This project involved designing and building a new basement for a two-story house in a beautiful Berkeley neighborhood. The house had a living room, kitchen, and bathroom on the first floor, and bedrooms, baths, and closet on the second floor. The basement was substandard and unfinished, and it did not serve as a family or entertainment space.
We wanted to create a more informal and flexible space for the family to enjoy in the basement, but we faced some limitations with the existing building footprint and setbacks. We could not expand beyond the current building envelope, so we had to excavate under the existing structure.
This was a very challenging task, as we had to deal with subterranean water, retaining walls, and foundations. We had to design and construct carefully to avoid any damage or collapse. We also had to ensure proper drainage and waterproofing for the new basement.
The result was a spacious and inviting basement with a bathroom, a kitchenette, and a large sliding glass door that opened to the backyard patio. We connected the basement to the main floor with an open staircase that led to the kitchen above. The new basement added value and functionality to the house, and it became a favorite place for the family to gather and relax.