Located in the design district of San Francisco, 100/150 Hooper Street is home to a new community of artisanal workshop and manufacturing space. Over 50,000 square feet of active PDR (production, distribution, and repair) units bring a vibrant community of makers into the same campus, the first development of its kind.

Roll-up doors create seamless connections between the workshop spaces and the shared plaza that connects the two buildings—cultivating a communal atmosphere of exchange and engagement. Stormwater run-off from the adjacent buildings is treated in a series of vegetated planters that animate the plaza. Rather than hiding the infrastructure for treating runoff, the site is productive and showcases performative functions of the landscape.

Planters are framed by a series of multi-scaled wood and concrete benches that allow for unexpected gatherings and open circulation through the site. The concrete benches themselves are an innovative use of materials and construction methods—a sandwich of reclaimed sawn and polished concrete slabs that were salvaged from on-site paving prior to development. A series of breaks in the linear planters keep the main plaza area permeable while framing lush perennial garden views from the interior workshops.

The planting within the gardens evokes the California riparian meadow ecology, creating a resilient stormwater landscape. Grasses make up the foundation planting, with ornamental perennial drift accents showcasing seasonal interest. The paving pattern further reinforces this with an ombré pattern that weaves organically through the garden, connecting workspaces across the site. Individual benches and larger amphitheater spaces punctuate the gardens and allow for places to gather—a place for makers to engage with each other and the broader design community.

Location: San Francisco, CA

Status: Completed 2019

Project Type: Urban Design

Collaborators: Pfau Long Architecture, Forge Architecture

Photography: Marion Brenner

Awards

ASLA Northern California - Merit Award, 2022

The Chicago Athenaeum American Architecture Awards, 2022