LOFTY HEIGHTS Autumn 2023

Inaugural Issue REAL ESTATE + DESIGN + CULTURE

o L fty Heights CAENLUCIER

SOTHEBY’S REALTY

W I S E M A N G R O U P. C O M

Photo: Roger Davies

Published Autumn 2023

BIANNUAL ISSUE #1 Editor’s Note 4 PROPERTY SPOTLIGHT

Sausalito’s reimagined Valhalla waterfront estate

6 FEATURE INTERVIEW

Interior designer Richard Felix-Ashman talks Paris, London and Venice

8 A HISTORIC LENS

Ansel Adams historic home finds a buyer

10 CULTURE CORNER

Jewelry for the Home, Design Travel and what’s Worth Reading

12 CL SERVICES

A solution set for the family office

13 MARKET BEAT Wisper Listings

14 DESIGN TRAVEL

Dreaming of Cap Ferrat

We welcome you to the inaugural edition of LOFTY HEIGHTS, our intelligent publication featuring the worlds of real estate, design, and culture. Begun digitally in 2018, LOFTY HEIGHTS was created to engage participants and onlookers of San Francisco’s residential market with an alternative to the ubiquitous stream of pie charts and year-on-year analysis promoted by agents and brokerages. It is our hope at CAENLUCIER that this biannual publication will shine a more nuanced light on the residential landscape and enhance your life in some way.

With the historic run-up of property values over the past twenty-five years being a source of fascination for San Franciscans and a benefit to our clientele, it is the higher value of a life well lived in and around the home that LOFTY HEIGHTS celebrates. At its core, one’s home acts as shelter, but what of the inspiration from a view across the bay through a window line conceived and created by an architect and builder. Our belief in the transformative power of these moments, the beautiful homes in which they occur, and a healthy dose of cultural curiosity will inform our continued efforts as editors of this publication.

As longtime subscribers of an international daily newspaper, yes, the one that shows up on your doorstep; we encourage you to take time away from your screens and join us to enjoy the original “handheld” reading source in LOFTY HEIGHTS.

Stacey and Joe

Stacey Caen and Joseph Lucier of Sotheby’s International Realty, San Francisco Brokerage Office FRONT COVER: Modernist loft at 1945 Hyde Street. Offered at $3,850,000 | caenlucier.com/1945

PRICE UPON REQUEST waterfront1893.com Password: Bay1893View

PROPERT Y SPOTLIGHT

Historic Sausalito Waterfront Estate

“The precise location of heaven on earth has never been established, but it may very well be right here.” –– Herb Caen

The Golden Gate Bridge crossing is a captivating experience. Suspended between the glamour of San Francisco’s twinkling skyline and the natural beauty of the Marin Headlands, the promise of an awaiting Mediterranean lifestyle awakens the imagination. The coastal route into Sausalito bends through the breeze of fragrant Eucalyptus trees as the town’s magical hillside vision comes into sight. Beset in the crowning moment of waterfront arrival is the jewel of Valhalla 1893.

Artfully reimagined and completed in 2022, the 6,300 square foot, six-bedroom main residence honors the historic Valhalla structure with a sensitive architectural addition to create an elegant private

residence for inspired daily living and grand entertaining. Integrated indoor/outdoor living is located on the main level with a 740 square foot waterfront veranda and the upper level 3,500 square foot panoramic view terrace with a marble topped wet bar.

Two additional, private guest houses deliver a compound experience. This historic waterfront estate is situated along Sausalito’s prime boardwalk within walking distance to the town’s boutique shopping and restaurants and a ten-minute drive to San Francisco across the Golden Gate Bridge.

Linking fin de siècle origins, through the star-studded Hollywood years, to the present day, this historic estate tells the story of the famous, the infamous, and the beloved characters that celebrated life’s joys with a raised glass. The reimagination of Valhalla 1893 delivers a unique opportunity to acquire Sausalito’s most important waterfront residence and become the next link in its storied ownership history. t

It was half way through a relaxed lunch at Absinthe earlier this year, when I realized the man across the table was simply my type of guy. Well-educated, urbane, and witty with just the right amount of New Yorker mixed into the conversation. Cass Calder Smith publicly wove himself into the hearts of San Franciscans with his smash hit design of Restaurant LuLu only to offer encore performances in Rose Pistola, Perbacco, and Twenty Five Lusk. Venturing further into the more private world of his residential practice, one will see in Mr. Calder Smith’s refined hand a talent for capturing the elusive je ne sais quoi that makes a home feel just right. With an interdisciplinary firm supported by offices in New York and San Francisco, Cass remains informed and engaged by a metropolitan lifestyle that excites the mind and propels his creative spirit.

