Improvement initiatives on San Franciscos Upper Market Street means new opportunities to introduce integrated design and programmatic systems that further enhance the urban interior potential in this part of the city. The Upper Market Street, which is currently defined as the section between Castro and Octavia Streets, can be developed into a highly functioning community that can be redesigned to include changing attitudes towards consumption, travel, and leisure.
Redevelopment Overview
Overview
The redevelopment of Upper Market Street is a means to improve the current urban interior of one of San Franciscos main transportation corridors. Redevelopment initiatives, according to the City and County of San Francisco Planning Department, are defined by the following components that make up the vision
Inclusivity
Livability
Connectivity
High Quality
Health and Safety
Accountability
Based on these factors, the Planning Department further enumerated the design principles that would be used both for the public realm improvements and new development guidelines
Vibrant pedestrian realm
Well-designed active, street-engaging buildings
Affordable, flexible buildings
Strong local character and identity
Network of open spaces
Series of community-serving uses
Sustainable environments
These principles can be regarded as a platform of design, especially in terms of how these can be integrated as a means to define substantial improvements in this particular section of Market Street.
Concept
In addition to the design framework formulated as discussed in the previous section, the proposed programming for Upper Market Street also takes into consideration the Las Vegas Strip as a source of inspiration.
An important element of the Las Vegas Strip is that it is highly identifiable from afar and from pictures, people can easily identify Las Vegas because of its unique character. The strip, which has been an important highlight of the city, is a neon oasis in the desert. Once people start walking the street of the Strip, the experience provides a distinctive experience that is unique and different from the rest of the world.
Based on the observation on the Las Vegas Strip, at street level people experience the looming and unique architecture. At the same time, people already know what they can expect from the strip hotels, entertainment and casinos are just among the distinguished spaces and place on the Las Vegas strip.
Proposed Programming for Upper Market Street
Inspired by the concept behind the Las Vegas Strip, the proposed Upper Market Street improvement plan can adopt a great sense of identity according to the local character of this zone. However, it is not enough that the Upper Market Street is designed for aesthetic purposes only the main point behind the proposal is to identify what the city of San Francisco needs and how Upper Market Street can present urban interior solutions.
Upper Market Street Combining Tourism, Community and Outreach
Space Concept
The main function behind the proposed programming for Upper Market Street is to design a defined space that combines the interests of the community, the tourists, and at the same time, the homeless.
This is not to point out that homelessness is going to be converted into a tourist interest. Rather, the design acknowledges the fact that San Francisco has many homeless persons, and the homeless have been victimized by the economic turmoil in the past few years. Rather, the design integrates a system of social services which can also utilize a local industry model that can also contribute to the locales economic dynamics.
The main highlight of the design is a rehabilitation center for the homeless called the Upper Market Transition. This rehabilitation complex integrates many functions, as follows
Arts and Crafts Pavilion - This is an arts and crafts venue for the homeless is a structure where the homeless can start learning a source of living by means of arts and crafts. This can be designed as a pavilion with rooms of workshops, function spaces and galleries. Workshops can include painting, sculpture, dressmaking and fashion design, and recycling products, among others. This structure can also include spaces that offer out-of-school youth the opportunity new crafts and skills. Based on this feature, the arts and crafts program can be integrated with other social- and community services focused on the area. Galleries can be opened to the public for exhibits of art- and craft-works. In return, the venue can also generate self-sustainability measures through its sponsorship and retail arm.
This pavilion can also provide venues for local artists who are economically poor and those who need economic assistance to pursuit their talents, skills and craft in the realm of the arts.
The Retail Row - The Retail Row is an alley or square of various retailing opportunities from the Arts and Crafts Pavilion. Products from the various workshops and the regular livelihood programs can be sold at the Retail Row. The Retail Rows design is inspired by the classic San Francisco shop houses, thus reflecting a significant character of the city.
Upper Market Transitions Facility - the rehab center and dormitory or the Transitions Facility is the main anchor of this complex. This facility provides rehabilitation programs, dormitories and halfway houses for the city. The design of this building is to ensure that it gives people the impression of new beginnings and hope. Facilities in the building include rehabilitation centers and suites, dormitories for the homeless, and accommodations for the troubled youth.
