SOMA Residence, Artist Gallery & Studio

SOMA Residence, Artist Gallery & Studio
© Cesar Rubio Photography

SOMA RESIDENCE, ARTIST GALLERY & STUDIO

Dumican Mosey Architects

AREA
8000 ft²

YEAR
2017

CONTRACTOR
Interspace Builders Inc

ACOUSTIC ENGINEER 
Charles M Salter Associates

MANUFACTURERS
AutoDesk, Dornbracht, Neolith, Blu Bathworks, Boffi, Delta Light, Miele, Siematic, Toto, VitrA, Rollmatic, Trimble

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Provest Structural Engineering

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER 
Herzog Geotechnical Consulting Engineers

CATEGORY
Gallery, Houses

LOCATION
San Francisco, United States

SOMA Residence, Artist Gallery & Studio
© Cesar Rubio Photography
SOMA Residence, Artist Gallery & Studio
© Cesar Rubio Photography

Text description provided by architect.

The existing historic industrial-use building provided a unique canvas and challenging opportunity for this carefully considered adaptive re-use project in the rapidly evolving SOMA neighborhood of San Francisco.

SOMA Residence, Artist Gallery & Studio
© Kirsten Hepburn Photography
SOMA Residence, Artist Gallery & Studio
© Cesar Rubio Photography

Historic elements of the front facade were restored and refurbished, while new modernist infill elements were introduced at the ground level, creating a dynamic relationship between new and old as experienced from the street and pedestrian level.

The second floor was transformed into a 4,500 square foot, full-floor “NYC-style” residential loft; focused toward a new 20’x20′ convertible courtyard carved into the existing floor plate with a motorized operable glass roof, and expansive upper-level roof deck.

SOMA Residence, Artist Gallery & Studio
© Cesar Rubio Photography
SOMA Residence, Artist Gallery & Studio
© Kirsten Hepburn Photography
SOMA Residence, Artist Gallery & Studio
© Cesar Rubio Photography

The ground floor includes a two-car garage, residential guest unit, and new artist gallery & studio.

Our clients’ primary goal for the project included a strong interplay between art, sculpture, and the newly conceived architecture; specifically, the qualities of light, space, texture, materiality, and flow throughout.

Working within constraints The project's status as a historic industrial-use building proved its primary constraint, requiring that the existing facade remain unchanged.

SOMA Residence, Artist Gallery & Studio
© Kirsten Hepburn Photography
SOMA Residence, Artist Gallery & Studio
© Cesar Rubio Photography

The resulting design merges clean modern expression with the building's industrial shell, creating a seamless transition from interior to exterior, from new to old.

The project's location proved further difficulty, as the soil (existing fill from the 1906 earthquake), poor both seismically and environmentally, added structural challenges.

Sustainability Highlights The project features reclaimed hardwood flooring throughout, and low-flow plumbing fixtures are installed in all spaces. Additionally, the central outdoor courtyard can be fully opened, allowing for passive ventilation throughout major living spaces.

SOMA Residence, Artist Gallery & Studio
© Cesar Rubio Photography


SOMA Residence, Artist Gallery & Studio
SOMA Residence, Artist Gallery & Studio
SOMA Residence, Artist Gallery & Studio


SOMA Residence, Artist Gallery & Studio
Plan
SOMA Residence, Artist Gallery & Studio
Plan
SOMA Residence, Artist Gallery & Studio
Roof deck