8

Good design takes time.

Interior Designer Cass Calder Smith

By CAENLUCIER

DESIGN SPOTLIGHT CAENLUCIER: What is your current state of mind regarding your practice and projects that your firm is working on?

Cass Calder Smith: My state of mind feels well-balanced with a nice amount of architectural satisfaction, based on working with some great clients that have remarkable projects. From a creative standpoint, there is also a nice balance between residential and commercial work, where we are doing both the architecture and the interiors. We have new projects starting up that demand fresh ideas and others with construction finishing, which is gratifying as they come to life. My firm has three other partners and a very skilled staff with diverse experience. We have worked together a long time, which has a notable calming factor.

CL: As a firm with offices in New York and San Francisco, do you find any distinct East/West coast cultural or design maxims that differentiate client tastes and needs?

CCS: I would say the differences are noticeable, but subtle. New York is such a cauldron of ambition and commerce, which leads to a higher intensity – and so that influences many aspects that range from getting selected to creative expectations.

From the corner store to the design studio, it’s just more competitive. In the Bay Area, I find that clients are a little more open to new ideas and are also very much involved as collaborators, which I enjoy, and think is very valuable to the success of their projects.

In New York, the clients tend to have us ‘do our thing’ with less of a collaborative ethos.

Peoples lifestyles are more casual and less urban on the west coast and, so since we aim to design projects (especially houses) to align with people’s lifestyles, that drives design in certain ways.

CL: When given the opportunity to design a home from the ground up, talk about your process of siting the property.

CCS: That’s my favorite commission, and siting a house is often the most important creative act and problem to solve. First, I get to know the site as deeply as possible. I will go there at different times of the day, observe the sun, wind, views, and often sketch what is there for a richer awareness of the characteristics.

This analysis and research then directly leads to design. Its best for the client to be on site for part or all of this - as they always have valuable insight. Then it’s about creating as many ways of siting the house as possible, and this usually entails thinking about what the shape and general design of the house will be. The key factors are views, solar orientation, and topography, and how to maximize the indoor-outdoor dynamic. On large sites its sometimes the macro solving of where to put the house, not just about how best to situate it. Then once there’s a solution, have it staked out to be sure it’s as expected. There are often tweaks.

CL: Who are the architects, both past and current, that inspire you?

CCS: From the past; Le Corbusier, Mies Van Der Rohe, Richard Neutra, and Alvar Alto to name a few for their distinct and pioneering modernism, plus a few artists like Donald Judd and Andy Warhol, and Fred Sandback.

Current Architects include the talented Rem Koolhaas, Herzog & Demeuron, Saana, and Tadao Ando.

CL: When discussing architectural heritage, which cities would you most likely spotlight?

CCS: You’ve got to start with Rome since it spans almost every era and historical movement. Paris is great as textbook urbanism and drop-dead beauty. Tokyo always amazes. I’m partial to New York as a native, but Chicago is really the city for exemplary American Architecture – especially the twentieth century. I have been getting back into Venice the last few years too...the water, no cars, a place kind of preserved.

CL: Bucket list items yet to be realized?

CCS: For travel; Cairo and the Nile, then Marfa Texas. Someday I want to build my own Glass House in the country. Since I gave up motorcycles, I want to start car racing.

CL: Favorite restaurants?

CCS: : Internationally I love J-Sheeky and The Woolsey in London. Nationally, I jump to New York, where I like Houseman and the restaurants in The Tin Building at the South Street Seaport.. Locally, I still and will always love Zuni. I’m also a big fan of Hog Island Oyster.

Opposite page from top to bottom: Lagoon House, Stinson Beach. Sea Cliff residence, San Francisco. Above: Buena Vista Heights San Francisco.

