THE COLLECTIVE CO-WORKING MEETS CO-LIVING
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ABSTRACT
Introduction Hospitality and Corporate Sector Problem Solution
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ANALYSIS
History Site Analysis Existing Competition Building Analysis Client + User Profiles
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RESEARCH
Demographics Users Needs Building Improvements Interviews Precedent Studies Program Development
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CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT The Concept Concept Implementation Process + Sketches Program Development Branding
THE JOURNEY 05
SCHEMATIC DESIGN Space Planning Circulation Plans
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DESIGN DEVELOPMENT Floor plans Five Focus Areas Materials Renderings
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FINAL THOUGHTS Summary Conclusion
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ABOUT
Autobiography Resume Bibliography
ABSTRACT
Introduction I The Hospitality and Corporate Industry I The Problem I The Solution
Design is the fundamental soul of a human made creation that ends up expressing itself in successive outer layers of the product or service. - Steve Jobs, Entrepreneur
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INTRODUCTION
Image left: captured by seattlesteve.meo
Two companies, on either coast of America contemplate a potential business deal - Airbnb and We Work; co-living meets co-working. They connect in fragmented encounters, first in emails and phone calls and then in their actual meeting - where the agreement unfolds in moments of collaboration, negotiation, and trust. What happens when their hands meet, shake and release? The infinitesimal distance between these two thought leaders shines a light on the process of two people, reaching out to each other and the collision and merging of their ideas, fantasies, and emotions. This sort of transaction is not uncommon in San Francisco. In fact, the city is often lauded for its vibrant collection of dreamers, innovators, and collaborators. It is a place where people from across the world come together, talk about dreams and develop groundbreaking ideas. It is a place where every kid on the bus believes they've got the next best start-up service and where young entrepreneurs spend countless hours brainstorming business strategies on happy hour paper napkins. But perhaps most importantly, it is a place where memorable connections are made, both in the digital and real world. The space is a reflection of the common ethos of the two companies
that have come together; collaboration and openness - all re not being alone. The purpose of space is to connect the local community of brilliant thinkers with out of town visitors and newbies. The space is dedicated to fostering those sacred moments of conversation, synchronization, and partnership. Primarily targeting today's modern millennial, with the 10 micro pods living facility residing in the abandoned church has roughly 70% of its square footage for 'social public spaces.' This includes a social fire pit lounge outdoor, an organic and vegan-friendly cafe in the west aisle of the church overlooking the ornate revival-style architecture, a shared conference and workspace facilities, a large lounge area broken down into 8 huddle spaces to feel like a living room with an indoor hammock under the mesmerizing dome. With these social spaces, the space is the program and spatial design become an almost staged set for human contact. It becomes a destination where great thinkers can gather under one roof, share cordial smiles, make eye contact for the first time, and hopefully exchange a brief conversation. With this, locals and visitors are offered the chance at creating something great, something memorable, something that will carry on the city's admirable legacy of collaboration and innovation.
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THE HOSPITALITY AND CORPORATE INDUSTRY
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Today's hotel industry in San Francisco is most notably led by large franchise companies. Big game players such as Marriott, Starwood, IHG, and Hilton lead the pack on what hotel designs, user expectations, and requirements should look like. One of the biggest challenges the franchise industry faces are maintaining brand consistency across properties. For example, guests should receive a consistent experience whether they stay a Crown Plaza in New York or Crown Plaza in Tokyo. Consequently, the hotel chains are pushing design standardization on their franchise owners. Consistent floor plans, furnishings, and fixtures are now requirements. As a result, hotels across the world could start looking identical to one another and end up becoming much less personal. In addition to this, they are not able to always integrate work trends which help facilitate business into the same.
Below from left: Everlane Headquarters, San Francisco. Palace Hotel San Francisco
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Below : Women In a Hotel room alone using her phone
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THE PROBLEM
Separate from the issue of standardization, nearly two thirds of business travelers feel 'lonely and distraught' without their phones while traveling... And on average, they check their phones 34 times a day, according to a study conducted in December 2013 by Mophie Research Group. This statistic alone presents two problems. First, business travel is incredibly lonely. All too often, these types of travelers find it easier to retreat back to the hotel room and order room service. Second, there are obvious dependency issues on technology and cell phones. The hotel industry has a rare gift and responsibility: it facilitates new and old relationships. With technology as an obvious distraction, there is a missed opportunity for business travelers to not only meet other travelers and but also to interface with the area's local workforce as well. Great connections do not happen over cellphones, emails and video conference calls. Great connections and ideas happen in a not a virtual augmented world, but rather, the real world. While technology certainly aids lonelinesses and innovation, the truth is: innovation is actually more about the people themselves. It's people sitting in a room together, collaborating, making connections, sharing ideas, doing favors, being competitive, arguing, negotiating, staying up late, drinking late, solving problems. It's always been about the people. As major hotel brands continue to push technology requirements into their hotels, users are more likely to fall into this trap of nameless, faceless transactions.
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THE SOLUTION
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The question then becomes: how do you design a comfortable environment that will both satisfy the obvious need for technology, yet also encourage users to get out of their lonely, reclusive worlds and engaged in more face to face human contact? More specifically, how can San Francisco companies leverage their collection of incredibly smart community members and connect them with out-of-town business travelers and newbies? The answer lies in going back to the basics. This means real people spending real time with other real people. This means companies digging into the utmost core of their users and creating spaces where those connections are readily accessible. This means developing a program with social spaces that are almost staged for great conversations. Looking at the dynamics of a typical business partnership, it usually
starts with two people and evolves into an entire process. The two people meet, learn about the project, research the opportunity, share ideas, negotiate, plan, and finally execute the deal. The business deal is a duet between AirBnB and Wework. Getting their own two expertise together to create a new space within an old. Going back to giving human connections the importance it no longer gets. The coconut being very symbol in a lot of eastern cultures, in signifying new beginnings and also its cradle to cradle use has been evolved into an allegory for the business partnership and was used as inspiration throughout the design.
Below from left: Hand shake after a business deal. Coconut cracking open
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ANALYSIS
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History
I Site Analysis I
Existing Competition I Building Analysis I Client + User Profile
It's people innovating together, collaborating, making connections, sharing ideas, doing favors, being competitive, arguing, negotiating,staying up late, drinking late, solving problems. It's always been about the people. - San Francisco Resident
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HISTORY
The soaring Romanesque Saint Joseph's Church is a registered land mark, and has been sitting empty ever since the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake knocked it for a loop. The owners couldn't afford repairs, and it's been a vacant, looming presence in the neighborhood ever since. The first Saint Joseph's Church was built on Howard Street in 1861, designed in 1913 by architect John Foley. The previous church had, of course, been destroyed in 1906.Originally Irish-Catholic, it was last home to a mostly Filipino parish, and an icon of the Philippines patron saint was added in the 70s. The project is located on an irregularly shaped lot at the southwest corner of 10th and Howard Streets(Block 3517, Lot 035). The project site has 140.ft of frontage along Howard Street and 162.ft of frontage along 10th Street. Constructed in 1913, the subject property is commonly known as St. Joseph's Church and is developed with a grand three-story church that has been largely vacant since the early 1990s. The subject property is Landmark No. 120, which is listed in Article 10 of the San Francisco Planning Code. Currently, the existing building is 25,060 square feet.
Left top to bottom: Exterior from 1920's. Interior from July 18th, 1933. Right: Exterior from August 17th, 1964. Source: San Francisco Historical Photograph Collection at the San Francisco Public Library.
SITE ANALYSIS
