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Join us on a field trip to San Francisco, CA to explore hotel lobby design, urban landscapes, tourism redevelopment, and public spaces. This trip offers a unique opportunity to learn in the field and enjoy the city's vibrant atmosphere.
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This field trip will support class lectures on hotel lobby design, tourism redevelopment, urban landscapes, public spaces and the fine art of enjoying… San Francisco, CA
The sites visited have been selected to provide the maximum variety within the most limited amount of walking space/time. Naturally, San Francisco offers several other facilities/sites that could be observed that would offer far greater examples of 154 concepts than provided in Sacramento. This is the reasoning behind the trip and it is hoped that students take advantage of the opportunity to learn in the field. San Francisco, CA
It is not, however, assumed that work and play should be entirely separated, and part of the goal of the course (as evidenced through the two course texts) is to create spaces (places) that are enjoyed by the public. Therefore, the required part of this trip will conclude with enjoying. San Francisco, CA
Like the rest of the trip, this is a chance for observation and learning. Do it passionately in all aspects and the trip will be a success for you and the course. San Francisco, CA
It is assumed that there is a wide-range of experience with San Francisco, some of you having lived there, some of you having (almost) never been. Even if you have visited a site on the trip before, it is expected that you will see the site from a new perspective based on what you’ve already learned in class and read in the course texts – so please keep that in mind. San Francisco, CA
It should be noted that several options for this field trip were reviewed and weighed until the last possible moment. Two detailed trips were made to San Francisco recently to check the feasibility of moving through the city, and because of access, some locations were dropped from the trip. A list of these locations will also be provided as examples for further study, should the student desire. San Francisco, CA
You will be walking – dress comfortably • Bring material (this handout perhaps) to take notes on • Bring money for lunch • You may want a bottled water • Cameras will be very useful on this trip • Bring a positive, open attitude, ask questions and make comments San Francisco, CA
A few other locations in the city should be mentioned in regards to great design. On future visits to the city, as RPTA people, you should make a point of seeing these locations at one point or another (if you haven’t already). Not to be Missed – Except on this Trip
2007 / Corner of Mission and 7th • Thom Mayne of Morphosis • Neo Modern / Deconstructivist • “Green” building / LEED (Leader in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Rating (first naturally ventilated office building to be built on the west coast since the advent of air conditioning) • Elevators stop at only every third floor to encourage healthy lifestyles • Building’s oddly narrow profile helps with ventilation • A return to importance in architecture for government buildings (Mayne also recently designed the new Caltrans building in Los Angeles) • As all design leans towards LEED certification, RPTA students should be aware of these efforts and encourage their designers to achieve these ratings Federal Building, San Francisco
2005 / Golden Gate Park • Herzog and de Meuron • Neo Brutalism / Deconstructivist • Shockingly beautiful or just shocking, the new de Young museum replaces the older, Mission Style building that was damaged in the 1989 earthquake • The 144ft high tower provides excellent views of the park and surrounding city, and has made the de Young the park’s most visited structure (the tower is free to the public on all days – a gift to the city and its visitors) • The building’s copper skin is dimpled and perforated, and naturally, will turn green as the building ages – a west coast Statue of Liberty • When the building opened, it was called an “aircraft carrier” by one newspaper reporter de Young
1879/2003 / Golden Gate Park • “Tropical” Victorian • Destroyed in 1995 storm, in 1998, First Lady Hillary Clinton adopts the closed building and makes it a priority of the National Trust’s Save America’s Treasures project – she raises $25 to restore the building • Building and accidental gift to San Francisco from dead San Jose businessman, James Lick • 154 focuses on design as it relates to recreation, parks and tourism – this structure shows a powerfully effective tourism use in a public park • Docents are passionate and knowledgeable, but could clearly use a “commercial recreation” touch to their presentation • The gardens, as well as the building itself represent a park function not found at all in Sacramento Conservatory of Flowers
“It's important to have institutions like the Academy with such a distinguished history that can perpetuate curiosity and intellectual inquiry and scientific enterprise.” - Hillary Clinton • Winner of EPA’s 2006 Environmental Award • Winner of 2006 Holcim Award for Sustainable Construction • As a facility maintenance issue, the Academy converts nearly 80% of its garbage to recycling • The “living roof” will absorb two millions gallons of rainwater a year • Rainwater will run the building’s plumbing as well as support its landscaping • The living roof will also create solar energy to run the building, as well as insolate it, keeping energy costs 30% below the minimum requirement for the city of San Francisco (which is the lowest of any major metropolitan area in the country) California Academy of Sciences
September 2008 / Golden Gate Park • Renzo Piano • Aiming for LEED Platinum rating California Academy of Sciences
San Francisco’s beauty is often attributed to the city’s hills – and the city is indeed designed with them in mind • The tops of San Francisco’s hills, while surely valuable real estate, has been left to the city’s park and recreation district • San Francisco also accentuates its hills by placing taller buildings on the hills and shorter buildings in on the flat parts of the city (a few exceptions, of course, include the financial district) San Francisco’s Hills
Known as northern California’s finest shopping district, Union Square is also a public park • For commercial students, it is the location of some of the city’s best known boutique hotels (two by Conley), large name brand hotels (including the Grand Hyatt and the Westin St. Francis), restaurants (Scala’s!) – it is also a major tourist attraction • Confederate’s beware…Union Square gets its name as the rallying point for Union troops during the Civil War • The facility was extensively remodeled for several years from 1998 to 2002: • Green space was replaced with hardscape for maintenance and security design reasons (as well as sight lines) • Movable chairs were added (as were commercial vendors) • Programming was updated to include more concerts and events Union Square
Located on Nob Hill • The lobby and rooms were recently restored Fairmont Hotel
The first re-use project in the country • Landmarks are essential – Ghirardelli uses a tower and a huge sign to mark its spot, crucial in commercial design • Restoration finished in 2007 to re-invigorate the spot (a good chance for promotion and attention in the press as well as giving locals a reason to go back) Ghirardelli Square
Although primarily a tourist attraction, the square does have a “public space,” which is a clever design element that makes tourists comfortable and wanting to hang out (sometimes public spaces attract locals, which often don’t spend money, and businesses want the spaces removed) • Learning Tip (from Project for Public Spaces): Any great square has a variety of smaller "places" within it to appeal to various people. These can include outdoor cafés, fountains, sculpture, or a bandshell for performances. These attractions don't need to be big to make the square a success. In fact, some of the best civic squares have numerous small attractions such as a vendor cart or playground that, when put together, draw people throughout the day. We often use the idea of "The Power of Ten" to set goals for destinations within a square. Creating ten good places, each with ten things to do, offers a fullprogram for a successful square. Ghirardelli Square
Not the best example of New Urbanism/Smart Growth/Mix-Use Development in the bay area (Santana Row in San Jose would be that), Bay Street has recently added condo units above the retail for a fuller New Urbanist mix • There is also a very interesting interpretation project on Temescal Creek, which features a recreation of an Ohlone shellmound • It’s beautifully commercial and surprisingly residential at the same time – would you live in a mall? • Next door to IKEA Bay Street
A facility for you outdoor people, this is worth a visit just to look at the interpretation and trail layout • The facility is very well done, considering the hour-long walk is short • The location of the entrance/visitor center is well-placed with several redwoods right behind for a dramatic effect • Parking is appropriate, if not a bit small, but overflow parking is available – it keeps the lots small and not too intrusive • Only a dozen miles north of San Francisco, but a legitimate outdoor experience Muir Woods
