BAYVIEW HILL GARDENS_DAVID BAKER ARCHITECTS

Bayview Hill Gardens
David Baker Architects
San Francisco, California, EEUU




Architects: David Baker Architects
Owner: Providence Foundation
Nonprofit Housing Developer: Mercy Housing California
Development Consultant: MSPD
Landscape Architect: Interstice Architects
Community Garden Designer: Rebar Group
Garden Program: Urban Sprouts
Structural Engineer: OLMM Consulting Engineers
Electrical Engineer: FW Associates
Lighting Designer: WSP-Flack+Kurtz
Mechanical/Plumbing Engineer: Raymond Brooks Engineering
Contractor: Cahill Contractors
Social Services Provider: Bayview Hunters Point Foundation for Community Improvement

Location: 1075 LeConte, 20709, Third and Le Conte Streets, San Francisco, California
Year: Completed November 2013
Number of units: studio 17, 1 bedroom 24, 2 bedroom 24, 3 bedroom 8
(total 73)
Density ratios, project sf: 85,482
Site sf: 26,337
Acres: 0.6
Total bedrooms: 113
Units/acre: 121
Certification: GreenPoint Rated

Awards:
AIA Housing Award
American Institute of Architects 
Affordable Residential Real Estate Deal of the Year (San Francisco)
San Francisco Business Times









Formerly homeless families find stable homes in this affordable development, the first of its kind in its San Francisco neighborhood. With a community garden at its heart, the sustainable building provides gathering spaces and supportive services for residents and neighbors.

Previously the location of a derelict motel, this blighted site was a longtime source of crime and disruption. The new, secure building brings 73 homes, new energy, and "eyes on the street" to the neighborhood.


Common Spaces

The ground level features social-services offices, a resident lounge conveniently linked to the laundry room and computer lab, and a community room that opens onto a large landscaped courtyard. The community room is the home of the after-school program, which provides healthy snacks, homework help, and activities for the building's 115 children. 

Throughout, the common spaces are warmed by custom details that give the building a unique look, such as a cast-concrete counter for the reception desk, the curving wood ceiling of the lobby, built-in mailboxes and recycling bins made of reclaimed elm, and some furnishings made in the DBA Workshop specifically for the building. 


Courtyard

At the heart of the development, an 8,500-square-foot urban garden with fruit trees, vines, and raised planting beds allows residents to grow their own food and get their hands dirty. Seating and play areas are surrounded by this “edible landscape”, which is overseen by a local gardening non-profit. Residents provide the daily care of the central garden which, while protected, is visually open to provide a glimpse of green to passersby.

Landscape architects Interstice Architects, with the help of the interdisciplinary firm Rebar Group—known for starting the civic-minded PARK(ing) Day—developed the plan for the extensive community garden, which anchors the site.


Frocentric Design

To reflect and honor the history of the neighborhood and the residential population, an Afrocentric theme runs through the development, with African-inspired design elements reflected in the entry screen, wood ceiling panels, and garden layout.

The entry screen form and pattern was generated by a sinuous line abstracted from natural landscape elements found in Botswana.  Cultural elements from Botswana are also evident, appearing in the basket patterns at the office windows and the kraal-inspired balcony railing patterns (a kraal is a circular woven enclosure). The earth-tone building colors and native African plants contribute to the Afrocentric theme.


Becoming Home

Bayview Hill Gardens is open and rapidly moving in formerly homeless families and individuals. One resident, Dior Hall, was brought to wider attention by the PBS NewsHour, when her move from shelter to a permanent home at Bayview Hill Gardens was held up by last October's government shutdown. Upon receiving keys to the new apartment, Dior told NewsHour, "It was total happiness, exhaustion, and excitement. One of the first things that hit me when I walked through the door was a sense of responsibility. I need to pay my own bills, pay my rent."

Dior works part-time and is looking forward to her newfound stability to work more and to begin classes to be a real estate agent. "Moving here from the shelter has been a blessing and a boost," she says. "From here, I can work more and study so I can help other people."

