229 Ellis Street
Client:
229 Ellis Street
Scope:
Residential
Location:
San Francisco, CA
Size:
24,000
Co-housing pioneer, StarCity, was founded to address San Francisco's urgent need for affordable and accessible homes. Huntsman was tasked with transforming a 24,000 sf historic and neglected building into an innovative living space based on the idea of community. The building, situated in the Tenderloin neighborhood, is designed with 52 units of modern co-living space, featuring shared communal spaces and private bedrooms and bathrooms.
Credits:
Compliments of 229 Ellis
The design strikes a balance between public and private, personal and shared, with multiple vignette settings allowing groups of residents to use amenities simultaneously but still feel like they have their own space. The building is optimized for efficiency, with custom furniture made for the studio-sized units.
Common spaces are themed around the building's past use as a bathhouse, with an aquatic color scheme of aquas and blues developed by a historic preservation consultant. The design also incorporates exposed brick and Moroccan tile in the kitchens and lobbies. A rooftop terrace and back patio were added to connect tenants to the outdoors, and the roof was raised to create a new penthouse level.
A former retail space now serves as a flexible resource for local organizations, a meeting venue, or an art gallery, connecting residents to their greater community.
