Public Architecture
Sidewalk Plazas
Public Architecture’s Open Space Strategy proposes to reconfigure San Francisco’s Folsom and Howard as two-way streets, while still accommodating intensive traffic. At the heart of the plan is a proposal to make Folsom more pedestrian-oriented, with generous sidewalks creating new spaces for a variety of outdoor activities and urban amenities. These generous sidewalks, or Sidewalk Plazas, would be installed incrementally, programmed with diverse public amenities, keyed to the particular conditions of SoMa’s varying uses.
Day Labor Station
The Day Labor Station leverages design to advance the discussion about day laborers and their role within the fabric of the community. The prototypical structure can be deployed at informal day labor locations. The design is based on the realities of the day labor system and responds to the needs and desires of day laborers themselves, as clients. Public Architecture is working to locate a permanent site for the first Station. Ultimately, Day Labor Stations will be deployed across the country. See more at www.daylaborstation.org.
Scrap House
ScrapHouse was a temporary demonstration home, built entirely of salvaged material on Civic Center Plaza adjacent to San Francisco City Hall. It demonstrated the possibilities – as well as the challenges – of green building, recycling, and reuse. Public Architecture is also working on resources to foster greater integration of material reuse within the building industry.
Established in 2002, Public Architecture identifies and solves practical problems of human interaction in the built environment and acts as a catalyst for public discourse through education, advocacy, and the design of public spaces and amenities. Supported by the generosity of foundation, corporate, and individuals grants and donations, Public Architecture works outside the economic constraints of conventional architectural practice, providing a venue where architects can work for the public good.
The 1%
The 1% program of Public Architecture challenges architecture and design firms nationwide to pledge a minimum of 1% of their time to pro bono service. The 1% connects firms willing to give of their time with nonprofit organizations in need of design assistance.