Park Your Booty Here

San Francisco has been converting vehicular street parking to parklets since Park(ing)Day was launched here by Rebar in 2005. Initially, parking spots were temporarily occupied on a designated day annually. Artistic installations encouraged social interaction and sparked a dialog about use of the public right-of-way. In 2009 the city started allowing construction of more permanent public parklets for community use. Fast forward to 2020 when COVID prevented indoor dining, and over 2,000 platforms were quickly built in street parking zones, showcasing a wide range of materials, level of design and craftsmanship, and amenities provided. These temporary commercial ‘parklets’ enabled many restaurants and bars to survive and gave residents a safe gathering space that didn’t require a picnic blanket. New regulations are in effect regarding public access, and design standards for permit focus on safety and emergency access, sitelines, airflow, drainage, etc. Existing parklets have until April 1, 2023 to comply- many will adapt, some will close.

Though far from the original concept of a parklet as a public mini-park, a commercial parklet creates a buffer between sidewalk and roadway and has the potential to enhance the pedestrian experience. Enclosure walls are a great canvas for added color and art, and my favorite designs also incorporate greenery.

Here are photos of some parklets that I think are successful in one way or another in contributing to the rich life of this city. What are favorites where you live and why?

Monterey Design Conference

I recently attended the Monterey Design Conference. The speakers, Asilomar Conference Grounds (with buildings designed by Julia Morgan), and natural scenery were all inspirational.  There were informative sessions on ZNCD (Zero Net Carbon Design), and I left with a long list of resources that can help us get to our goal of climate-positive design.

A speaker highlight for me was hearing humorous tales from James Wines of SITE. I grew up near one of SITE’s early works in Towson, Maryland and was surprised to learn that James, now in his 90’s, is still pushing boundaries in environmental art and architecture!

Here is an image of SITE’s (now demolished) ‘Tilt’ BEST showroom and photos from my weekend in Pacific Grove.

Well AP

Beth is now certified as a WELL Accredited Professional!

The WELL Accredited Professional credential denotes expertise in the WELL Building Standard and a commitment to advancing human health and wellness in buildings and communities.  The WELL Building Standard includes a set of strategies that aim to advance human health through design interventions and operational protocols and policies that foster a culture of health and wellness.  Areas of focus within the standard include:

Sign(s) o' the Times

As seen in San Francisco. . . professional and DIY. . . on walls, doors, in windows, on sidewalks. . . paper, plastic, plywood. . . marker, ink, tape, spray paint. . . to communicate, to direct, to inform, rules & regs, do’s-and-don’ts. . . to beautify, inspire, pay tribute, unify. . . for health. . . to pivot and serve. . . for protest, solidarity, to remember and remind, to say their names. . . the signs of our times.

stay tuned for updates. . .

Biophilic bench in progress

Working in collaboration with One Hat One Hand, BMA designed a special bench to be installed in the reception area of ClimateWorks Foundation. We are excited to see it coming along in production!

Thanks to @isabelavellan @selvasagrada for the gorgeous photos!

I Screen, You Screen. . .

I celebrated Labor Day this year in our nation’s capital where we visited 2 unique projects - the National Arboretum in Northeast DC and the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) on the Mall.  The Administration Building and Visitor Center at the National Arboretum was designed by the firm Deigert & Yerkes and opened in 1963.  The African American Museum was designed by Sir David Adjaye and opened in 2016.  Both make strong use of metal screens for practical as well as decorative purposes and inspired me to post a second photo essay on the topic.

At the National Arboretum the sunshading screen creates an ornamental boundary between the center’s administrative offices and the adjacent public spaces.  The strong overall linear form also serves to direct visitors into the building and continues leading the way straight out to the gardens.