The proposed project is located in San Francisco's Mid-Market area. Today, the Mid-Market neighborhood is quickly emerging with an influx of technology companies, which presents a large scale of hospitality revenue opportunity in the business travel and co working market Tech neighbors such as Twitter, Yammer, Zendesk, Zoosk, One Kings Lane, CallScoket, Dolby, Benchmark Capital and Spotify into the area. The site is also centrally located, as it's very close to the BART/Muni station, Civic Center, Union Square, Moscone Convention Center, Yerba Buena Gardens and the Financial District. Due to its close proximity to both Union Square as well as new technology companies, there is an opportunity to create a mid-high end stay and workspace, that can accommodate traveling business executives as well as leisure travelers. While the neighborhood is slowly re-branding itself as a "new technology hub" the area still has a several patches to clean up. The SF Gate writes, 'It wasn't always that way. Just a few years ago, Mid-Market was a seedy urban desert plunked in the middle of the city's signature boulevard. Then-Mayor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Ed Lee worked to create tax breaks and incentives to bring in businesses to replace the empty buildings, boarded-up storefronts and cheesy retail shops that contributed to the area's dangerous, down-at-the-heels vibe." In January 2010, the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) launched the Central Market Partnership a public/ private initiative to renew and coordinate efforts to revitalize Mid-Mar-
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ket and the larger Central Market neighborhood. There are still some gritty parts of the Mid-Market neighborhood; however, the past three months have seen the largest visual transformation of Mid-Market in decades. The Mid-Market Revival Initiative also
Top left clockwise: Side walk outside Howard St. Entrance. Neighboring buildings. Rent a bike stand near the site. Street signage.
has a strong focus on preserving and spotlighting San Francisco's arts community. The effort is intended to build upon the area's existing strengths, including an emphasis on arts-based economic development initiatives. The city has been trying its best to maintain those efforts, by adding arts-related businesses to the area. For example, a San Francisco street artist, Ricardo Richey, whose spray-paint abstracts are featured in museums around the world, has moved into a co-working space at 42 Turk St., in the Tenderloin, along with Holy Stitch Denim Social Club, 'an off-thegrid powered manufacturing center " - primarily of jeans - "that triples as a school and community center." While all this growth is advantageous to the area's redevelopment, some local arts community members see this as a threat. Small arts organizations fear that they'll eventually be priced out of the city in the next five years. As SF Gate published in an online article, "A yearslong-effort to build a performing arts and education center at the intersection of Market, Turk and Mason streets could collapse now that an out-of-town property owner has ended talks with the project's backers and put the lots "up for bid."
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MARKET TRENDS
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As suggested by local and international media publications, the San Francisco Mid-Market area is in the midst of some game-changing redevelopments. The Mid-Market neighborhood has seen significant physical changes even within the last few years. There's an incredible amount of gentrification happening, and rent prices continue to rise. Twitter was the first to move into the neighborhood, and as a result, more tech companies in combination with housing developers are also moving into the area as well. There are a number of new apartments and condominiums being built on the old theatre row. The Westfield Shopping Mall, on 5th and Market Street, currently attracts tourists near Union Square, and city planners and developers are also working to develop another shopping nearby mall called Market Street Place. It has been reported that Market Street Place, located on 6th and Market, plans to lease retail space to high end retailers such as TopShop, Gucci and Armani. News reports also show an increase in market value over the last few years. Price per square foot of space in the Mid- Market neighborhood is at its record high, which indicates a significant shift in value. With the overwhelming influx of market gentrification and growth, there is fair reason to believe that a space would do well here.
Top left clockwise: Twitter's presence in San Francisco. Restaurants in FiDi and mid-market. Mid-market development. Mid-market revival. Stopping eviction on mid-market buildings. Zendesk in mid-market. Slack in talks. Investment jumps. New hotel proposal. Sources: San Francisco Business Times
EXITING COMPETITION
Left from top: Starfish Mission - Blockchain interior . Parisoma Interior
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The Mid-Market neighborhood has seen significant physical changes even within the last few years. There's an incredible amount of tech companies in combination with housing developers moving into the area. This has also led to the increase of the need of co-working spaces. The number of new start ups are increasing by the day in the Bay Area. The soaring prices of real estate make it very difficult for new businesses to acquire there own spaces. This has led to having two co-working spaces in a two block radius of the site itself. Even though there are a number of co-working spaces in the city there is always a demand for more. In relation to the co-working facility the co-living has not developed as much. The proposed space is catering both these facilities under one roof which is a concept which does not exist in the area.
S TA R F I S H MISSION BLOCKCHAIN
PARISOMA
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Below from left: Interior arches and existing light fixtures. Close up of moldings. Overview of the space from the balcony level. Exterior view Source: Palisade Builders
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BUILDING ANALYSIS
Formerly known as the Saint Joseph's Church in downtown San Francisco, the site is located at 1401 Howard Street. This building was chosen for this project because it is currently unoccupied and located in a market with a need to be re-purposed. The situation is realistic and opportunistic. Square Footage & Details 25 ft. There are window lines on all four sides of the building. Building Height The three story building offers 58,000 RSF and the ground floor height is 12 feet high. The maximum height is 50-X Zoning The project is located on the southwest corner of 10th and Howard Streets, Block 3517, Lot 035. The subject property is located within the SLR (Service/Light Industrial/Residential) Zoning District, Western SOMA Special Use District, and a 50-X Height and Bulk District. Current Status Originally constructed between 186, the 1401 building is one of the few properties to withstand the 1906 earthquake with just some damage to the interior. The property is developed with a three story church that has been largely vacant since the early 1990s. The subject property is Landmark No. 120, which is listed in Article 10 of the San Francisco Planning Code. The building needs to be seismically retrofitted, as this would significantly improve the health, safety and welfare of the incumbents.
BUILDING ANALYSIS
Left to right: Site Plan. Vicinity map with site location
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The building is located on the corner of 10th and Howard Street, there are several ways to enter the building. As an incoming vehicle, the primary entrance is located on Howard street within the premises with a respective loading zone area; secondary entrances are currently placed on 10th Street and on Howard Street. 10th Street is a one way street, and most of the incoming vehicles arrive from the nearby Highway 101, which is one of the main, centralized highways in San Francisco. With this, users are able to exit the highway and easily access the space on 9th and then to Howard Street. While the main entrance is actually located on Howard Street, the user may still enter and exit from that the side entrances as they are ADA compliant. St. Joseph's church is a designated San Francisco city landmark (#120), is listed in the national register of historic places (#1982002250), and is considered a qualified historical resource for the purposes of the California environmental quality act (CEQA). The church is significant for its association with the reconstruction of the south of market area and religious institutions following the 1906 earthquake and fire. The church also played an important role in the ethnic history of San Francisco, having witnessed the change from a predominantly Irish catholic parish to a Filipino parish, and made a significant contribution to education in San Francisco, namely the establishment of one of the city's first parochial schools. St.
Joseph's church is also architecturally significant as an excellent local example of Romanesque revival architecture, and as a typical example of ecclesiastical architecture of this period. The proposed project at 1401 Howard street includes seismic strengthening, accessibility upgrades in accordance with the Americans with disabilities act (ADA), and various renovations that will bring the property into compliance with current health and safety codes. The proposed project will convert the building's use from a 25,060 sq. ft. church to a 31,650 sq.ft. mixed-use office-retail building, and will utilize the California state historical building code (CHBC) to facilitate this change. A new free-standing mezzanine will be installed in the historic sanctuary, and seismic work will be sensitively designed to minimally affect historic materials. These improvements will increase the building's functionality for the new use and provide universal access to the building. Additionally, the proposed project will repair, rehabilitate, and maintain the exterior and interior architectural features that convey the building's historic significance in a manner consistent with the secretary of interior's standards for rehabilitation. The standards provide guidance for reviewing proposed work on historic properties, and are regularly referenced by federal agencies and the San Francisco historic preservation commission.
