Competition / Office Lobby.
San Francisco, CA.
The project was approached by asking the simple question: where is the best location for the main reception of a client who shares the ground floor lobby with other tenants? Our analysis led us to move it to the forth floor, closer to the heart of the company, in effect allows for better access to views of the Bay and daylight. This move also transforms the existing stair to create a legible vertical connection between floors by installing rated glass on the outward facing wall. This increases visibility and creates a virtual connecting stair without the cost of a creating a new one.
Use the Site as Inspiration: This area was once a major port for fleets of cargo ships anchored within the cove like temporary islands, bringing life to the growing metropolis, and offering a different view of the city. The site has a natural history in the form of the land, sea, and associated tides that shaped it. The project has an opportunity to celebrate these natural forms and establish a connection to nature.
The organizational idea was inspired by the ships that once anchored in this location. The concept creates two ”ships” that flank either side of the reception area and house large conference rooms. The ships are set in from the perimeter windows yet provide views to the outside world.