San Francisco’s new federal building is a sigh of relief. San Francisco’s arcane Planning Commission lacks anything that might smack of modernity and he is what they say on their website: “
To guide the orderly and prudent use of land, in both natural and built environments, with the purpose of improving the quality of life and embracing the diverse perspectives of those who live in, work in, and visit San Francisco.
As I understand the Planning Commission was not consulted on the new Federal Building–as the Federal Government need not consult anyone about its edifice creation. And I have to say… that was a good thing. San Francisco’s architecture is outmoded, outdated, and radically futureless. The City has gotten its way and so have developers. The City has to strive for forward-looking architecture that is both kind to environment and on the eye. Stroll down the FinDi on Market Street and the eye is greeted with eyesore after eyesore and there are but just a few exceptions. Even structures built recently are far ancient looking than their materials would testify. The W Hotel on 3rd and Howard Street was originally planned as a Swissotel and the successor hotel operator could not go with a more update option; hence circa 1970s architecture ala late 1990s. The Gap headquarters by Robert A.M. Stern could have mistakenly designed by a university architecture studio class. Unremarkable, a waste of brick and mortar; an un-substantial crown. A symmetry, which to a casual viewer producer instantaneous and un-stoppable yawns. For such a high-profile architect, it is a disappointment that something keeping with modern architectural design and embrace of modern materials could not have employed. I am sure if you randomly asked people on the street when this building was constructed I am sure you would hear a lot of 80s and 90s responses.
Architecture is to inspire and to take upon itself to demonstrate its accumulated knowledge; things coming before that make a future structure un-forgettable and possible.
So when I hear an abundance of criticism of the new federal building; and this building leaves such a visual impression; that it is bold and striving for carving a space that leaves the eye pondering to the next form, the next line, the texture…. from each view it not only looks different it is an all encompassing space that speaks to modern architecture. The southern facade is my favourite view. The stainless sun shading system looks imperfect; and not that it was intentional. The building has gorgeous lines (but the lines are not sharp) but they are softened by the colour of the building a materials. The sun shading system looks like it is even delicate and it also questions the eye–where does the building begin? And there are small randomly placed openings (not windows) but exposure to the light or maybe it is for us? An opportunity to break the view and re-examine the skin of the building? The arching on the roof seems like it floats; levitates. I read a reviewing calling this a post-apocalyptic building; if it is a sign of the post-apocalyptic than I think we are fine.
I also recall there were reporting on the people working inside complaining ad nauseum about the design of this building. But I think that there are people who wouldn’t mind working in that building than say picking strawberries or tomatoes or other hard manual labour.
This building succeeds in creating a visual urban scape that seeks to liberate our selves from the cold architecture of 525, 555 or 575 Market Streets and the other horrific examples in San Francisco. The new federal building will live well into old age while other buildings will continually beg… “what were they thinking…”
Copyright – 2007 James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez