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Top left clockwise: Arches with exiting light fixture. Confession room. Damaged capital. View of nave and apse. Sources: San Francisco Planning Department
The soaring Romanesque revival architecture gem, Saint Joseph's Church is a registered land mark, and has been sitting empty ever since the 1989 earthquake and the years of in-occupancy has left its interiors in dire need of repairs. The dome has had no structural damage just internal maintenance is required structure has beautiful capitals on the columns which are to be preserved and used to enhance the new design, bring the new but preserving the old. The pendant light fixtures have been housed there since the very beginning and will continue to remain present. The wooden enclosures will be pulled apart .
Left: View of nave and apse.
Sources: San Francisco Planning Department
Right: View of east alter.
Sources: San Francisco Planning Department
The style is Romanesque, with corbel tables along the roof line and baroque massing, somewhat like Notre dame Des victoires (on Bush Street). Twin staged towers are topped with gold cupolas and crosses, and rose windows grace the facade, towers and transepts. A triple portal leads to the interior, which contains six marble altars. The chastely columned nave, with barrell vaulgt above and a profusion of consoles leads to a high, coffer-ceiling apse. The stained-glass windows, German-made in muted yet colorful tones. The alters however will be re-purposed and no longer have their original use. The entrance will just be restored with minimum changes. Elements such as this holy cross will be made to find its place in the new design. Internal staircases will be stripped from its older materials and will turn a new leaf.
Top left clockwise: Entrance vestibule. Cross detail. Tower stairway. Reflection stain glass window. Sources: San Francisco Planning Department
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A large organ resides on the balcony at the higher level. This would be removed in the new proposal and the space would be used as a communal informal seating area. The east and west aisle is where the new free standing mezzanine levels will be erected. They will house the living aspect of the program. The intricate details below the balcony and on the hand rail and guard rail will remain.
Top left clockwise: Side Aisle looking towards Organ Loft. Organ. Nave and Organ Loft. Balcony details. Sources: San Francisco Planning Department
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Left: View of nave and organ loft.
Sources: San Francisco Planning Department
Bottom: Thermal mass illustration, day and night effects
THERMAL MASS
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Materials that are heavy and dense, and therefore high in what is technically called thermal mass. Common materials used for thermal mass include concrete or filled concrete block, stone or masonry usually used in floors or walls. Used properly and the right amount in the right place, with proper external insulation thermal mass can help maintain comfortable temperatures inside the space year-round. Thermal mass will absorb heat from the sun during the day and radiate it out as the temperature drops in the afternoon throughout the evening. Building thermal mass into a space does not have to increase costs. The money used for a carpet could for example instead be spent on polishing an exposed concrete floor. Applying this information to the space we can in the long run save a huge amount in electricity bills , considering that the space is one which will never completely be turned off.
Top left clockwise: Side walk outside main entrance. View from adjoining property. Across the street at Howard street. Tower. Entrance details. Outdoor landscape. Left garden. View from 10th street. View from 9th and Howard street.
WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T Mid- market area is a youth centric area which makes it a positive for the spaces, as it matches the key demographic. The neighborhood has seen a major growth in the past few years, and is only going uphill. A plus point also includes the fact that there are no such facilities in the surrounding vicinities. Which The importance of daylight is being realized more and more as people spend the better half of their day indoors. With this said it automatically implies that when we do come in contact with the natural sunlight with has numerous befits to us human beings. The existing structure is designed with keeping the principal of ample natural light in high regard. This impeccable architectural feature would further be retained. The windows are not only at various different heights but are also spaced almost along the entire periphery of the structure. The higher level of windows act like clerestory windows which help light up spaces with high ceilings. There also exists one sky light and one rose window. The site is very well connected via multiple means of transportation, MUNI, BART and the freeway being at a two minute distance
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USER PROFILE
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The primary user is the business traveler and people new to the city. This user group ranges from ages 25-50, averaging a 5night - to 2 weeks stay, holding an upper level management position at a tech or creative type firm, or student at their masters level, enjoys an active lifestyle and are gender friendly. Also visiting the space will be a semi leisure travelers, which range from ages 25-40, typically single that are hip & stylish with an active lifestyle and house hold income of at least $60,000. The secondary users are the locals nearby. This includes the local community members who are interested in after-work happy hour social events. This group also includes small local start-up companies in the nearby area. These are the young, small tech start-up companies who are looking to rent out the social meeting spaces and work desks.
Top to bottom: Sleepover activities, Ariel view co-working desk.
CLIENT PROFILE
Top to bottom: Wework logo, Airbnb logo.
The client of this project is not just one existing firm but two very trending and upcoming organizations, Wework and Airbnb. Together they aim to crating a live work hub with the cohesion of co-working and co-living spaces for global nomad professionals. Promoting a sense of 'home away from home. Embodying a community to intensify the outcome of creativity and productivity under one roof. The two are very strong concepts which have proved their success in the market and are therefore confidante that this would be a successful new venture The driving end goal is elimination of the lack human interaction is the impetus in developing this idea with this new collaboration. Because we are not alone!
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RESEARCH
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Demographics I User Needs I Building Improvements I Interviews I Precedent Studies I Program Development
The details are not the details, they make the design - Charles Eames
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DEMOGRAPHICS
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San Francisco being the tech hub that it is, has affected real-estate prices now more than ever. The general demographic of people is mostly concentrated in the millennials. The standard of living is too high for the retired and also for the average family. There is a higher male to female ratio we have observed. The number of people therefor, renting spaces is very high in number. People don't stay for very log periods of time in the city, due to the above mentioned reasons. The average population is at a good educational standpoint due to having to further sustain themselves in the city. Hectic working hours and endless commutes have lead to very few people cooking food on a daily basis. This is the very reason there has been a high influx in the food and beverage sector. Tapping these gaps in the city is what is driving this proposed project towards success.
19%
41%
67%
14%
59% 64%
Top left to bottom: Age demographics highest mid-age population. Gender demographic, higher male. Higher percentage of take out than home cooked meals. Educational level Bachelors or higher. Married population thirty percent. Twenty eight percent natives only. Very less ownership housing.
62% Bachelors Degree or higher
30%
28%
36%
25%
Married
San Francisco Natives
Own houses
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USER NEEDS
Bottom left to right: Co-living space. Wework space Sources: Urbaneer and Wework
San Francisco is the city of new talent. There are hundreds of new people that come into this city each day. In the tech and gadget day and age that we live in, it is not always easy to create new relationships that are long lasting and meaningful. The importance of human interaction is a concept lost on most people today. We live life digitally, but to the person who has moved and is in a search for belonging it is very difficult to make that transition. "The collective" is here to bridge that very gap. By creating a home away from home. A cohesion of co-working and co-living under one roof giving a person a safe and welcoming temporary home till he/she is ready to go their ways. Yet having had created relationships that will last a lifetime. Because the underline statement still remains,"We are not alone"!
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BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS
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Given the age of the structure there are repairs that need to be addressed along with rehabilitating and maintaining existing building exterior and interior architectural features rated significant to meet secretary of interior's standards for the treatment of historic properties. Renovations to the base of building for seismic/structural reasons is curtail as it has been a victim to the 1989 earthquake which left it a bad shape. ADA access is to be provided as the stricter is a historic building and has to abide by the code related to the same, the main entrance facade will not be altered to provided
