In San Francisco’s South Beach neighbourhood, the city’s historical clock tower – converted into a luxury penthouse – has hit the market. The four-storey penthouse loft apartment, complete with a room set within the clock faces, is for sale at $6 million (£4.6m). Listed with Compass, the Clock Tower penthouse is being sold by its original owners, who have spent over 25 years carefully curating its interior. Take the tour and marvel at this architectural gem...

The building that supported the clock tower was built in 1907 and was home to Schmidt Lithography Company – the West Coast’s largest printing company – by 1921. Max Schmidt, its owner, built a penthouse level in the clock tower, allowing light to stream in through the clock faces, so that the lithographers could work more easily.

In 1930, plans were drawn up for the city’s Bay Bridge that involved demolishing part of the building, including the clock tower. Schmidt responded by threatening to move his business to the other side of the bay. Not wanting to lose one of their biggest employers, the city decided to instead construct the highway around the building, and the tower was saved.

The Schmidt Lithography Company is no longer in San Francisco but the clock tower is considered an official city landmark by The Landmarks Preservation Advisory board. Commuters between San Fran and Oakland on Interstate 80 have come to depend on the clock for timekeeping as they travel to and from work.

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In 1992, architect David Baker and development firm McKenzie, Rose & Halliday converted the building into 127 live/work condominiums and office spaces, at a cost of more than $33 million (£25.5m). The spaces were arranged around three landscaped courtyards.

Being the first residents, when the current owners bought the penthouse in 1993, they had the advantage of working with a blank canvas. They fitted the apartment with contemporary upgrades, including new tower windows, a gas fireplace and a completely new floorplan. In 2014, the penthouse underwent another renovation, bringing it into the 21st century.

The two-bedroom home boasts 3,000 square feet of living space, as well as terraces that wrap around the penthouse and provide outdoor space. Hardwood and polished concrete floors run throughout, lending the loft apartment a modern, industrial feel. Exposed steel structural beams, soaring vaulted ceilings and large windows add to the sense of spaciousness.

The home is full of clever extras that make it perfect for modern living, such as gallery-style spotlights and automated window shades. Custom-built cabinetry and shelving offer abundant storage – the built-in bookcases were cleverly designed to blend in with the original brick and concrete walls, following the lines of the beams.

Decorated in a sophisticated palette of light, neutral shades, the bright living room features an elegant glass-enclosed fireplace, which is shared with the dining room thanks to a clever open-plan layout. An abundance of contrasting materials create depth and texture – glass tables add an airy, elegant feel, while accents of wood warm up the scheme. Vast windows on either side allow light to stream into the room.

On the other side of the shared fireplace, the living room’s neutral palette is carried through to the neighbouring open-plan dining room, where a tactile wood dining table, benches and sideboard pull the scheme together. A cowhide rug adds texture and warmth underfoot. 

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Leading off from the dining room, separated by a striking accordion-style double door made from maple wood and glass, is a second, more casual living room. Here, the decorating scheme shifts in tone – while the home’s classic neutral palette does feature, abundant open shelving in a cheery yellow hue and exposed brick and beams add a youthful, industrial edge.

A carpeted steel staircase – an original feature left over from when the Schmidt Lithography Company occupied the building – leads from the casual living room up to the second storey, which is used as an office. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer panoramic views in every direction. A black metal chest of drawers nods to the room’s industrial feel, while cosiness is added via an eclectic mix of seating upholstered in soft natural textures.

Another steel staircase leads from the office up to the third storey, which is used as a games room. It features a Dirty Harry pinball machine, with its iconic Bay Bridge graphics facing out to the actual Bay Bridge. The decorating scheme here shifts to a monochrome palette, which looks striking against the exposed red brick walls.

A third set of stairs leads up to the fourth and final storey – the clock room. In this incredible space behind the clock faces, the gears of all four of the tower’s ticking clocks – maintained by the homeowners’ association – are exposed. The room has been furnished with elegant mirrored glass tables and soft sheepskin rugs, making it the perfect spot for entertaining.

The gleaming kitchen features sleek, contemporary glass cabinetry and quartzite counters, as well as a clever built-in desk against one wall. It’s fitted with modern appliances, including a Dacor cooktop, concealed Liebherr refrigerators and freezers, and a microwave, dishwasher and wall oven by Bosch. Bright white walls provide a clean, minimal backdrop for houseplants and artwork.

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In the master bedroom suite, a vaulted ceiling slopes down to large windows that frame sweeping views over the city. Rich materials lend the scheme a luxurious feel – the bed frame and huge headboard are upholstered in the same plush velvet that covers the armchair, while a marble vase features on the sideboard and a calfskin rug at the foot of the bed keeps things cosy.

The large bathroom in the master suite features a vanity with two sinks and six sleek mirrored storage cabinets, along with underfloor heating for the ultimate in comfort. As well as the bathroom, the master suite also boasts a walk-in closet with multiple windows and a dressing area.

Outside, a roof deck wraps around the home, overlooking stunning vistas of San Francisco and encompassing the city’s downtown district, San Francisco Bay, the Oracle Park baseball ground, the hilltop Twin Peaks neighbourhood and Bernal Hill. With ample seating, the deck is the perfect spot for entertaining guests, particularly in the warmer summer months.

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