CALIFORNIA STREET,       SAN FRANCISCO

The California Street Apartments exemplify an effective model to take a previously underutilized rental space and turn it into a more effective source of income.  When Q-Architecture was brought onto a project that started as a simple foundation renovation the question was: “But what to do with the existing unit?”  By reimagining the spatial layout, we increased the number of rentable units.  Like many San Francisco properties, the existing structure was faced with two property line walls, and could be rented as little more than a basement apartment.  We improved ambiance by letting a flood of light and air into the units via removing unnecessary structure, lightening the finishes to increase reflectivity, and incorporating contemporary features such as rain screen.  Then, we added a greenwall in an otherwise lifeless alley, thus creating two marketable ‘garden units.’