ADA access. Instated the side entrance would be used for the same. The new mechanical electrical, plumbing and toilet facilities systems will be instated to facilitate the design and to meet current code in preparation for the proposed mixed-use tenant improvements for office/ meeting hall (assembly) and retail (cafe) and residential occupancies. The other significant change which would make the new design what it proposes to be is the addition of the mezzanine level, which has a gap at the edge which will allow for the light to be transmitted between levels eliminating black spaces.
Bottom left clockwise: New construction. Plan for ADA ramp addition. Elevation for ADA ramp addition
IN-PERSON INTERVIEWS
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Employee at We Work, San Francisco
Employees at Airbnb, San Francisco
"To build more than just a beautiful, shared office spaces. We at we work want to build a community. A place you join as an individual, 'me', but where you become part of a greater 'we'. A place where we're redefining success measured by personal fulfillment, not just the bottom line. Community is our catalyst." Anonymous employee at Wework This resonated on the underlining ethos of the community we wanted to build at the collective. It was then when we asked them "What they like most about working at Wework and what they disliked or needed the most improvement in"? This insight really helped the programming of this project. The answer to the above question was "We love the new experiences we get to encounter on a daily basis. There are so many new people with their own stories we get to interact with. This also helps a lot with increasing your own skill set as you are surrounded by a number of people with varied number of skill. The few draw backs were when technical services were not addressed while while designing. When natural light and other such aspects were not addressed at a design level".
Having its headquarters in San Francisco, we took advantage of this and dove right into asking them what inputs they could feed us with. The most common feed back we received was that is was a great idea to have this collaboration between two very like minded organizations. Bringing the two together and then getting their expertise to the table would create a great new product. The underline thought of us wanting to create a sense of belonging and community is what every person told us we should take further. This is what most people look for when the interact with them as well. They thought that people would be very excited to live in this space as it is an experience not too many people would have had in the past. The chance to live in a church . That in itself in their opinion would attract a lot of audience.
Person new to the city, San Francisco
Student, San Francisco
"The first thing when you move to San Francisco is, you notice how each one is in their own world, nobody knows who their neighbors are, no one knows you or knows your name. It creates a sense of loneness and a feeling of being absolutely lost in this fast pace city. Everyone is on their phone or some other device. It's is difficult to make new friends. With all the help that social media provides in that area it still doesn't sole the problem of having long lasting meaningful relationships. The other major concern is the high rents with apartment's which are not even in a good condition. Not knowing the good areas from the bad. There is so much to figure out, and not knowing who would be the best person/people to help you is very intimidating." Zia Forbes
"I come from Hawaii where there is a large sense of community the thing I miss most about home is just that. People in the bay are very preoccupied. There is no time given to meals and also no good poke bowls in this city". Kayla Almasco. When given a brief idea of what the project was gong to be, she was absolutely thrilled. We asked for her inputs to improve and build our program. She was of the opinion that we must tap in as much sunlight as possible as San Francisco can get very dull and gloomy. Creating welcoming outdoor spaces and more farm to table style of dining. She also suggested more affordable housing options with Students maybe getting some kind of a discount.
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PRECEDENT STUDIES
Project Name: Together Hostel Location: No.8, You'anmen Wai Street, Fengtai District, Beijing, China Area: 8611.13 sq. ft. Project Year: 2017 Clients: TTG team User Groups: Youth
What does a concept driven space look and work like? The concept of this is music festival which refers to spaces with stages. With perform as soul, food court and peddlers and variety of activities as flash. Tents scatter around the district and participants get to choose the activities they enjoy during the free time apart from camping. A music festival is a concept of sharing camping field from a specific perspective. This space creates an imaginative and playful space, blurring the lines between the guest and its space with the space. This project considers indoor space as an area rather than a series of closed rooms in the first place, and wishes to share the sunlight with as many corners as possible. Integrated the whole second floor by tearing down walls and regrouping each kind of pipe system for its functions like an office, a cafe bar, a kitchen and a restroom, etc. That's how they manage to get an indoor camping space. Observations They set up tents in the camping space. A huge tent serves as the public space where people can have meals and beverages, read, chat, play, share or even hold their activities. Smaller tents are for staying. Every four or five tents group up into a private set with a single exit for management and safety concern. Each set is equipped with sockets and extension cords. Reading light is attached to every single tent as well. In addition to the restroom, shower room and double-bed tents, still have space left. That's where they build up step seats with storage space under to create a small theater space. It also can be used as a camping spot for backpackers. And for certain, parking bicycles in this space is allowed. What worked ? All the spaces are visually connected. For a huge space with only single-sided natural light, the layout spreads the sunlight smoothly to each space in the second floor. Specially customized modular tables that can puzzle together or pile up for certain purposes. The whole second floor is designed as an indoor camping space where people can share facilities, attend activities held by ttg or just enjoy a movie. What doesn't work ? The design is not completely ADA compliant and is more or less like a hostel with a little more privacy. The amount of space give within each tent maybe a bit scarce.
Sources: Arch Daily, Designboom, Azure magazine
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PRECEDENT STUDIES
Project Name: Location: Project Year: Clients: User Groups:
Zoku Amsterdam Weesperstraat 105, 1018 VN Amsterdam, Netherlands 2015 Zoku Travelers and professionals
How does this space have manage to work co-working an d co-living spaces under one roof? Guest have the option of a regular hotel room or studio apartment. They have elevated sleeping areas, with super fluffy king-size bed, can be screened off for visitors. Sliding doors can also hide away the bathroom's spacious shower and the fully equipped kitchen is capable of pumping out the perfect espressos in the morning and the tastiest of pastas at night. They also feature plenty of storage space for your suitcases, as well as a drop off zone complete with office supplies. While available for a single night, Zoku Lofts are especially designed for those seeking a temporary residence for a couple of days and a few months. With bright, open spaces and a lively community of like-minded local and international professionals, their co-working spaces are ideal for anything from writing bulky reports to creative brainstorm sessions. What works? At Zoku they provide an all around life balance experience, they pay attention to the needs to wholesome nutrition food. The importance of the outdoor and natural light alone with keeping comfort, privacy and cost in mind. They also have the provision of multiple extra curricula actives to simulate the mind and body, helping one to maintain a balance. The space are designed for flexibility to accommodate more people and encourage larger gatherings. What doesn't work? Some pople like to have a reason to move out of one building due to being forced to go to work or to the gym, such facilities discourage such users.
Sources: Boutique hotel news, Business Insider
51
PRECEDENT STUDIES
Project Name: Location: Area: Project Year: Clients: User Groups:
WIX.COM Vilnius, Lithuania. 4,908 sq. ft. 2017 WIX.COM Website Design Company
How does this space have managed to house a new office space in an old structure? This space is inspired by Vilnius Old town heritage. Aches, structural elements of the period, formed a special town-scape with a distinct ambiance. The premises contain remains of an ancient arched wall that has been fixed and left on display as a background for new interior lines. This blend of the new and the old is executed with a well balanced use of form, color and material. What works? The structure of the new office space was conceived by introducing a number of arch-type volumes and various partitions thus forming spaces for different office activities. Which is a great example of how the old elements translates into moder design creating space within space yet not having too many visual barriers. The structure formed a melodic ensemble of human scale spaces easy for people to be in. The work space, which could be called semi-open, provide both privacy and community feeling for the employees. Different from the white and round architecture of the work space, the inner meeting spaces are clad in wooden panels mixed with soft acoustic boards and are arranged in a rectangular pattern. This is a great leaning of how materials define the extent of the space. What doesn't work? The use of pendant lights on top of screens is not always the use of lighting for the uses as it might create hot spots of light, which are disturbing and also affect eye sight in the longer run.
Sources: Architect magazine, Arch Daily
53
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
54
The Concept I Concept Implementation I Process + Sketches I Program Development I Branding
The details are not the details, they make the design - Charles Eames
04

