SAN FRANCISCO NICO RESTAURANT SAN FRANCISCO Our approach to Nico Restaurant’s new location was akin to the way the Chef approaches food—with an experiential and inviting sophistication, and decidedly not stuffy. Design choices err toward a pared down purity while accomplishing a higher intent. By exposing the original brick walls we returned architectural authenticity to the space, but also embedded the environment with Owners Andrea & Nicolas Delaroque’s belief in letting ingredients speak for themselves. The building’s historical significance was certainly on our mind during design, having been the midcentury home to SF’s legendary Black Cat Café. The Cat was a cultural institution—an early bohemian hangout where patrons packed in to be entertained by drag shows infused with groundbreaking advocacy for the LGBTQ community and civil liberties. We honored this past with subtle references. The main move was to put Chef Nico’s impeccable kitchen on full view through a wide opening framed in wood trim—as if it were a stage and the diners had front row seats. (In this case, patrons are here to witness the reclamation of a Michelin star, lost only due to relocation). Cat-print wallpaper adds a light touch in the restroom. Jewel tones on the painted exterior and base of the marble-topped bar harken to a French brasserie. Patterned concrete tile flooring enlivens the entry and bar area. The ambiance of the dining area is tempered by nicely detailed wood elements, plaster wall surfaces, a leather-backed banquette and upholstered seating. Back to Projects page Client Nico Restaurant BBA Team Bonnie Bridges Sarah Fucinaro Size 2,900 SF Contractor ACI General Contractors Collaborators MEP: MHC Engineers Photography Mariko Reed Back to top

AUBURN AUBURN HOUSE AUBURN Set on 100 acres in the Sierra Foothills, the Auburn House embodies the simple, casual and hardy spirit of a modern farmhouse. Through its orientation, sustainable systems and material palette, the home embodies the pastoral and inspiring landscape of lakes, blue oaks, manzanitas and grasses. Anchored into the natural slope of the terrain through a board-form concrete retaining wall, the house is quietly positioned between the idyllic stream-fed lake below and rocky granite outcropping above. The concrete wall’s earthen thermal mass cools the interior, crucial to mitigating the dry, hot summers. On the north side of the house two dormers pop up to allow for picture views toward the rocky terrain. These, along with the operable skylights throughout the house, supply passive cooling and ventilation and diffused natural light. The compact, 2,700 SF house has two wings: the public wing that includes living/dining/kitchen, wine cellar, pantry and powder room, and the private wing that consists of the master suite, media room and guest bedroom. This wing is slightly canted to capture views of a large cluster of native blue oaks. A large, linear patio connects the two wings with outdoor lounge areas, garden beds, cedar trellis and a deep overhang on the south side offering shade for relaxation and family gatherings. A 75-foot lap pool parallels the patio and reflects the native oak landscape. Meandering paths crisscross the site and invite tranquil walking meditation. Back to Projects page Client Confidential BBA Team Bonnie Bridges Stephanie Griffith Size 2,700 SF Contractor Saturn Construction Collaborators Structural: Nellie Ingraham Civil: Atteberry & Associates Surveyor: Andregg Geomatics Geotechnical: Holdrege & Kull Photography Bruce Damonte Studio BBA Back to top

SAN FRANCISCO MAZARINE COFFEE SAN FRANCISCO Mazarine Coffee exemplifies a passion for coffees from around the world and a pursuit of the perfect cup, and pays homage to its namesake Bibliotheque Mazarine—the oldest public library in France—with communal space for reflection, inquiry and interactions. Visually, the patterning of tiled alcoves in the café subtly mimics the rhythm of library shelving. Mazarine is also a deep shade of blue, which in nature is embodied by the Mazarine Blue butterfly. Studio BBA selected a palette that took its cue from this vibrant hue, adding complimentary colors in the space to create a warm, inviting, positive atmosphere. The refined materials chosen to define the café: marble—tile, wood and brass—are intentionally in contrast to the exposed, raw texture of the base building. A leather-backed banquette provides seating for patrons having a quick coffee or bite, while communal tables in the back of the café offer space for larger gatherings, meetings and longer stays. Back to Projects page Client Mazarine Coffee BBA Team Bonnie Bridges Megan McGuinn Size 1,500 SF Contractor Peacock Construction Collaborators Kitchen, Restaurant + Bar Specialists Photography Nicholas V. Ruiz Back to top

