Centre Court Loft Additions, and ADUs

A little known development on Alameda's Harbor Bay Isle ( the second island) can be deemed this island community's truly affordable housing for the middle class.  Part of what makes it affordable is the lack of garages, and with that, very little storage or room for expansion.

While families have once again begun to populate this development, G7A has found that the PD is not fully built out, which opens the opportunity to add much needed storage or sleeping lofts to each of the 1 and 2-story duet buildings, each addition being independent of the neighbor's shared wall.  We have developed two design options for each homeowner.

And it's not just developments like this that need that extra space.  ADU (accessory dwelling units) have finally entered the mainstream of acceptance in most Bay Area cities and communities as an economical way of elegantly increasing density, providing extended family living as parents age or children return to their nest.  ADUs also can produce extra income for homeowners and supports the city tax base.

G7A is has a number of these projects coming online in San Francisco as well where there is a robust design, approval and construction process .

Mid-Century Modern, Sandpiper Condominium Refresh in Palm Desert

When we first walked in, it was entering the "Twighlight Zone!"  The decor and color scheme of finishes and appliances were just as you would imagine for a home built back in the 60's.  Shades of the "Brady Bunch" immediately came to mind as our design principal will eagerly take on the role of 'Mike Brady, architect.'

Research at the Getty Archives and other resources have begun as well as design inspirations for the kitchen remodel that we hope will include new colorful appliances that will hearken back to this 'modern' era.

All three bathrooms will also see makeovers, as well as updates to the general interiors to take advantage of the spacious rooms and high ceilings.  Stay tuned…

Altamont and Apollo SRO Hotels Redux

MHDC is leading the development team that includes G7A in a pair of rehabilitations at the 88 unit Altamont and 80 Apollo SRO Hotels in the heart of the Mission District.  The goal for these homes to provide modern sensibilities and sustainable design improvements to long-term Mission dwellers with seismic reinforcement and modernization of these valued assets to rival contemporary micro units, and to maintain these single room occupancy developments affordable in the City of San Francisco.

Each of the buildings' residents will be part of a listening session the month of June 2019 to gather livability information in a holistic approach to  tenant inspirations for the design refresh of unit and common area features, as well as underlying infrastructure modernization.  Opportunities for increased social amenities, improved ventilation, use of healthier building materials, energy efficient and natural lighting and sustainable living solutions will be explored, including rooftop gardening.

Water Street Collective moves to next phase

The building that houses G7A and other creative ventures is on a lot that is only half built out and fronting Water Street in North Beach, originally the water's edge to the Bay.  Initial studies have yielded an option to develop the lot to a greater potential and have 4 to 6 residential units that will be designed utilizing a combination of modular construction, a center core of utilities coming down to a cast-in-place podium of board formed concrete.  Sustainable design features addressing climate change and rising Bay waters will be integral to the design.  Key to the overall development is keeping the look and feel of the building consistent with the character of the street and its neighboring structures.  Notable  are a high 'barn', a former fish production facility and various residential and commercial buildings of unique San Francisco character.

Iterations of the design as it develops and prepares for submittal for community review and Planning approval will be posted here in the coming months.

Water Street Urban G7A's community contribution

San Francisco has many unique streets and the architecture that defines those edges.  G7A has made its home on North Beach's Water Street for 31 years now and we've loved every day we come to work here.  Our neighbors, old and new, are what make this a community and as architects, we're always looking at ways we can contribute to make our home a better place to live, work and play.

As designers of the built environment, we tend to look at our surroundings in a holistic manner.  With that in mind, we begun a few years ago with a concept of improving that which feels like a hamlet within an urban island.  What has organically become a walking street (the sidewalks are fully planted with neighbors' pots filled with flowers, succulents and trees) with little automobile traffic.  This movement is the genesis of the notion to table the sidewalks at each end of the street to facilitate grocery shoppers, the elderly and parents strolling with kiddie buggies and their dogs.  This calming feature will also slow incoming traffic along with restoration of original City cobbles under wheels, and a paved center to facilitate accessible pedestrian strolls up the middle.

And join us for the annual Water Street Block Party! Look here for the date later this summer.