THE CONCEPT

Coconuts are known for their versatility of uses, ranging from food to cosmetics. Virtually every part of the coconut can be used. It has immense cultural and religious significance in certain societies, particularly in India, where it is used in Hindu rituals. It is referred to as (Sriphala) God's fruit. Coconut is a satvik fruit as is sacred, health-giving , pure and clean. They further also believed that it is a symbol of human ego. Therefore in a number of rituals you can observe the breaking of the coconut. It is believed that it represents breaking ones ego and humbling oneself before God. it is also known as Lord Shiva's third eye. It is these very features that relate it back to this project. The versatility of using every part of the space, re-purposing the old. From a sustainable stand point it servers as a cradle to cradle product, exactly what we aim to create with the form and function of this space. There are also visual similarities , the coconut and the domes of the exiting church have. The program being one to assist new beginnings and start on the right foot. In a more literal sense when a coconut is broken it still has use and purpose, just as we humans do. An effort to further translate these dynamics into architectural geometry and function was the ultimate design goal.
Left top to bottom: Digital mind map coconut showing the third eye. Top left clockwise: Coconut at a newly wed brides feet. Coconut on an urn for religions ceremonies, cracking before an idol. As a prayer offering. Coconut on an urn for religions ceremonies.
CONCEPT IMPLEMENTATION

Coconuts are extremely versatile. They are found extensive in Asia and a heavy presence inn India. For many a people in the south of India it is their livelihood. Manually removing the dried husk of the coconut to put it to better use. They then convert it into coir and make multiple items with the raw material obtained. The first image of a person using a hand loom and weaving coir is a very interesting process which has a very pleasing visual. This was eye catching and therefore further implements as an element in the outdoor area. The second image of a broken coconut is to show how it has a lot of use even after it is broken and most often then not even more propose and beauty. This was a connection made with the target user and there purpose with the space. The third image of raw coconut husk is represented in the living room under the dome as the base of the coconut forms a hold for the fruit, the same way the hammock forms a hold for the users to experience the ornate architecture of the space. The forth image is of a person weaving a coir mat. This is a representation of how beautifully two individual elements when combined have more meaning and purpose just like the two concepts of co-working and co-living. The fifth and the sixth image is a representation of how small pieces when put together work better something than one whole. This is further adapted in the living room where people are together but yet have their own personal space.
Top left clockwise: A local Keralan(Indian) weaver weaving coir. De-constructed coconut, coconut husk, weaving coir mats, cracked pieces of coconut, numerous cracked coconuts.
PROCESS + SKETCHES
Above: Illustration showing multiple uses of a coconut

The initial thought process from translating the concept into form and shape. Taking the natural curves and arches that are formed in a coconut and creating interesting yet functional spaces. The process began by doing some still life sketches of a coconut to understand the naturally occurring beauty of the coconut in nature. Post this when there was a rough idea of what the spaces would loosely be. These sketches were created.
Left to right: Coconut sketches, Dining area sketch, living room sketch, living kitchen sketch


After dissecting the different characteristics of the coconut, ideas began to come to life. The first one being the trunk of the tree and how it has a very gradual steep like formation, keeping it together but still giving it space. This was then translated into the human aspect of the target user of this space. Similarly by creating a seat seating it gives people the opportunity to mingle if they please to or else they can still maintain distance and not feel like they area alone. The second one was of The outdoor area has a coir canopy which is tying back to the process of how coir is woven on a loom. This would create interesting shadows at different times of the day. The fourth sketch is that of the hammock garden which resembles a stack of coconut husk.
Above: Mind map showing initial brain storming
Top left clockwise: Concept interpretation. Micro private pod sketch. Outdoor sketch. Indoor hammock sketch
3. Living
Room
Taking this idea and translating it into architectural space was an interesting and challenging process. Keeping code regulations and spatial requirements in mind, all public social spaces were arranged on the lower level of the building. The public social spaces are considered (Assembly) and (Business) spaces with respective occupancy requirements. The private co-living micro private pods were arranged on the right and left mezzanine level which will be newly erected. These spaces will further be stacked appropriately to ensure code requirements as well as plumbing and electrical efficiencies. The reason for having the living kitchen near the exit is its connectivity to all the other space around and mainly to create a bridge within the program between the indoor and the outdoor. The co-working space needs certain elements which have privacy but yet encourage human interaction. The co-working space will also be used by non-residents and therefore has a different entrances. The living room on the other hand can be accessed by residents and non-residents. And therefore has multiple entry points to encourage the use of the space.
2. Outdoor Area
1. Co - working Space
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
Left to right: Programming document. Adjacency matrix
5. Micro Private Hubs
4. Living Kitchen
Public Social Spaces Living Kitchen Co - working Space

