CLIENT PROFILE:
The San Francisco Film Society's FilmHouse Residency program supports narrative feature films by making office space available free of charge for residencies to independent filmmakers actively engaged in various stages of film production. FilmHouse provides critical support to local and visiting filmmakers by fostering a thriving creative community that encourages collaboration, resource sharing, peer-to-peer feedback and networking opportunities. FilmHouse functions as a vibrant workshop and creative hub for filmmakers of all kinds.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
FilmHouse moved its San Francisco operations to a new space located on the fourth floor of a renovated mixed-use building that formerly housed a dim sum restaurant, movie theater, and dental offices. The building is located at the juncture of San Francisco’s Chinatown district to the south and North Beach neighborhood to the north. A central multi-function open space was created to accommodate a variety of collaborative functions around which private offices and lounges are located. New full-height partitions are provided in the east-west directions to maximize daylight from existing windows that face the urban neighborhood views. New property line windows were installed at the three west offices to provide additional natural light and inspiring urban views. Artificial lighting is primarily indirect and diffuse to provide the gentle light levels requested by the client.
The original roof structure and concrete floors are exposed as much as possible to create ample ceiling heights and openness.
Photography by Cesar Rubio