the wooden support beams in the ceiling and the board-formed concrete walls.

One of the biggest problems with the original structure was how dark it was inside. With windows only at the front and back of the building, the center was a gloomy, cave-like space. Dumican addressed this by placing a glass-enclosed courtyard in the center of the loft. The courtyard is surrounded by sliding glass pocket doors on three sides and a skylight above that can be opened up. The space is anchored by a living wall of succulents. This central atrium, along with the wall of windows at the front of the loft allows the home to be flooded with natural light, which plays off of the textures of the different materials and the colors of the artwork on the walls.

For a look at another workshop-turned-loft, check out Loft Sixty-Four – a light-filled residence in the Netherlands.

Kelsey Machado
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kelsey is a professional interior designer with over a decade of experience in the design field. With a passion for…
Netflix’s new documentary series now has a 100% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes
The miniseries is just three hours long.
Osama bin Ladin in American Manhunt

Netflix puts out tons of new content every week, and while some of it is critically beloved, other things get panned or don't get much critical attention at all. One of the streamer's new shows this May, though, has debuted with a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes.

American Manhunt: Osama bin Ladin is a documentary series that tells the story of the hunt for Osama bin Ladin the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attack. Although he was known in the years before 9/11, bin Ladin became U.S. intelligence's top target in the aftermath of the attacks, and it took nearly 10 years to track him down.

Read more
Austin Butler and Jeremy Allen White are set to face off in A24’s Enemies
The movie follows a detective and contract killer who play a game of cat and mouse.
Austin Butler in Masters of the Air.

A24 definitely knows how that one surefire way to drum up interest in its movies is to cast actors who are red hot in the industry. Now, reports suggests that the studio has done just that with Enemies, which will star Jeremy Allen White and Austin Butler as, you guessed it, enemies.

The film is described as a crime saga and comes from director Henry Dunham. The film's official synopsis says that it follows “a relentless detective and an infamous contract killer" who "collide in a deadly game of cat and mouse.” Production on the project is slated to begin this summer in Chicago.

Read more
Nobody 2: Everything we know so far
Bob Odenkirk is back for another action adventure
Bob Odenkirk in Nobody 2

Before Bob Odenkirk turned in a seminal performance of TV's prestige era playing Jimmy McGill and Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, he was most known for his comedy chops. People were surprised to see him step out of his comfort zone in the world of drama television, but it helped usher in a new reputation for the veteran, everyman star.

Odenkirk got to play an action hero in 2021's Nobody, and the sequel is finally on the way. Nobody 2 might just be one of the best movies of the summer. Here is everything we know about it so far, from the cast to the trailer and the release date.
Is there a trailer for Nobody 2?

Read more