With the goal to create spaces that encourage new conversations, the program elements were developed with careful thought and consideration. Each of the public social spaces were strategically chosen based off primary and secondary market research studies, to include a deep investigation of appropriate market demand, popularity, price, demographic and economics. Yet most importantly, these types of program spaces were selected because they were best at encouraging new conversations. The living kitchen, outdoor space and the living room are meant to excite and encourage visitors to have a seat, mingle, relax and enjoy the
experience. The outdoor area allows live music, small events or shows to create a sense of community among the people in the neighborhood and the guests at the space. The co-working space is also in high demand, which will be offered to guests at no charge; locals may rent desk space at a reasonable daily or monthly fee. Nearby companies may also elect to rent the meeting rooms and conference rooms and the outdoor space for networking events or company gatherings. Overnight guests are encouraged to enjoy the public spaces, as opposed to just their pods.
Living Room Outdoor Area
Private Spaces Micro Private Hubs
Adjacencies
Public Access
Daylight
View
Privacy
1. Living Kitchen
1,259
H
H
Y
Y
M
Access should be from outdoor area and indoor
H
High
2. Co - working Space
2,546
M
M
Y
Y
M
Should include working desks as well as meeting room
M
Medium
3. Living Room
5,071
M
M
Y
N
M
Should include private and semi private hubs
L
Low
4. Outdoor Area
5,152
H
H
Y
Y
L
Most furniture should be movable, for events
Y
Yes
5. Micro Private Hubs
5,214
L
L
Y
N
H
Create a sense of personal space within a large space
N
No
Additional Considerations
Required Square Footage
Below: Criteria Matrix
Legend

68
THE COLLECTIVE
Right : Organic meals being shared
The collective is creating better living through convenience and community. Keeping the good parts of shared housing while removing the annoyances. The collective members now know their neighbors, meet new people, and save money. Being a collective member means never having to worry about cleaning, moving furniture, or splitting the bills.

Easy move-in day
An open invitation
Move-ins will take as few as 30 minutes thanks to keyless access and clear, thoughtful instructions.
As a member, you have access to the entire collective community.
Stay connected Find out what's happening in your home, or check in with members. We will use Slack to empower members to engage and coordinate plans with each other.

Built for community The collective has community spaces, perfect for a potluck meal, movie night, or book club with your neighbors.
Private bedroom
Fully furnished
High-end kitchen
Every member has a private bedroom, furnished with a night-
Spaces come furnished with quality pieces from exceptional
The kitchen is outfitted with high-end appliances, dishwasher,
stand, lamp, and a comfy bed.
brands
and other essentials.
Weekly cleaning
Basic supplies
Free high-speed WiFi
Weekly cleaning: Once a week, professional team cleans
Stocked household staples like pots, pans, dishes, paper tow-
The spaces are optimized for high-speed, commercial-grade
shared spaces, including kitchens, living rooms, and shared
els, and soap, so you don’ t have to run those pesky errands.
WiFi, included at no additional cost.
bathrooms.
BRANDING

The name collective was derived from the relation of the spaces and their users and activities that the space would be used for. It was appropriate to the form and function. It loosely portrays its space within space. The privacy with still having interactions and creating a sense of community. The brown recycled paper is keeping with the ethos of the facility; that of being sustainable.
Left to right: Cafe merchandise branding illustrations

SCHEMATIC DESIGN
74
Space Planning I Circulation Plans
Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works - Steve Jobs
05

SPACE PLANNING
Below: Bubble diagram

The characteristics were translated into the spatial design both vertically and horizontally. The entire space is visually connected as its original structure allows for such openness. The space is divided into five key focus areas. The connection between the indoor and the outdoor is facilitate by food. The living kitchen is therefore placed strategically near the outdoor but still indoor. Adjacent to the co-working and living room. The co-working space is a controlled access area, which will be accessed by both guests and residents. The living room has eight huddle areas which looses are derived from how a coconut scatters when broken but still has function. The same is translated into creating semi-private spaces without creating visual barriers. The outdoor is a space designed to encourage people to sit outside and mingle with each other. There is also a flexible setup to accommodate large crowds for events. There is a re-purposed shipping container which is converted into a outdoor meeting space and also a food hub for the outdoor area. An organic box garden for fresh home grown produce, which can then be hand picked by the users and given to the chefs to create home style meals. The ten micro private pods reside on mezzanine level.
Below: Block diagram, level one and two
Below: Building section showing vertical stacking
LEVEL 3
2
1
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION Balcony: Private Space
Micro Private Pods, Shower, Toilets : Private Space Outdoor Seating : Public Space Organic Garden Pits: Semi Public Space Living Kitchen/Cafe: Public
Co-Working: Semi Private Living Room: Semi Private
The space is vertically divided into three levels. Level one house the outdoor area along with the organic gardens, which then connect you to the indoors which lead to the living kitchen. The living kitchen has visual connection with the co-working area as well as the living room area. It offers a variety of seating options. The co-working space can be accessed from two given points. One from the main entrance and the other from the living room. The living room is divided into eight huddles and one key highlight which is the hammock garden which is a organically structured net mesh which people can sit or lay on with getting a closer look at the detailed intricate work that exists on the dome of the structure.

CIRCULATION PLANS

The circulation in this space has being planned keeping in mine the main underline goal to create more human connection. With this said the various people coming from various parts of the world conserve personal space and privacy at different regards. The space is therefore planned keeping in mind a universal level of design to work for all. In the illustrations on the right we can see how there is a certain level of restriction to the users who are guests of the space appose to the residents. Residents all allowed to access all space day or night. The guests however are not. The mezzanine and balcony level is strictly limited access to only the residents. Level one however is free access to all the spaces other than the co-working space which has a daily or a monthly fee after which it can be used.
Bottom left to right: Level one circulation diagram. Level two circulation diagram

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
82
Floor Plans I Five Focus Areas I
Materials I Renderings
Design is so simple, that's why its so complicated - Paul Rand
06

LEVEL 1
C
D A B
A. Living kitchen B. Co-working space C. Living room D. Outdoor area E. Micro private pods Level 1 - Floor Plan

The collective is an illustration of adaptive reuse. A abandoned church was brought back to life. The project is a collective between two very forthcoming concepts to support todays millennial lifestyle. On level one we have the outdoor area which is the first thing a user would encounter when entering the premises. They would then enter into the living kitchen which is adjoining to the living room. They then have a number of dining options, from bar seating to banquette to grab and go. They can further experience the intricate details of the architecture in a more visual and tactile form by engaging in the hammock garden. Further they will be giving a choice of a variety of eight different seating options to accommodate the level of privacy and comfort that they desire. If a user is more
interested in staying outdoors the provision of that is also made with a number of seating and lounging opportunities. For the people interested in the co-working aspect of the project they is a semi private meeting room within a shipping container outdoors as well. A guest who is present for only the co-working space will be given an access card to enter the zones. The co-working space also has the underlining design intention of promoting human interaction. Therefore the spaces are designed with keeping privacy and different work styles in mind yet having a very open overall design approach. This helps to encourage people to increase the level of collaboration.
LEVEL 2
E
A. Living kitchen B. Co-working space C. Living room D. Outdoor area E. Micro private pods Level 2 - Floor Plan
Moving to the mezzanine level, there are ten micro private pods that are housed there. The residents will be given access to the entire space including the kitchenette on level one which is adjoining the living kitchen. They have twenty four hours access to the entire facility.

