Home Series

My second artist-in-residence project of this quarantine actually started two years ago.

In 2018, to practice my digital illustration skills on Illustrator, I started drawing buildings. But not in the way I used to draw them back in architecture school. I realize I’m not a field sketching type of person. I’m a pixel-perfect perfectionist. Life is better with Ctrl + Z. (I know, blasphemy.)

Buildings and the spaces they enclose have character. I don’t see them as floor plans or sections, but as art. Being able to depict that feeling in a whimsical way reflects the way I see them — magical, colorful, dream-like. Wouldn’t you want to live in a Pixar fairytale?

I chose to draw a series of San Francisco houses in this line work style that captures their distinct characteristics. These homes tell the story of this historical city, giving rise to a unique architecture style that’s singularly San Franciscan. Beneath all that fog, SF has the most quirky urban landscape, ranging from fanciful Queen Anne homes to hippie Postmodern houses to Art Deco buildings, all interspersed throughout the vastly distinct districts and neighborhoods.

San Francisco is known for the Victorian and Edwardian Painted Ladies, but what I think is more beautiful in its modesty are the ubiquitous Marina style residences. These single-family homes are designed to fit into the long rectangular lots of land, characterized by a garage opening at the street level, windows that span the top floor facade, and stairs that lead up to a second-floor main entrance. Their use of space, and their partiality for function over ornamentation has allowed them to stand the test of time as distinguished symbols of the San Francisco landscape.

A St. Francis Wood beauty. Obviously not marina-style, but look at this French-style villa. What a dream.

Never thought I’d be able to tag any post as “architecture” again after finishing school, but I still really do enjoy architecture. I admire it not just as an art form but its influence on a city and community over time. It tells a story of a moment in history and at the same time gives shelter and a place to call home.