“In the Bay Area, I find that clients are a little more open to new ideas and are also very much involved as collaborators, which I enjoy, and think is very valuable to the success of their projects. ”

S A N F R A NC I S CO H I S TO RY

Ansel Adams Legacy 129 24th Avenue, San Francisco November Sale $5,050,000

This page above: The grand salon annex was designed and built in 1929 under the direction of École des Beaux-Arts trained architect, Alfred Henry Jacobs. Below: The outside patio showcases the three different builds that connects the two houses. Opposite page: Terraced garden by renowned landscape archited, Topher Delaney.

8

One part history, one part fame, and one part architectural pedigree

CAENLUCIER’s November sale of the Ansel Adams home in West Clay Park delivered an elevated moment to the city’s fall residential market. Owned by an architect/artist couple for over fifty years, this historic sale captured the imagination of native San Franciscans, historians, and photography enthusiasts.

The centerpiece of the property, an annex designed by Ecole des Beaux-Arts trained architect Alfred Henry Jacobs in 1929, featured a public salon with spectacular 20’ vaulted ceilings that evoked the spirit of Ansel Adams and grandeur of his beloved Yosemite National Park. Over the decades, this uplifting room played host to opera performances and lively gatherings with the city’s arts cognoscenti. With a strong connection to the past, the home awaits the arrival of its fourth owner since its original construction in 1903. t

A N TO I N E T T E P O I S S ON

Paris, France Since 2021, Antoinette Poisson has been reinventing the artisinal savoirfaire of the ‘dominoterie’ printed on french handmade laid rag paper in the traditional hand painted techniques inherited from 18th century artisans. antoinettepoisson.com

MAR K ROT HKO R E T ROSPECT I VE Through April 2, 2024 Foundation Louis Vuitton, Paris

B A R O V I E R &T O R S O

Murano, Italy On the Venetian island of Murano, Palazzo Barovier & Toso holds court to the oldest name in the famous glassmaking tradition. Spanning three levels over 9,500 square feet, the historic building comprises a series of sophisticated settings create a stunning atmospheric moment.

Every detail has been carefully considered to admire the luxury and craftsmanship of Murano chandeliers. barovier.com

RECENT PUBLICATION

Eden Rock, St Barths Eden Rock—St Barths, an iconic luxury hotel, traces its origins back to 1953 when it transformed into the world’s most exclusive bed-and-breakfast, setting the stage for unmatched luxury, gastronomy, and wellness. For the 70th anniversary of Eden Rock, Assouline presents a book with exclusive archival images, offering a glimpse of the island’s beauty with insights from guests and locals. assouline.com

“I became a painter because I wanted to elevate painting to be as poignant as music and poetry” Mark Rothko (Markus Rothkowitz; Daugavpils, 1903 - New York, 1970), one of the leading exponents of abstract expressionism as well as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century

C U LT U R E A N T E N N A

CAENLUCIER captured this opening night moment at the Metropolitan Opera

CLIENT SERVICES

Family Office Alliance Home collectors gather here

CAENLUCIER understands the passionate wanderlust of UHNW homeowners and the breadth of their prized residential portfolios.

While our expertise is in the San Francisco Bay Area, we have developed tactical alliances within the Sotheby’s International Realty network to serve multi-family offices and their client’s regional, national, and global residential holdings. Stacey and Joseph work directly with advisors to customize solutions, develop strategies, and select partner brokers to serve as fiduciaries for residential property transactions. This powerful service delivers multi-family directors a centralized professional hub to advise their clientele through seamless property acquisition or liquidation events... wherever they collect. t

“A longtime client of ours had homes in San Francisco, Jackson Hole, Napa Valley, and New York. CAENLUCIER successfully assisted our office in repositioning this family’s residential portfolio. Stacey and Joseph’s professional network inside Sotheby’s International Realty’s prime brokerage locations made a series of orchestrated transactions an elegant experience.”