LIVING KITCHEN Auguste Escoffier the famous French chef once said "Good food is the foundation of genuine happiness". He was of course a hundred percent on point. A person that has newly moved away from home will agree with this statement even more. From personal experience I can vouch for this. It was this very idea that started it all. What the city of San Francisco lacks the most is home cooked style meals. This was developed further by recruiting renowned chefs and introducing a new way of going about the structure of restaurants. The users provide a recipe and the chef prepares it right there and then. To make this process one step more authentic there is a provision of an organic box garden which grows fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs. The project wants to make this experience as close to a farm to table home style as possible. The living kitchen shares a common dishwasher and pantry area which is located in between the kitchenette and the living kitchen. The kitchenette is a fully equipped fa-
cility only for the resident of the space. They will have twenty four seven access to the facility. A provision from pots and pans, to crockery to silverware and basic snacks is all included in their experience. Guests that are in a rush can also opt for a grab and go option we at the collective understand that a meal cannot always be priority but we try to keep our guests well fed and hydrated at all times. For people of a smaller group or individuals who wish to make conversation with the chef , we have provided bar seating. This in turn ties back to the main idea of connections and great fruitful conversations with different individuals from different walks of life.
Level 5 32' - 11" Level 4 28' - 9"
Level 3 17' - 7"

Bottom left to right: Building section(A - A') facing the living kitchen (dotted area shows the living kitchen). Key plan. Focus area plan
Level 6 10' - 9" Level 2 9' - 7"
Level 1 0' - 0"
A
A'
This view helps further illustrate how a coconut after being broken is still used to cooking an many other such processes. Its versatility and properties of adaptability and having common uses is loosely translated into the space. The dish washing and pantry area in this space is used a as a common facility and the living kitchen just as the coconut is there to blend in and accommodate the new. The kitchenette on the other hand is a facility to provide food for residents at all times.

89
The rendering produced on the right side helps illustrate the finish vision of the designer. The materials used in this space were selected keeping in mind the form and function of the space. The flooring is picked to create a stark contrast with the bare white canvas of the church. Also relating back to the concept of the coconut. Going one step lighter a beach shade of veneer is used to create a warm yet light seating experience. The pinkish paint that is shown on the wall is a product called American Clay which is once

again sustainable in its formulation and application. The main ingredient is clay which is one of the oldest and most natural building materials. Clay offers durability, sustainability and beauty. It has zero percent mold growth, per test results from procedure ASTM D3273-00. Zero- Volatile Organic Compounds) VOC's. The longevity, recycled content and low maintenance of American Clay gives it (under the LEED-NC rating system, version 2.2).
91
92
93
B
B'
CO-WORKING SPACE
Co-working spaces are the need of the hour in San Francisco. The tech community is growing by the day in the Bay Area. The number of start ups has been the highest this century has ever witnessed. Most people that move to San Francisco move for work. The rents here are skyrocketing and therefore people resort to co-working spaces. The high influx of newbies in the city and the need for co-working spaces made this a perfect idea to have in San Francisco. The underline goal to the space is still to create meaningful connections and feel a sense of belonging. This concept has been further translated into the different spaces that have been designed within the co-working area. When you enter on your left you can see the step seating which allows people to sit at a different levels allowing for some privacy yet leaving the option open for a quick conversation. The different table heights of high farm tables for more casual conversation or work is located near the steps. We then have a banquette seating for a more formal meeting without walls or the requirement of a
desktop. There are a series of eight desktops for the users that absolutely need them. They area mounted on sit-stand tables with facilitates healthy ergonomic habits. Further we have a round table and a rectangular table of six seater each. To the left of those we have provided one four person meeting room with video and other technical support and a six person conference room adjacent to that. The far end of the co-working space has the private individual high lounge chair with USB and power connections, for people to have a private sound free experience. The last feature of this space is the informal seating along the periphery of the space which divides the living kitchen and the co-working space.
Level 5 32' - 11" Level 4 28' - 9"
Level 6 10' - 9" Bottom left to right: Focus area plan. Key plan. Building section (B - B') facing the co-working space(dotted area shows the living room),view of the step seating area

96
The aspect of how coconut coir is woven, is translated into this space it connects the two spaces besides it and within it, yet maintaining a visual path. The suspended unistrut frame work also shows us a visually similar projection. The perforated panels resemble the coir yarn when on the weavers loom. And the light that passes though at the initial stage just as it does for the visitor when they first enter the collective.

98
The rendering produced on the right side helps illustrate the finish vision of the designer. The materials used in this space were selected keeping in mind the form and function of the space. The flooring is picked to create a stark contrast with the bare white canvas of the church. Also relating back to the concept of the coconut Grey carpet called monochrome in the color seal from Interface. It is also keeping with the over all sustainable strategy of the space. Cool carpet certified, no glue installation, no VOC's, no mold or bacteria when tested in ASTM E2471.Declare Label certified and U.S. Green Build Council's (USGBC) LEED credits. Up to one hundred and forty point LEED credits available. The leather
is from Maharam called draft. Greenguard Gold Certified, LBC (Living Building Challenge) Red List Compliant, FR Free and PFC-Free. The Grey upholstery fabric is used from Maharam, called remix it has been tested for abrasion and has a one hundred thousand double rubs result certification. It is also keeping with the over all sustainable strategy of the space it contains biobased materials. Greenguard Gold Certified, LBC (Living Building Challenge) Red List Compliant, FR Free and PFC-Free.

