L-7 HOUSING

At the intersection of 8th and Harrison in San Francisco’s SoMa district, a full block of residential, retail and commercial spaces balance urban density with quality-of-life features such as pedestrian zones, green spaces, eateries, and roof terraces with sweeping views of the city. To help reduce the scale of the block, each of the project’s seven buildings has a different identity; some exude the grandeur of the surrounding civic buildings, others embody the open feeling of the high-rise offices in the area. The overarching material palette — including stucco, metal siding and glass curtain walls —  reflect the neighborhood’s industrial warehouse aesthetics. An innovative interior loop road for pedestrians and vehicles makes navigating the 3.5-acre site easy, while a corner café and restaurant activate the internal park and street.

J. Conner for Kava Massih Architects
Photographed by Bruce Damonte