Bay Area studio David Baker Architects has completed 145 units of social housing using modular construction and a weathering steel facade in San Francisco, California.

The 63,000-square foot (5,850 meter) project – called Tahanan, the Tagalog word for “coming home” – was completed in November 2021 through a financing prototype that aimed to accelerate the timeline and reduce the cost of permanent supportive housing.

Modules make up the social housing in San Francisco

“This is a particularly meaningful project for our team, because it provides homes to formerly unhoused people, along with the services they need to thrive,” said David Baker Architects (DBA) principal Daniel Simons.

The six-storey project stacks 87 two-unit boxes – fabricated by Factory OS in nearby Vallejo – atop a concrete podium that contains a flexible community room, in-house social services, and tenant retail space.

The six-storey project stacks 87 two-unit boxes

David Baker Architects designed the modules with an angled end that creates a sawtooth facade along the project’s western edge, orienting the 290-square foot (27-square meter) apartments toward downtown San Francisco, rather than the adjacent judicial complex.

The compact units contain only the necessities — a bedroom, kitchenette and bathroom — and rely on the support services and amenities of the building and surrounding neighborhood to fill out the rest of the residents’ living spaces.

Only the necessities are included in the compact units

“The site is in the SOMA Pilipinas Cultural District, established to preserve the cultural diversity of the area by highlighting the culture and contributions of the Filipino American community,” the studio said.

Simons noted the team’s interaction with the local community group SOMA Pilipinas group “had a direct and strong influence on the patterns, textures and colors of the project, especially the exterior and the public spaces.”

The raked is clad in weathering steel

The raked facade was clad in copper-coloured weathering steel and silver aluminum panels perforated to resemble a rice terrace. Additionally, the ground floor concrete was cast using traditional banig mats to create a handwoven texture.

Balancing security with transparency through layered glazed spaces, the ground floor opens to a rainbow mural-lined courtyard designed by Fletcher Studio.

David Baker Architects added a rainbow mural-lined courtyard to the ground floor

“This interplay facilitates social connection and offers visual links across the varied spaces, including a peek into the life of the building from the street,” the studio said.

The design utilizes best practices that both the studio and the developer, Mercy Housing, have found through years of supportive housing design to help residents feel safe and welcome.

The design works to help residents feel safe

“Tahanan integrates those best practices into a beautiful space where residents feel comfortable,” said Mercy Housing’s real estate director Barbara Gualco.

“The fully-equipped apartment homes, calm and private case management offices, and spacious communal areas provide an excellent foundation for residents to build towards their personal goals.”

Tahanan intends to tackle San Francisco’s homelessness crisis

The project’s goal – to provide people with secure housing as quickly as possible to combat California’s homelessness crisis – was expedited through the use of philanthropic funding from Tipping Point Community and the San Francisco Housing Accelerator Fund.

The use of modular construction reduced the project’s timeline from the average five to seven years to three. The prefabricated modules were installed on site in just 10 days.

Scalloped facade fronts Parisian social housing block by Jean-Christophe Quinton

“Another gratifying aspect of the project was being able to meet aggressive goals of reduced cost per unit along with an accelerated schedule to occupancy,” said DBA modular lead Jonas Weber.

“These goals often work against one another, and the development, design and construction teams were collectively committed to defying conventional wisdom.”

The use of modular construction reduces the project’s timeline

The studio recently released a monograph that outlines its methodology for creating social housing.

The studio, with offices in San Francisco, Oakland, and Birmingham maintains that affordable housing should be indistinguishable from market-rate housing and has constructed a number of social projects like a convex, tile-clad micro-unit development in nearby Hayes Valley.

The photography is by Bruce Damonte.

Project credits:

Developers: Mercy Housing California, Tipping Point
Financial partners: San Francisco Housing Accelerator Fund
Architect: David Baker Architects
Custom Furnishings: DBA_Workshop, Pacassa Studio
Custom rainscreen: BOK Modern
General contractor: Cahill Contractors
Modular fabricator: Factory_OS
Landscape architect: Fletcher Studios
Structural engineer: DCI Engineers
MEP engineers: FARD Engineers
civil engineer: Luke + Associates

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Hertfordshire-based Michael Collins Architects have added a box-shaped, two-story addition made of copper and charred larch to a row house next to a train station in south London.

