Sidney Kahn House

Sidney Kahn House

The vertical form of Sidney Kahn’s four-story house stands out from a rocky outcropping on Telegraph Hill, embracing views of the Oakland Bridge. Designed for a stockbroker, the steel and wood framed structure had view balconies on the top three floors, complete with balustrades and handrails that sensually curved at their ends. Inside, the space was outfitted with Japanese ash and Philippine mahogany built-ins. Lavishly appointed furniture was upholstered in two shades of chartreuse green. For this house, Neutra designed the Camel or “Dual Use” Table, which served small spaces as both a dining and a coffee table, and he also sold Kahn deep, low chairs of his own design.

Adapted from Neutra – Complete Works by Barbara Lamprecht (Taschen, 2000), p. 155.