Quonset Project

Quonset Project
© Paúl Rivera
Quonset Project
© Paúl Rivera

QUONSET PROJECT

Brett Farrow Architect

AREA
8347 ft²

LOCATION
Carlsbad, United States

YEAR
2016

MANUFACTURERS
Western Window Systems, Clopay, MillGard

OTHER PARTICIPANTS
Chris Miller, Mark Warren Jacques & Heidi Farrow

PHOTOGRAPHS
Paúl Rivera, Chris Miller

LEAD ARCHITECTS
Brett Farrow

CATEGORY
Restaurants & Bars, Renovation

Architect + Developer Brett Farrow has re-purposed a defunct auto repair shop and converted it into a new design and entertainment venue. Located in the Southern California beach town of Carlsbad, the approximately 8,347 sf project includes a design studio, cocktail bar, restaurant, café, and wine tasting room.

The Quonset Project, named after and inspired by the existing WWII era Quonset hut on the site, was initially conceived to be a new mixed-use development. But, the buildings’ unique character, patinas, large volumes and readymade courtyard space inspired a different approach.

Quonset Project
© Paúl Rivera
Quonset Project
© Paúl Rivera

The core vision for the project was to create a place that had activity, creativity and life from sunrise to midnight every day.

To achieve this effect tenants were selected based on how they would contribute to this goal. The result is a destination that has brought much needed vitality to the area.

The chain link and cyclone wire fences that originally ringed the site were dropped in order to de-privatize the space and offer to the public a short cut to the adjacent train station to the rear.

Quonset Project
© Chris Miller
Quonset Project
© Paúl Rivera

The existing structures were then configured to open onto a shared courtyard passage space with a simple, spare landscape concept that transformed the former driveway and parking lot into a year round dining and gathering space.

The landscape palate consists of three mature olive trees, craned into position, left in their boxes, and clad with redwood and metal.

Quonset Project
© Paúl Rivera
Quonset Project
© Chris Miller

The existing structures themselves were primarily pre-fabricated and included the previously mentioned Quonset hut, a Butler Building and an open sided carport.

Building on this industrial legacy the layers of haphazard additions were peeled back to reveal natural and fundamental building materials which were then exposed and expressed as part of the new design. Western red cedar siding, zincalume panels and large sectional garage doors were used throughout the remodeled spaces.

Quonset Project
© Paúl Rivera
Quonset Project
© Paúl Rivera

The new second story addition was conceived as a bold and simple element that would create a presence on the street. The steep roof lines were initially an exaggerated response to zoning regulations that required pitched roofs but eventually became more about recreating and expressing the large volumes of the industrial era buildings.

The simple metal skin was similarly chosen to re-relate to the existing character of the site and allowed to naturally oxidize. Large format glass was then selected to create a sun drenched interior.

Quonset Project
© Paúl Rivera


Quonset Project
Ground Floor Plan
Quonset Project
Upper Floor Plan
Quonset Project
Section