It should be noted that the proposed function of this facility is not to easily embrace the homeless and the troubled youth rather, this facility aims to provide the homeless an opportunity to regroup themselves and provide them with opportunities. The proposed program is to give them the first two months of free board and lodging at the facilities provided they sign up for the rehabilitation and transitions program. The Arts and Crafts program is among the top offers of assistance for the homeless, in addition to other employment programs that the center can also integrate in its program.
Urban Integration and Design
The design of this entire complex adapts the principles enumerated by the City and County of San Francisco Planning Department.
In terms of the space programming of the facilities, the dormitory areas of the Transitions Facility faces the Golden Gate Bridge. It is important to design the lodging facilities that will give the occupants how important they are and their value to the city. By making their lodgings having a view of the Golden Gate Bridge, they will always have a reminder that San Francisco is after their best interests.
In order to ensure the privacy of the rehabilitation center, the Transitions Facility will be positioned at the interior space of the entire complex. This emphasizes that the center is a private space. The Arts and Crafts Pavilion and the Retail Row faces the outer section of the Market Street, thus making these facilities more open and accessible to the public.
The building will be also designed according to green design principles and to also integrate a sense of public space in some portions in order to have the public enjoy the public areas of the complex. According to the POPOS (privately-owned public spaces), it is important to have certain portions of the private property made accessible to the public, thus making it a public space. In addition to the publicly accessible structures of the Arts and Crafts Pavilion and the Retail Row, the complex will also design an outdoor park and gallery where people can enjoy the landscaping and periods wherein outdoor exhibits can be initiated. For instance, one of the programs of the Arts and Crafts program is sculpting for the outdoors where the artists are given the opportunity to design sculptures and art works meant for the outdoor space. This park can also have a small open air amphitheater as part of the landscape, and this amphitheater can also function as a venue that can be rented for small concerts and other events.
The Upper Market Transition is complex designed to meet the social and community needs of this area of San Francisco and at the same time, contribute to the redevelopment efforts for Market Street. By means of the proposed spaces and functions, the Upper Market Transition serves as a unique strip and complex along Upper Market Street that reaches out to the locals in need and at the same time, take advantage of the possibilities of the site and the urban design potential of this complex.
Redevelopment Overview
Overview
The redevelopment of Upper Market Street is a means to improve the current urban interior of one of San Franciscos main transportation corridors. Redevelopment initiatives, according to the City and County of San Francisco Planning Department, are defined by the following components that make up the vision
Inclusivity
Livability
Connectivity
High Quality
Health and Safety
Accountability
Based on these factors, the Planning Department further enumerated the design principles that would be used both for the public realm improvements and new development guidelines
Vibrant pedestrian realm
Well-designed active, street-engaging buildings
Affordable, flexible buildings
Strong local character and identity
Network of open spaces
Series of community-serving uses
Sustainable environments
These principles can be regarded as a platform of design, especially in terms of how these can be integrated as a means to define substantial improvements in this particular section of Market Street.
Concept
In addition to the design framework formulated as discussed in the previous section, the proposed programming for Upper Market Street also takes into consideration the Las Vegas Strip as a source of inspiration.
An important element of the Las Vegas Strip is that it is highly identifiable from afar and from pictures, people can easily identify Las Vegas because of its unique character. The strip, which has been an important highlight of the city, is a neon oasis in the desert. Once people start walking the street of the Strip, the experience provides a distinctive experience that is unique and different from the rest of the world.
Based on the observation on the Las Vegas Strip, at street level people experience the looming and unique architecture. At the same time, people already know what they can expect from the strip hotels, entertainment and casinos are just among the distinguished spaces and place on the Las Vegas strip.
Proposed Programming for Upper Market Street
Inspired by the concept behind the Las Vegas Strip, the proposed Upper Market Street improvement plan can adopt a great sense of identity according to the local character of this zone. However, it is not enough that the Upper Market Street is designed for aesthetic purposes only the main point behind the proposal is to identify what the city of San Francisco needs and how Upper Market Street can present urban interior solutions.
