Sitelab integrates commercial and public space at 5M in San Francisco

Sitelab Urban Studio has completed the first phases of a mixed-use development called 5M in San Francisco's SoMa neighbourhood with Kohn Pederson Fox (KPF) as lead architect.

The project, developed by Brookfield Properties and Hearst, includes a privately owned public park surrounded by a new residential and commercial tower along with rehabilitated historic buildings, including the SF Chronicle Building.

5M includes public, residential, and office space in downtown San Francisco

Oriented around the public spaces, which include the central park and the top of the SF Chronicle Building, 5M foregrounds "the unique alleyways of SoMa", according to Laura Crescimano, co-founder and principal of Sitelab Urban Studio.

"The goal of the overall master plan and design for 5M was to integrate the traditionally dense downtown space and the culturally rich, artistic neighborhood that is SoMa," Crescimano told Dezeen.

Sitelab planned the developement around public parks. Image is by Kathleen Sheffer

A series of towers have been designed for the four-acre (1.6-hectare) site. The first, by KPF in collaboration with House & Robertson Architects is called 415 Natoma. This 25-storey tower has stepped, interlocking masses with two primary towers that have vertical stripping on the facade.

The two towers meet horizontal massing at the lower levels, which have open space for socialising that face into the plaza, and areas reserved for dining and retail options.

KPF designed 415 Natoma to reflect the different elements of the neighbourhood

Also on the site is The George – a 20-storey, 302-unit apartment building by Ankrom Moisan – while another building called N1 is planned. In total, 5M will provide 245 residences.

Across the development, the height of the buildings is indented to be a middle ground between the lower structures of SoMa and the towers of downtown San Francisco.

415 Natoma opens up to Mary Court

While envisioning the neighbourhood as relying on the preexisting culture of SoMa, Crescimano said the design moved forward with a "fabric first" approach.

"We intentionally designed this space to support a plethora of community programming and events, including those that will be hosted by arts and cultural nonprofits and other innovators such as CAST, Kultivate Labs, Off the Grid, and the Filipino Cultural District," she said.

Office space and historic buildings coincide at 5M

The public spaces were designed by Melk and Cliff Lowe Associates, which shaped The Parks at 5M around public art and thoroughfares.

These areas form the city's largest privately owned public space.

The lobby of 415 Natoma is meant to be open for socialising

Sitelabs undertook a lengthy community engagement process during the planning.

"The open space was designed with a stage to support events like the annual Filipino Heritage Festival and aspects like the varied seating support multi-generational use," said Crescimano.

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In addition to adhering to the environmental standards of San Francisco, the project aims for "social sustainability" according to Crescimano.

"The alleyways also increase the walkability of the neighborhood and reduce the dependence on cars, which improves air quality and overall health in the area," she said.

The George is one of the residential buildings on the site. The image is courtesy of Brookfield Properties/Jeffery Mart

"Through design," Crescimano added, "5M is directly addressing the need for more diverse, affordable housing choices in sustainable, walkable neighborhoods".

Other mixed-use projects in San Francisco's downtown include a proposal from Foster + Partners to build a community in a decommissioned power plant.

The photography is byKyle Jeffers unless otherwise stated. The top image is by Brookfield Properties/Steelblue.

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HHF Architekten uses modular steel and timber structure for mixed-use block in Switzerland

A modular grid of exposed steel creates balconies, terraces and external staircases at this mixed-use development in Weggis, Switzerland, designed by HHF Architekten.

Located close to Lake Lucerne, the Weggishof scheme combines ground-floor commercial spaces with 39 apartments in a variety of sizes.

Weggishof is a mixed-used residential block that was designed by HHF Architects

The project was won by the Basel-based studio following a two-phase study for a mixed residential area that began in 2014, with the project completing in 2020.

Described as a "sustainable hybrid project", Weggishof comprises a concrete base topped with a timber structure built using a system of prefabricated, standardised elements in order to minimise waste and make future recycling more efficient.

It comprises a modular grid of exposed steel which forms a number of balconies, terraces and staircases

Arranged in a U-shape, the apartments range from studios to five-bedroom dwellings. All are dual-aspect, overlooking both a central courtyard at the building's centre and a communal green space to the rear.