The sustainable plan employs several complementary green strategies—including solar domestic hot water and storm-water treatment—and achieved a GreenPoint Rating of 153 points

 Before: The Franciscan motel created a challenging environment at the intersection of Third and Le Conte streets

 Ground floor plan

Reclaimed redwwod siding on the curved community space wall in the courtyard

 The courtyard urban agriculture planters taking shape

 Montage view from Le Conte Avenue

 The entry from Le Conte allows a view into the internal urban agricultural garden

 Computer visualization view from corner of Third and Le Conte

 Landscape plan by Interstice Architects

 Aerial sketch of 6600 Third

 Afrocentric design: Kraal/Rondoval

 Afrocentric design: Kgotla

 Afrocentric design: Basketweaving

 Aerial CAD rendered view of 6600 Third Street, September, 2010

 The courtyard begins to bloom and fruit

 Balconies begin to glow as the afternoon sun passes by

 The African livestock pen, Kraal, surrounding and protecting the traditional homes, Rondaval

 Resident Maurice Hoghtower and daughter Imani at the building´s grand ipening. Says Maurice, "As single dad, it´s tricky for me to approach moms to meke friends for my daughter. Being in this community, everyone has a chance to get to known me and trust me." Image: Amy Sullivan

 Cor-Ten garden planters awaiting installation in the courtyard

 Upper floor plan

 Landscape aerial courtyard perspective sketch

 Concept for playhouse

 The Cahill Constructors site foreman, Stephanie Lind, with architect Amit Price Patel

 A new fruit tree in the courtyard with the sun shaded south facing windows be hid

 Image: Steve Proehl

 The main entry on Le Conte Avenue, with the shield above. Image: Bruce Damonte

 Image: Bruce Damonte

 Image: Bruce Damonte

 Image: Bruce Damonte

 View from across 3rd Street. Image: Bruce Damonte

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 Watering the urban vegetable garden at noon in the courtyard. Image: Bruce Damonte

 Image: Bruce Damonte

 Image: Bruce Damonte

 Image: Bruce Damonte

 The urban agriculture garden in the courtyard. Image: Bruce Damonte

 Image: Bruce Damonte

 Image: Bruce Damonte

 Image: Bruce Damonte

 Image: Bruce Damonte

 Image: Bruce Damonte

 Image: Bruce Damonte

 Image: Bruce Damonte

 Image: Bruce Damonte

  Image: Bruce Damonte

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  Image: Bruce Damonte

  Image: Bruce Damonte

  Image: Bruce Damonte

  Image: Bruce Damonte

  Image: Bruce Damonte

 Resident Maurice Hoghtower and daughter Imani at the building´s grand ipening. Says Maurice, "As single dad, it´s tricky for me to approach moms to meke friends for my daughter. Being in this community, everyone has a chance to get to known me and trust me." Image: Amy Sullivan

 Reverend Paul Gawlowski blesses the building with holy water as Mayor Ed Lee and Mercy Housing´s Doug Shoemaker look on. Image: Amy Sullivan

 District 10 Supervisor Malia Cohen honors the dozens of people who worked for years on behalf of this project. Image: Amy Sullivan

 Resident Latonia Wiliams-who just graduated as valedictorian of her class at City College-shares her gratitude for a stable home at Bayview Hill Gardens: "I used to be a hopeless dope fiend, but now I like to stay that I´m  a dopeless hope friend!". Image: Amy Sullivan

 Image: Marion Brenner

 Entry screen. Image: Matt Edge

Lobby with custom K door. Image: Matt Edge

Courtyard and community room doors. Image: Matt Edge

Courtyard view from roof. Image: Matt Edge

Courtyard design by Interstice Architects and Rebar Group. Image: Matt Edge

Community room. Image: Matt Edge

Community room detail. Image: Matt Edge

Mailboxes. Image: Matt Edge

Custom tables built in the DBA shop. Image: Matt Edge

Image: Matt Edge

Image: Matt Edge

Image: Matt Edge

Image: Matt Edge

Resident lounge, featuring custom furniture and large-scale artwork. Image: Matt Edge

The resident lounge, with connections to the laundry room and computer lab. Image: Matt Edge

Computer lab. Image: Matt Edge

Lobby landing. Image: Matt Edge

Landing lounge. Image: Matt Edge

Landing lounge. Image: Matt Edge

Landing lounge. Image: Matt Edge

Landing view through decorative screen. Image: Matt Edge

Social services lobby. Image: Matt Edge

Social service offices. Image: Matt Edge

Office. Image: Matt Edge

Window decals create privacy for the social services offices. The images are drawn from Botswana basketry. Image: Matt Edge

Conference room. Image: Matt Edge

Resident Dior Hall in a new studio unit. Image: Matt Edge

Receptionist desk. Image: Matt Edge

Resident Dior Hall. Image: Matt Edge

Resident Dior Hall. Image: Matt Edge

Unit living room. Image: Matt Edge

Unit living room. Image: Matt Edge

Unit bedroom. Image: Matt Edge

Unit entry. Image: Matt Edge

Graphic patterns drawn from African basket weavings create privacy for the corner office spaces

Courtyard installation of Cor-Ten garden planters

Existing condition photographic panorama from down Le Conte Street

Reclaimed redwood set to face the courtyard community spaces

Rondaval hut

web David Baker Architects: http://www.dbarchitect.com/