100
101
LIVING ROOM
The living room space is an informal seating area. It is divided into eight huddle areas. It has an inbuilt library for book borrowing to encourage users to read. Some of the huddles have fixable movable screen to suit each ones privacy needs. Huddle one and two comprise of a sofa and two chairs with coffee tables. Huddle three is made up with two individual lounge chairs with foot rests. Huddle four has one couch two coffee tables and three poufs. Huddle five has a Kiko island seating with three other individual poufs. Huddles six has a large 'L' shape sofa. With two other individual chairs. Huddle seven has a single seater sofa with a two seater sofa along with coffee tables. Huddle eight has two individual lounge chairs which had a sight noise cancellation and piracy to a certain extent. It is accompanied by a long bench which has USB plugging available.
Bottom left to right: Building section (C - C')facing the entrance (dotted area shows the living room) ,view of the living room. Key plan. Focus area plan
The main key feature is the hammock garden which has been created to help the users better experience the detailed architecture of the dome and other intricate details. This allows them to get to a higher level and experience this. There is a low high seating also present to take advantage of the fifty feet hight ceiling. The access to the toilets are to the right of the hammock garden. There is a new lift which has been created to make the space ADA compliant. This lift takes you to the mezzanine level as well as the toilets. The staff offices are to the left of the hammock garden.
C'
C
This view helps further illustrate how a coconut after been broken and scattered into multiple pieces is still put to use and at time has more function after being split up. Adapting this very phenomena into the living room, the project has created eight huddle space, creating space with in space with no major visual barriers, but just by setting areas by materials and a few movable object.
105
The rendering produced on the right side helps illustrate the finish vision of the designer. The materials used in this space were selected keeping in mind the form and function of the space. The flooring is picked to create a stark contrast with the bare white canvas of the church. Also relating back to the concept of the coconut. Going one step lighter a beach shade of veneer is used to create a warm yet light seating experience. The yellow upholstery fabric Divina by Kvadrat which is suitable for its application its has been tested for abrasion and has a forty five thousand cycles, Martindale method result certification. It is also keeping with the over all sustainable strategy of the space it contains
bio-based materials. Greenguard Gold Certified, LBC (Living Building Challenge) Red List Compliant, FR Free and PFC-Free. The leather is from Maharam called draft. Greenguard Gold Certified, LBC (Living Building Challenge) Red List Compliant, FR Free and PFC-Free. The rug is from Maharam called Query and is also it contains bio-based materials and is LBC (Living Building Challenge) Red List Compliant, FR Free and PFC-Free.
107
108
109
D
OUTDOOR AREA
The outdoor area which is the first thing a user would encounter when entering the premises. It is a space which a variety of seating options from the lounge step seating which allows people to lie down and experience the outdoors on a sunny day. It has a provision of a fire pit for the cold foggy days which we experience a lot in San Francisco. A community farm style table with bar stools is also present. There is grass and paver blocks as the outdoor flooring. At the entrance on the right is a shipping container which has been re-purposed into a outdoor semi private meet-
Bottom left to right: Focus area plan . Key plan. Outdoor elevation (D) facing the shipping container
ing space and a small food stop for the people outdoors. The other end of the outdoor area has a organic box garden which grows fruits vegetables and herbs to help create a homely farm fresh dining experience. Behind that is anther shipping container which has been converted to a tool shed for all the equipment to help maintain the garden. The tunnel like arch which is connecting the outdoors with the living kitchen is an abstract of a coconut when cracked.
112
The process of weaving coconut into coir is what is the inspiration for this over head canopy installation. The raw coir will act as a partial light barrier as well as help in creating beautiful shadows depending on the time of the day. The characteristics of the coir resemble that of the target user. Its advantages are agro-renewability, biodegradability and a good blend of strength, length, extensibility, moisture regain, and high durability or resistance against sunlight, saline water, microbes.

114
The flooring was laid with new grass to create an inviting outdoor experience. The lounge chairs are arranged around the fire pit. They are made-of rattan, which help people relax while being around the fire. The chairs and the bar stools have a perforated white powder-coated metal seat which allows the air to pass thought, letting the skin breath. The contrast of the paver blocks and the grass is to create natural earthy tones, which house an inviting atmosphere.
116
117
MICRO PRIVATE PODS
The mezzanine level is a private area only for the residents. It consists of ten pods five on each side. Each individual pod is furnished with a bed, a study-table, table-lamp, stool and a clothes rack. This level has their own restrooms and shower facilities. They are also the only ones that have access to the balcony level. The pods have three different types of windows two on the wall surfaces and the third being a skylight. This allows the pods to bring in as much daylight as possible throughout the day decreasing the need for artificial light. The four pods near the two rose windows are ADA compliant. They area larger in size internally and also have the floor of the pods at the same level as the floor to allow smooth wheelchair transition to enter each one. The users can overlook most of the spaces below at all times.
Top left to right: Coconut deconstruction into organic shaped pods. Key plan. Focus area plan.
0 4’ 8’
16’
32’
The pods are inspired by the half broken coconut. The characteristics of how after it is broken is put to more use and the juices from within are then brought to the surface. The same way it is translated to the target users and their journey and how if they are shaken from their comfort zone(home) and put into a new home -they will shine.

121
The rendering produced on the right side helps illustrate the finish vision of the designer. The materials used in this space were selected keeping in mind the form and function of the space. The flooring is picked to create a stark contrast with the bare white canvas of the church. Also relating back to the concept of the coconut and the fibrous tactile lines on its surface. Going one step lighter a beach shade of veneer is used to create a warm yet inviting material for the flooring of the pods. The Grey upholstery fabric is
used from Maharam, called remix it has been tested for abrasion and has a one hundred thousand double rubs result certification. It is also keeping with the over all sustainable strategy of the space it contains bio-based materials. Greenguard Gold Certified, LBC (Living Building Challenge) Red List Compliant, FR Free and PFC-Free. Compliant, FR Free and PFC-Free. The bedding used is a color in the similar family as the stool upholstery fabric, to obtain a cohesive color palette.
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125
FINAL THOUGHTS
126
Summary
I
Conclusion
There is no elevator to success , you have to take the stairs .
07
THE COLLECTIVE WHERE CO-WORKING MET CO-LIVING
ABOUT
130
Autobiography I Resume I Bibliography
I was created to create .
08
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
I find myself fortunate to be able to present myself here today, I come from a land of plenty; India. Forms, shapes color and order is something I can proudly say were pretty much engraved in my DNA. I have never had a second career option in mind. Creating spaces and seeing my ideas come to life is what gives me a rush and a thrill to get up and keep going every morning. Here's my story: I have been born and brought up in the city of Mumbai in India. I have been training the right side of my brain since a very young age. I believe in seeking my dreams, I confidently chose change. I chose the opportunity that allows me to tap into my passion to fulfill my creative aspirations. I applied to the Academy of Art University to both set my design foundation as well as advance my momentum towards becoming a leading entrepreneur in the design industry. Until I get there, I will continue to work towards becoming a design thought-leader that fosters innovation and drives bottom line impact.
RESUME
Professional Experience Intern, Interior Designer, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, San Francisco, Summer 2018 Junior Design, JTCPL Designs, Mumbai, 2014 -2016
Education MFA, Interior Architecture & Design Academy of Art University, San Francisco, 2016 - 2019 Diploma, Interior Design, Mumbai, 2011-2014 Bachelors in Arts, Sociology, Mumbai, 2012 - 2015
Technical Skills Auto desk: Auto CAD, Revit, 3DS Max Adobe: Photoshop, InDesign Microsoft: Power point, Word, Excel
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Online and articles sources
https://www.common.com/design/ https://www.architectmagazine.com/project-gallery/wixcom-third-office-in-vilnius_o https://www.businessinsider.com/zoku-hotel-amsterdam-us-2016-10 https://www.azuremagazine.com/article/together-hostel-in-beijing-cau-pu/ https://www.wework.com/ https://www.airbnb.com/ http://sflib1.sfpl.org
https://www.bizjournals.com/
Copyright © 2019 by Nikita Sethna All rights reserved
Nikita Sethna I 04538278 I Academy of Art University I Spring 2019 I Thesis Book I MFA Interior Architecture and Design
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