The extension and renovation was called the Jewelery Box, a nod to the way the Victorian terrace and subtle extension hide the more lively interior of the house.

Michael Collins Architects added a box-shaped extension to a Victorian terrace

“Our customers talked about the house’s jewel box quality, where a simple shape is pulled apart to reveal a more complex, lighter and more textured interior,” said Michael Collins, founder of Michael Collins Architects.

“The extension to the rear is designed as two cubic volumes that slide over a base with glass surfaces in between,” he told Dezeen.

The extension on the ground floor contains a kitchen

The studio extended the house to the rear with two blocky annexes influenced by the various ad hoc extensions to row houses in London that can often be seen on train journeys around town

On the ground floor, an annex made of oxidized copper contains a kitchen and dining area, while a smaller annex with charred larch wood above houses a bathroom on the first floor. This is crowned by a roof terrace, which is accessible from the second floor.

The annex opens to a small garden

“The blocky exterior was inspired by the simple poetry of the stacked, box-shaped, self-made ‘add-ons’ and ‘closet recirculations’ that can be seen along the back of railroad decks, reflecting the diverse lives of their residents attempting to create a highly ordered composition create, “said Collins.

“A central topic was how to create a feeling of spatial generosity in this cramped area and how to approach the steep natural embankment in the rear area.”

Gold and Inchyra Blue are combined in the kitchen

The studio clad the outside of the house in dark industrial materials to hint at the nature of the site next to the train tracks and the former owner of the house, a chimney sweep.

Satish Jassal Architects is adding an oak-framed conservatory to a renovated London townhouse

“The uses of oxidized copper and charred larch were determined by context,” said Collins. “Especially the urban memory of a famous chimney sweep from south London who lived and ran his business on the property, but also the sooty quality of the masonry along the embankment and the oxidized metal infrastructure along the way.”

The interiors contrast the dark exterior

In contrast to the restrained exterior, the interiors were designed in light colors, with inchyra blue cabinets and surfaces combined with golden back walls in the kitchen.

“A flush panel water element hides utility space, pantries and a toilet wrapped around the interior walls of the kitchen to create a sense of immersion and continuity with the trained plants lining the garden walls,” added Collins.

The studio has also renovated the main house

Overall, the architect is of the opinion that the house suits its location and wouldn’t make sense anywhere else.

“We hoped the project would be as idiosyncratic as its surroundings,” he said.

“The project grew out of the location and two very unique customers. These factors have shaped its orientation, size and materiality, and we think that it would not make sense at any other location.”

Jewelery Box was placed on the longlist in the Small Interior category of the Dezeen Awards 2020. This category was won by the Sim-Plex Design Studio Four Bedroom Smart Home in Hong Kong.

Photography is by Jacob Milligan.

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Below is a list of the best and leading architects in San Francisco. To help you find the best architects in your area in San Francisco, we’ve compiled our own list based on this review point list.

San Francisco’s Best Architects:

The top rated architects in San Francisco are:

• Winder Gibson Architects – offers first-class architectural designs for private and business customers
• Architect Andrew Morrall – specializes in creating living spaces with a clear and bold design
• Martinkovic Milford Architects – creates experience-oriented and personal solutions for various customer needs
• Kaplan Architects – offers bespoke projects to create a unique architecture
• Kerman Morris Architects – a women owned company that provides well designed living spaces

Winder Gibson Architects

Winder Gibson Architects offers first-class architectural designs for private and business customers. They have a large portfolio of different designs to suit every preference. Your architects work closely with their customers. This will help them provide the most suitable design for them. In addition, they offer interior and exterior designs for residential homes. They offer space and design in perfect balance. In addition, their designs for commercial space create the mood for the business. They provide fluid space to serve more customers. Your designs celebrate the daily hustle and bustle.