Upper Market Street Combining Tourism, Community and Outreach
Space Concept
The main function behind the proposed programming for Upper Market Street is to design a defined space that combines the interests of the community, the tourists, and at the same time, the homeless.
This is not to point out that homelessness is going to be converted into a tourist interest. Rather, the design acknowledges the fact that San Francisco has many homeless persons, and the homeless have been victimized by the economic turmoil in the past few years. Rather, the design integrates a system of social services which can also utilize a local industry model that can also contribute to the locales economic dynamics.
The main highlight of the design is a rehabilitation center for the homeless called the Upper Market Transition. This rehabilitation complex integrates many functions, as follows
Arts and Crafts Pavilion - This is an arts and crafts venue for the homeless is a structure where the homeless can start learning a source of living by means of arts and crafts. This can be designed as a pavilion with rooms of workshops, function spaces and galleries. Workshops can include painting, sculpture, dressmaking and fashion design, and recycling products, among others. This structure can also include spaces that offer out-of-school youth the opportunity new crafts and skills. Based on this feature, the arts and crafts program can be integrated with other social- and community services focused on the area. Galleries can be opened to the public for exhibits of art- and craft-works. In return, the venue can also generate self-sustainability measures through its sponsorship and retail arm.
This pavilion can also provide venues for local artists who are economically poor and those who need economic assistance to pursuit their talents, skills and craft in the realm of the arts.
The Retail Row - The Retail Row is an alley or square of various retailing opportunities from the Arts and Crafts Pavilion. Products from the various workshops and the regular livelihood programs can be sold at the Retail Row. The Retail Rows design is inspired by the classic San Francisco shop houses, thus reflecting a significant character of the city.
Upper Market Transitions Facility - the rehab center and dormitory or the Transitions Facility is the main anchor of this complex. This facility provides rehabilitation programs, dormitories and halfway houses for the city. The design of this building is to ensure that it gives people the impression of new beginnings and hope. Facilities in the building include rehabilitation centers and suites, dormitories for the homeless, and accommodations for the troubled youth.
It should be noted that the proposed function of this facility is not to easily embrace the homeless and the troubled youth rather, this facility aims to provide the homeless an opportunity to regroup themselves and provide them with opportunities. The proposed program is to give them the first two months of free board and lodging at the facilities provided they sign up for the rehabilitation and transitions program. The Arts and Crafts program is among the top offers of assistance for the homeless, in addition to other employment programs that the center can also integrate in its program.
Urban Integration and Design
The design of this entire complex adapts the principles enumerated by the City and County of San Francisco Planning Department.
In terms of the space programming of the facilities, the dormitory areas of the Transitions Facility faces the Golden Gate Bridge. It is important to design the lodging facilities that will give the occupants how important they are and their value to the city. By making their lodgings having a view of the Golden Gate Bridge, they will always have a reminder that San Francisco is after their best interests.
In order to ensure the privacy of the rehabilitation center, the Transitions Facility will be positioned at the interior space of the entire complex. This emphasizes that the center is a private space. The Arts and Crafts Pavilion and the Retail Row faces the outer section of the Market Street, thus making these facilities more open and accessible to the public.
The building will be also designed according to green design principles and to also integrate a sense of public space in some portions in order to have the public enjoy the public areas of the complex. According to the POPOS (privately-owned public spaces), it is important to have certain portions of the private property made accessible to the public, thus making it a public space. In addition to the publicly accessible structures of the Arts and Crafts Pavilion and the Retail Row, the complex will also design an outdoor park and gallery where people can enjoy the landscaping and periods wherein outdoor exhibits can be initiated. For instance, one of the programs of the Arts and Crafts program is sculpting for the outdoors where the artists are given the opportunity to design sculptures and art works meant for the outdoor space. This park can also have a small open air amphitheater as part of the landscape, and this amphitheater can also function as a venue that can be rented for small concerts and other events.
The Upper Market Transition is complex designed to meet the social and community needs of this area of San Francisco and at the same time, contribute to the redevelopment efforts for Market Street. By means of the proposed spaces and functions, the Upper Market Transition serves as a unique strip and complex along Upper Market Street that reaches out to the locals in need and at the same time, take advantage of the possibilities of the site and the urban design potential of this complex.
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