Six Story City House | Demark Studio

Six-Story City House

A continuous staircase anchors this quietly detailed six-story residence.

Project Type: Residential
Scope: Ground-Up Architecture & Interior Detailing
Location: San Francisco

Built on a narrow lot in San Francisco’s South of Market, this six-story residence is organized around a single sculptural staircase, wrapped in white oak, lit from above, and detailed with custom bronze.

The project also reflects the challenge of building well in San Francisco, where code and review pressures often compromise design quality. We worked strategically to protect the home’s clarity and character, while knowing where to concede to keep the project moving.

Material consistency drives the experience. From the entry’s custom stone slab and bronze mail panel to the sculpted stair and built-in millwork, every detail is custom-sourced and precisely crafted. The palette is quiet but rich: white oak, warm metal, clean stone.

Six-Story-City House in San Francisco, California. Modern multi-story house with large glass windows, a garage with wooden door, and landscaped front yard with plants, illuminated at night.

Six-Story-City House in San Francisco, California. Modern urban building with large glass windows, with some interior lighting visible, and decorative plants at the entrance. Adjacent older buildings with traditional design on either side.

Street Presence

The façade is quiet and composed, with matte paneling, clear spans of glass, and a tight vertical rhythm. At street level, custom detailing takes over through honed stone, bronze reveals, and a solid wood garage door matched in tone to the entry.

Six-Story-City House in San Francisco, California. Modern open-concept living space with a kitchen and dining area, featuring wooden accents, pendant lighting, and a spiral staircase.

Circulation as Centerpiece

At the core of the home is a continuous sculptural stair, a single, fluid gesture that connects all six floors. Wrapped in white oak and suspended alongside a custom pendant, it acts as both structure and spatial anchor.

Six-Story-City House in San Francisco, California. Wooden staircase with a curved handrail and modern hanging lights, seen from below near a skylight.

Six-Story-City House in San Francisco, California. Interior staircase with a curved wooden banister and steps, lit by hanging round lights, adjacent to white walls and cabinetry.

Six-Story-City House in San Francisco, California. Modern kitchen with white marble island, two black bar stools, open shelving with white dishes, and black-framed window and door

Material Discipline

White oak, bronze, and marble are used throughout, with a restrained and cohesive material palette. Built-ins, shelving, and millwork were custom fabricated to match the architecture in tone and rhythm, creating a seamless continuity from floor to floor.

Six-Story-City House in San Francisco, California. Black elevator interior with wood accents and keypad panels labeled 15 and 17, with mail slots underneath.

Six-Story-City House in San Francisco, California. Modern building entrance with elevator doors, house numbers 17 and 15 on a wood-paneled wall, and flower arrangements near the stairs.

Fabricated Entry Sequence

A tight entry gives way to a fully detailed threshold, with blackened steel, bronze inlay, and a custom stone slab. The mailbox panel introduces the material rigor carried through the rest of the home.

Six-Story-City House in San Francisco, California. Wooden stair handrail with metal supports along a white wall.

Six-Story-City House in San Francisco, California. Close-up of a stair banister with a wooden handrail and black metal balusters in a modern interior, near a corner with hardwood flooring and white walls.

Six-Story-City House in San Francisco, California. Close-up of a black metal frame beside a light-colored wooden tabletop, against a textured off-white wall.

Custom Details

Each handrail is bent and finished by hand in patinated bronze. The profile is minimal but deliberate, with clean lines and crisp returns that echo the stair’s precision.