Sidney Kahn House, Modernist residence in Telegraph Hill, San Francisco, US.
Sidney Kahn House is a four-story modernist residence in Telegraph Hill with balconies facing south and east. Built with a steel and wood frame, it sits on a rocky base and features large windows that open toward views of the Financial District and the bay.
The house was designed in 1940 by Austrian architect Richard Neutra for stockbroker Sidney Kahn. Neutra was known for integrating buildings with their natural surroundings, and this residence on Calhoun Terrace became an example of his distinctive design philosophy.
The interior combines Japanese ash and Philippine mahogany elements with custom furnishings throughout the living spaces. These design choices reflect how the house was meant to be used by its original residents, blending craftsmanship with daily life.
The house sits on a hillside with steep elevation changes, so expect stairs and uneven ground when visiting. The narrow streets and isolated location on Telegraph Hill require careful planning to reach the site.
The house emerges directly from the rocky base, with Neutra designing the structure to appear as if it grows from the stone itself. This approach to merging with the natural terrain was innovative for residential architecture of that era.
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