I drove through San Fransisco on hwy 80 last weekend and noticed a number of impressive new structures going up around the urban core of the city. One that really stood out was the Federal Building which sits on the edge of the skyscrapers as one approaches up the penninsula, a large sculptural block on the edge of a collosal gathering. It kinda reminded me of that big desert transport in Star Wars. The architecture is out of character of the city, as are other recent structures like the De Young museum, but this kind of diversity is perhaps just what San Fransisco needs.
The New York Times hails this civic monument by Thom Mayne of Morphosis as “his most powerful government work to date.” Ideal for government structures, the building is permanent and solid, grandiose and setting the curve. What is remarkable, however, is the transparency. The metal cladding and environmentally sensive glass reflect the imposition, clandestiny, well-intentions, and shortcomings of our government. In an age of terrorism and secrecy, it is refreshing to see what’s going on in buildings
The building carefuly handles the uncertain social and political realm with a deep amount of public hierarchty inside and out. With idealistc modernism yet honest realism, Thom Mayne inserts optimism into a tired and often frantic urban core.
Completed in 2007, the building has 18 floors. As the first naturally ventilated office building on the west coast, it consumes less than half the energy of a typical office building this size.
Interveiw with the architect , More info and images
(rafael-castillo– flickr/creative commons license)
(joevare– flickr/creative commons license)
({Guerrilla Futures | Jason Tester}– flickr/creative commons license)
({Guerrilla Futures | Jason Tester}– flickr/creative commons license)
(duff_sf– flickr/creative commons license)
(FHKE– flickr/creative commons license)
(FHKE– flickr/creative commons license)
