The Potrero Hill View Deck
In Potrero Hill, the views are world-class, but the wind can tear your wine glass right off the table. Our clients had a 600-square-foot rear deck that was completely unusable after 3:00 PM due to the fierce gusts coming off the bay. They wanted an outdoor living room that connected seamlessly with their kitchen, effectively doubling their entertaining space. The challenge was to block the wind without blocking the million-dollar view of the city skyline. Standard fences were not an option; we needed a solution that was transparent yet structural.
We treated the exterior deck as an architectural extension of the interior. We designed a custom windbreak using half-inch tempered glass set into deep-anchored steel channels. This barrier diverted the wind stream over the heads of the guests, creating a calm microclimate in the seating area. We specified large-format porcelain pavers on a pedestal system to replace the rotting redwood, offering a sleek, interior-like finish. To ensure the space was usable year-round, we included flush-mounted infrared heaters in the trellis design, allowing the clients to host dinner parties even on foggy July nights.
Client Name
Mark & Sarah Pincus
Client Type
Private Homeowner
Location
Potrero Hill, San Francisco
Project focus
Wind mitigation and indoor-outdoor flow
Color Palette
Concrete Grey, Stainless Steel, Teak, Agave Green
Services Provided
Exterior Design, Structural Engineering, Hardscaping
Budget
$95,00
Duration
3 Months
Thoughtfully designed spaces for life
Strategic Design Interventions
We use material science to combat San Francisco microclimates.
1
Stopping the Wind, Keeping the View
A deck you cannot use is dead space. Our glass wind-wall design reduced wind speed by 80% in the seating zone, transforming a blustery lookout into a calm, warm lounge area.
Invisible Barriers
We specified Starphire low-iron glass for the railings. Unlike standard glass which has a green tint, this glass is optically clear, ensuring that the view of the downtown skyline remains completely unfiltered.
2
3
Year-Round Usability
San Francisco nights are cold. We detailed hidden Bromic infrared heaters within the architectural trellis structure. They provide targeted heat without the ugly mushroom lamp aesthetic, keeping guests warm efficiently.