Products:

Architects, commercial, residential

LOCATION:

Address: 1898 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Telephone: (415) -318-8634
Website: archsf.com

REVIEWS:

“They do good, responsible work, and they know good design.” – Devin Smith

Architect Andrew Morrall

The architect Andrew Morrall specializes in creating living spaces with a clear and bold design. He emphasizes creativity after a thorough evaluation of construction and cost. In addition, he follows the client and budget in the design process. His designs are complicated down to the smallest detail. He started his practice in 2003 and has provided excellent services. In addition, he has designed hundreds of projects, from conversions to apartment buildings. He also pays attention to details when bidding and building. Several customers have praised his services in various publications and online.

Products:

Architect, residential

LOCATION:

Address: 2730 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Telephone: (415) -341-5980
Website: andrewmorrallarchitect.com

REVIEWS:

“I attended his first art opening as an aspiring artist at the North Shore Perimeter Gallery in the Chicago Gallery District. visited San Francisco while completing his first home, which he built in 2001, and his newest house on the hillside, which he had only completed in 2016. I look forward to following Andy’s career and I recommend him as your architect for your next renovation or new home in San Francisco and the Bay Area. “- Devin Smith

Martinkovic Milford Architects

Martinkovic Milford Architects creates experimental and personal solutions for various customer needs. They also take into account the context of their customers in order to deliver their preferred designs. In addition, they examine the interests of their customers to identify untapped opportunities. They innovate their designs with the customer in mind. Your designs are interwoven through function and creativity. The balance between design and practicality can be observed in her numerous projects. In addition, they are aimed at customers from the residential and commercial sectors. They also have splendid designs for medical facilities.

Products:

Architect, living, medicine, business

LOCATION:

Address: 101 Montgomery St # 650, San Francisco, CA 94104
Telephone: (415) -346-9990
Website: martinkovicmilford.com

REVIEWS:

“This group did a fantastic job planning and building my private plastic surgery practice, a med spa that I was previously affiliated with, and some improvements to my surgery center. Not only was the design top of the line, but I felt like they were really committed to my interests during the construction process, which can be nerve-wracking for the uninitiated. Highly recommended and I am sure I will use them again. “- Scott Mosser

Kaplan Architects

Kaplan Architects offers bespoke projects to create a unique architecture. You have successfully completed many types of projects. In addition, they supply commercial and private architects throughout the region. They have timeless and functional designs. Your solutions are constantly evolving over time. In addition, they provide all the necessary planning and technical details during construction. They also work with the contractor to keep the project running smoothly. In addition, they guide customers through the entire process. They ensure that customer preferences are followed every step of the way.

Products:

Architect, residential, commercial

LOCATION:

Address: 49 Zoe St Suite 10, San Francisco, CA 94107
Telephone: (415) -974-6794
Website: kaplanarchitects.com

REVIEWS:

“We highly recommend Kaplan Architects. Their designs, their knowledge, their professionalism, their personality exceeded our expectations. When the plans became a reality it was amazing to see that they could foresee how different elements of the project would come together into something beyond what we saw on paper. There were never any surprises or misunderstandings with them in any of our stores. The communication was excellent. “- Sharon Ventura

Kerman Morris Architects

Kerman Morris Architects is a women-owned company that provides well-designed living spaces. They are committed to providing excellent designs and fits for every working person. In addition, they specialize in housing developments. This includes homes, infill homes, and affordable homes. They are also aimed at mixed-use projects. Her adaptive reuse projects include changes to churches and historic buildings. They did great conservation work on various historical buildings. In addition, they are aimed at customers from the cultural sector of society. They offer designs for schools and common areas. Your designs correspond to the culture and practice of the project area.

Products:

Architect, residential, commercial, community

LOCATION:

Address: 139 Noe St, San Francisco, CA 94114
Phone: (415) -749-0302
Website: kermanmorris.com

REVIEWS:

“Great service and place to work. Here in San Francisco you can rely on your individual high-end home design. “- Vanessa Liu

Jeanie Burford is a reporter for Kev’s Best. After graduating from UCLA, Amy did an internship at a local radio station and worked as a beat reporter and producer. Jeanie has also worked as a columnist for The Brookings Register. Amy covers business and community events for Kev’s Best.

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