Architects’ dream in Sausalito

Design features large windows, practical built-ins

Sausalito is known not only for its houseboats, striking views and Mediterranean climate, but also for being a playground for famous architects. James Leefe, Roger Lee and Mario Corbett are among the modernists who have designed homes along the rolling hills of the picturesque community.

Perched atop a knoll is 54 Lower Crescent Ave., a fourbedroom contemporary built in 1982 by partners John Robert Steinwedell and Charles Porter. The San Francisco architects employed large windows, brilliant hues of white and practical built-ins in their design.

“It’s a very functional house,” said Julia Bernadini of Bradley Real Estate, who is listing the Sausalito home for $5.75 million. “There are lots of built-ins and the use of space in the corners is exceptional.”

Like many of Steinwedell and Porter’s designs, the roughly 6,100-square-foot home includes a spiral staircase. Mirrors provide a dynamic visual to several rooms, while floor-to-ceiling windows frame scenic vistas of downtown San Francisco and the bay.

“You wake up to unobstructed views of a multi-color sunrise and at night you watch its reflections on the water, the East Bay and San Francisco,” Bernardini said.

The price tag includes a detached one-bedroom guest house with kitchen and powder room. The 250-square-foot space could be a welcoming retreat for an artist, Bernardini said.

“One potential buyer was considering using the space as a recording studio,” she said.

Beyond the detached structure is a patio bathed in natural light. OnWednesday, Bernardini hosted a broker’s tour at the home and used the space as a stage for a musician.

“There are mature oak trees and river rocks. It’s an ideal entertainment area,” she said. “Landscape architect, Fred Warnecke did amazing work.”

The top floor includes a corner master bedroom that has expanded since Porter and Steinwedell first drew it up. Originally the space offered a balcony, but that was eliminated in order to craft a suite with separate bathrooms and three walk-in closets.

“It’s a dream come true,” Bernadini said of the master suite.

The home is available for showing by appointment only. For more information, visit

www.54LowerCrescent.com.

Jasonwells/golden Gate Creative 54 Lower Crescent Ave. in Sausalito features walls of glass that frame views of downtown San Francisco.

Photos by Jasonwells/golden Gate Creative Above: San Francisco architects John Robert Steinwedell and Charles Porter designed the contemporary Sausalito home, available for $5.75 million. Below: A soaking tub and stone vanity highlight this mirrored bathroom that overlooks the water.