O w n e r o f S F B a y A re a Mu l t i - Fa m i l y O f f i c e

MARKET BEAT

The Power of Lifestyle Marketing

by CAENLUCIER

t LOFTY HEIGHTS NEWSLETTER Inaugural Issue DESIGNED AND PRODUCED by Stacey Caen Joseph Lucier PHOTO CREDITS Jacob Elliott Jay Watson Roger Davies David Duncan Livingston Paul Dyer Cesar Rubio Tim Griffith Pascal Perich

SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY 117 Greenwich Street San Francisco, CA 94111 caenlucier.com Stacey Caen and Joseph Lucier

One would be correct in thinking that a confluence of headwinds has created unfavorable conditions for both buyers and sellers in San Francisco’s residential market. Yet increasing levels of uncompelling inventory and 20-year interest rate highs are unwitting smokescreens for a strong undercurrent of well-heeled buyers searching for high quality properties. Seasoned onlookers of luxury real estate understand that sparking emotion, particularly in a down cycle, is crucial for timely and successful results. That is why CAENLUCIER homes have continued to outperform the competition during a challenging 2023 market.

With over twenty-five years of thoughtful brand curation based on the core strengths of Europe’s finest hotels, the market arrival of each CAENLUCIER home signals a notable event. No matter how grand or quaint, the experience of entering a property should elevate the senses and make the moment a highlight of your prospective buyer’s day. Exceptional service and impeccably ‘merchandized’ interiors including smart details of floral, fine art, and room scents create a powerful emotional impression to immediately separate your home from competing listings. Our belief in the importance of the consumer’s online experience cannot be overstated. Architectural Digest quality photography, videography, and digital property catalogues command desire and propel the decision to revisit the home for a serious purchase consideration. Like the luxury hotel trade, the all-important return visit to a property underscores the power of a well-executed lifestyle marketing platform.

Discover Our Approach at: caenlucier.com/our-approach

Summer Dreaming IN CAP FERRAT Travel, sun and historic homes

By CAENLUCIER

D E S I G N T R AV E L

and breathtaking coastal terrain. With a passion for design travel, CAENLUCIER explored this residential playground during our recent summer travels. Enjoy some of our highlights here…

Above: E-1027 is Eileen Gray’s modernist villa in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. Considered to be Gray’s first major work, the concept was fully conceived through her design of the architecture and all furniture. Recently restored in 2021, E-1027 has garnered international interest as an area of cultural and historic importance.

14

Situated along the dramatic Alpes-Maritime coastline between Nice and Monaco rests Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, home to the world’s most expensive residential real estate. This pine studded peninsula nestled between the bays of Villefranche-sur-Mer and Beaulieu has historically attracted the bright, the beautiful, and yes, the wealthy. Once the domain of King Leopold II of Belgium, the cape is celebrated for its reserved elegance

The dawn of the 20th century brought life to this stretch of the Cote d’Azur with the fashionable winter encampment of the European aristocracy and American cultural elite. The Belle Époque era of Villa Cedres and Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild initiated the area’s rich architectural heritage.

Followed by the glamourous estates of the Roaring Twenties and designs by master architects Oscar Niemeyer and Norman Foster, the peninsula’s magnetic force continues to attract inspired residential creations and, over time, their recreations.

For lovers of architecture, history, and the warm breezes of the Mediterranean, this idyllic corner of the French riviera is a mustvisit recommendation. t

“For lovers of architecture, history, and the warm breezes of the Mediterranean, this idyllic corner of the French riviera is a must-visit recommendation.”

Left: Villa Nara Mondadori (1968): Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer designed this modernist anomaly for Italian publisher Giorgio Mondadori on the Pointe du Colombier in Cap Ferrat. Undulating walls expansive glass and amoebic-like roofline curves are more reminiscent of the architect’s work in his home country of Brazil than the Cote d’Azur. Renovated by Peter Marino in the late 1990’s for the current owners.

Right: La Voile House (2002): Norman Foster’s personal residence adjacent GrandHotel du Cap-Ferrat. Fusing modernist principals with vernacular tradition, Foster redesigned a mid-1950’s house to form a new sequence of spaces designed around a threestory open public space to celebrate the sea view and changing quality of natural light.

Le Trident (1925): A modernist villa in Théoulesur-Mer designed and built by American architect Barry Dierks for himself and his partner.

From the moment of its creation, the villa aroused interest of cultivated Riviera society. Over the next decade, Dierks became one of the most-sought architects with a steady stream of commissions.

Currently offered at $16.8M

SELECT SALES

Clockwise from top left: Presidio Heights Masterpiece $34.5M, Important City Residence $24M, Pacific Heights Maisonette $9M, Sausalito Architectrual Legacy $4.3M, Historic Pacific Heights $6.9M, Modernist Belvedere Waterfront $14.2M