At the NMAAHC, a metal lattice wraps the entire building whose dark bronze color and 3-tiered form set it apart from the iconic Washington Monument that towers nearby.  During design of the envelope, the Ghanaian-British Adjaye was said to have been inspired by the intricate ironwork crafted by enslaved African Americans in Louisiana and South Carolina.  I was awed by the shadows and reflections that came and went on surfaces at the interior as the sun’s strength outside waxed and waned.  The screen’s passive shading also creates a wonderfully balanced daylit and thermally comfortable interior.

p.s. if you visit the National Arboretum, check out the bonsai!!

BMA has moved!

BMA has found a new home in the historic Jackson Square neighborhood.  Stop by for a visit if you are in the area!

Thanks to Longwell MacDonald, Jausas & Co, School of Thought, and Quilt Data for welcoming me!

Now showing on a screen near you

While designing a structure to go into a public park (see Portsmouth Square Garage) I renewed my love of screens- the play of solid & void, light & shadow, the repetition of modules to create patterns and variations, the peek-a-boo glimpses in and out.  Whether for security, sunshading or privacy, screens enhance our environment and can be fun, informative, serene, extraordinary of familiar.  With digital technologies and precision shop-fabrication, designers are getting creative, and screens are popping up all around.  Here are some favorites, new and old:

Hard hats required!

3 of our projects are now well under way in construction!  Stay tuned. . . 

red white and blue, orange, yellow, purple and gray

This photo essay began as a comment on the importance of daylight and views in architecture, especially from small, urban spaces.  These same images speak to me more this week about the importance of nature in our daily lives.  This has been an intense week.  When I am stressed, a view of a greater environment calms me and helps me to re-establish a sense of perspective.  Even in cities, beauty and nature are all around us.  Look to the skies. . . 

(click on photos above to enlarge)

Water Tank cabin

I am a member of a hiking club that has a lodge in the Sierras.  The site has an abandoned water tank which we thought would make a great cabin.  Here's the design & rendering I did.  The foundation is existing concrete, and the wood is the original redwood staves, refinished.  There's a roof deck which drains to copper scuppers.  Rain chains direct the runoff to cisterns which feed planters.  A composting toilet is housed in the attached Cor-Ten silo.

water tank cabin

BMA office

We are still tweaking a few things but are very happy in our new office in a historic building on Market Street.  The natural daylighting fills the space throughout the day, and the late western sun creates fire-y effects on interior surfaces!

(click on images to enlarge)

Space before our conversion to office:

Building exterior:

Home Away from Homelessness

I recently met with some really great kids from Home Away From Homelessness (http://www.homeaway.org/) to share with them what it means to be an architect.  Home Away From Homelessness runs after school programs for middle and high school students who have been or are currently without a stable home.  These kids have a unique perspective on the value of meaning of shelter, but in our brief time together they asked questions and behaved only as typical curious, energetic, and bright teenagers (without the attitude!).

At the end of our meeting I presented these images of architecture from around the world to show them how buildings incorporate local materials and craftsmanship, showcase artistic and technological innovations of the period, reflect values and customs of the people, respond to local climates, and can take on various forms.  Mostly I just wanted to spark their imagination, inspire them to travel, and show them that architecture can be fun.  As a group, they liked best the buildings that incorporate organic forms, especially Calatrava's work and Saarinen's TWA terminal at JFK.  Which would you go out of your way to see?

Light fantastic

Architecture is defined by materials, form, and volume, but atmosphere is created with light.  My first photo essay is dedicated to the power of light in architecture.

The beauty of architectural lighting (both natural and artificial) is that it can do so much more than functionally support the use of a space.  Lighting can make environments that are bright, magical, calming, sublime, or inspirational.  Lighting can reveal a volume, provide color and scale, create pattern, and enhance texture.  Light reflections and shadows can dance on surfaces and enliven a space.  When backlit, translucent materials glow and show hints of what lies beyond.  Lighting can be diffuse, focused, sparkling, warm or cool.  Lighting gives life to a space.

For lighting concepts and effects I look to both the natural and built world, architecture and art installations, set design and cinematography, architectural renderings and black and white photography.  Below are some images that inspire me.  Enjoy!

(click on thumbnail image to enlarge then hover over image for project info)