"The building nestles into an existing natural U-shaped slope, which allows for structural diversity," said the practice.

The structure is staggered to prevent disrupting mountain views. Photo is by Maris Mezulis

"Storey heights are staggered to let the new building blend in with the surroundings without blocking the view of the lake from existing structures," it continued.

"A digital workflow was crafted to allow for dimensional steering of the prefabrication of the standardised, wood elements, whose surfaces are left raw for visual impact."

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While the rear facade presents a plain, wood-clad surface so as not to disrupt the views from neighbouring buildings, the inner facades are animated by a steel grid of balconies that overlook the courtyard.

In this courtyard, a variety of surface finishes, play equipment and concrete benches create a lively public space that also acts as a buffer between the nearby road and the apartments.

Interior spaces are lined in wood. Photo is by Maris Mezulis

"The modular metal facade works as what [we] refer to as soft spaces – the often neglected space where private meets public," said the practice.

"In this case this ambivalent room that receives signals from both directions adds a vivid identity to the public space white adding a layer of privacy," it continued.

Apartments have double-height spaces and large windows

The commercial spaces, which total 1,200 square metres, sit within Weggishof's concrete base, which extends outwards to create ground floor terrace areas and upwards to create stair cores.

The apartment interiors celebrate the building's hybrid materiality, with wooden walls, concrete floors and curved steel sections on the balconies providing sun-shading.

Concrete flooring and wood ceilings create a minimal aesthetic

Both small and large versions of each flat type have been created to provide different spatial characters, with some incorporating double-height areas.

Other recent residential projects in Switzerland include a concrete block near Lake Lugano by DF_DC, with an "exoskeleton" of balconies and terraces, and a house in Villarlod by Index Architectes that features asymmetric gables and a skin of angular clay tiles.

The photography is byIwan Baan unless stated otherwise.

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Safdie Architects designs interconnected housing blocks alongside park over train tracks

Orca is a mixed-use development in Toronto designed by Safdie Architects that will have nine interconnected residential towers alongside a park that will be built over a railway.

Safdie Architects revealed plans to build decks over a 100-metre-wide and 800-metre-long stretch of the train line that leads to Union Station.

The decks will form a 10.5-acre public park and retail area set over multiple levels, next to nine high-rise towers. Renders show the towers being supported on large piloti.

One of the Orca towers will contain office space, while the other eight with contain 3,000 apartments. The high-rises will be connected together by bridges featuring gardens and amenities for residents.

"As the city has expanded westward, the railway lands have increasingly become a brutal barrier between the King West Community and the growing waterfront district," said Safdie Architects founder Moshie Safdie.

"Our design aspires to forge a reconnection in the community fabric by creating a lively park that is economically viable and promises a unique destination experience for Toronto," he added.

"As an isolated park is unlikely to generate the diversity of activity required to animate the neighbourhood, our design integrates amenities for city life like shops, restaurants, and offices into the park itself, drawing in residents and visitors alike."

Boxy protrusions on renders of the towers recall Habitat 67, Safdie's iconic brutalist complex in Montreal.

Safdie Architects worked with PWP Landscape Architecture, which designed the Salesforce Park on terraces over a transit centre in San Francisco, to create the park. It will feature playgrounds, walking trails and bike paths linked by ramps and elevators.

The shopping galleria area will be covered during the winter but will be able to be opened to the park in the summer during good weather.

Orca will join other upcoming developments in Toronto including as an esports stadium by Populous and a pair of twisting reflective skyscrapers from Frank Gehry.

Boston-based Safdie Architects was founded in 1964 and has offices in Singapore, Shanghai, and Jerusalem. Recent projects from the practice include the Crystal skybridge at Raffles City Chongqing and the Jewel Changi Airport in Singapore.

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Project credits:

Architect: Safdie Architects

Landscape: PWP Landscape Architecture

Engineering: Arup

Local architect: Sweeny&Co

Clients: Craft Development Corporation, Kingsmen Group,Fengate Asset Management

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