Sited in a historic building of the Presidio, this project required an approach to adaptive re-use that was a dramatic, but ultimately light, touch. The charm of the original building rested in its barn-like simplicity in both form and detail. Our re-design, while obviously leaning towards the modernist aesthetic, aims to maintain the sense of utilitarian simplicity expressed in the original structure.
The building's generous central open volume, with its adjoining window-wall, was the obvious site for the restaurant's dining area. A long bar, running almost the full length of the room, occupies the back of the space. Mirrors on the back wall reflect out to the window-wall view beyond. A lot of the original details were re-used but updated to keep the interior visually clean and contemporary. The walls were stripped back to board lumber sheathing and repainted in their original scheme. The Celotex ceiling was retained and painted white. Liquor cabinets on the back wall of the bar were reclaimed medicine cabinets from the Presidio Salvage, saved from the Letterman Hospital nearby.
New features were articulated using classic materials. The Carrera marble bar, industrial steel sash room dividers, and leather banquettes are modern expressions but refer back to 1920s design. Simple "Thomas Edison" bulbs light the space. A communal dining table, designed and built by the Lundberg shop, stands as the visual focus of the furnishings. The modern touches do not overwhelm the old buildings, but instead work with it.
Client: Ray and Shawn Tang
Project Lead: Wylie Price
LD Fabrication: Ryan Hughes, Jeff Loehmann
Contractor: Terra Nova Industries
Published:
San Francisco Chronicle Magazine, Dining Out, March 2007
