Green Peace

A lush private garden informs the transformation of architectural designer Abigail Turin's historic San Francisco house

- By Elizabeth Fazzare

In a city of hills and valleys, what's most coveted in San Francisco are its views-those sweeping, unobstructed panoramas of the unique nature-abutting-urbanity that define Northern California's cultural capital. Such prospects are rare, but unlike in other, taller-built cities, easier to maintain. In 2001, architectural designer Abigail Turin and her then fiancé, now husband Jonathan Gans went hunting here for a new home a modern design with a Bay vista-or so they thought. Instead, they quickly fell in love with the charm and potential of a 1925 Italianate manse in Pacific Heights. Two stories tall, it had a garden accessible via its small basement, with a large eucalyptus tree whose curved branches had grown in a tender, yet respectful embrace of its architecture. It didn't have a view of the water, but sunlight dappled the tree's lightly scented blue-green leaves and nature felt closer than ever. After a quick renovation, the couple moved in the following year. Then, in 2003, Turin established the Bay Area branch of Kallos Turin, the SF and London-based design firm she leads with Stephania Kallos.