SAN FRANCISCO FLATIRON WINES SAN FRANCISCO This prominent New York city retailer, known for their incredible breadth of wine and friendly experts, came to us to design their second U.S. shop—a ‘super boutique’ in San Francisco’s storied Palace Hotel. The Palace location inherently elevated the design language with a sense of elegance and tradition, relating well to their vintner and collector relationships. But equally important was the need to set a social, welcoming tone, to maintain their appeal for all levels of enthusiasts. Our work was cut out for us, as the square footage and location were perfect for the client but existing conditions posed a couple big challenges. The first task was to remedy layers of dated renovations, for which we decided it was necessary to mount a major cleanup and strip the space down to its shell. The other challenge was addressing the labyrinthine structure of the space, compartmentalized in a series of little rooms and long corridors. We chose to use this historic framework to Flatiron’s advantage, creating a place in which to wander, get lost and delight in discovery, as you would in a library. For each of the retailer’s functions we created a distinct room, maintaining separation while opening up varying sightlines. Intentional, meandering pathways allow customers to explore arbitrarily, balanced by clear ‘boulevards’ for a more direct course. The two types of circulation are distinguished by subtle changes in floor finish, matte and bright pendant lighting, and articulated thresholds. Literally miles of custom shelving in white oak and raw steel allow for displaying Flatiron’s vast offerings (over 4,000 bottles of wine and spirits), and distinguish the tasting rooms and lovely and intimate spirits room. The street-level, light-filled tasting room connects to city life through large windows. The private, basement-level tasting cave is an introspective space for the visitor to discover. The décor is a mix of classic, contemporary and industrial, with feature lighting and vintage furnishings and art. Back to Projects page Client Flatiron Wines BBA Team Bonnie Bridges Anand Sheth Size 5,800 SF Contractor Northern Sun Collaborators Fabricator: Boden Alexander Photography Nicholas V. Ruiz Back to top

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO PARK PADEL SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO A luxe and approachable 6-court Padel club with new locker rooms, retail, court viewing areas and soft seating lounges is currently under construction for Park Padel in South San Francisco. Back to Projects page Client Park Padel BBA Team Bonnie Bridges Samantha Buckley Michelle Cruz Size 26,000 SF Contractor Principal Builders Inc Collaborators Structural: Spectrum Engineering Photography Studio BBA Back to top

SOMA, SAN FRANCISCO THUMBTACK HQ SOMA, SAN FRANCISCO Thumbtack was committed to staying in its ‘hood of origin—South of Market (SOMA)—as it grows and goes global, and entrusted Studio BBA to advise them on their move from the get-go. We assisted with site evaluation/selection, helping them find a just-renovated, warm shell building that fit their start-up budget and desired industrial aesthetic. We then transitioned into providing full tenant improvement services for both architecture and interiors, custom furniture design and production management, and ongoing interior and graphic design services. The term “office” doesn’t suit the Thumbtack culture – their product is a welcoming interface, their HQ feels like a studio, and the people who work there are like family. To match this tone Studio BBA took a ‘residential-ized’ design approach to the space, and striking a balance between individual and ‘family’ needs. Their friendly atmosphere is made evident from the ground floor with fully visible public spaces: greet, meet and play areas, the lunchroom, bar and phone booths, and a commercial kitchen well-equipped for producing the lovingly prepared meals shared by staff daily. A bike parking ‘lounge’ is nested in the stairwell for security. Open space planning on the 2nd 3rd and 4th floor work areas provides individual desks as well as designated spaces for collaboration including informal meeting rooms with sliding glass doors, and small code caves set-up for side-by-side work. The multiple ‘living rooms’ and lounge spaces throughout each have their own character and color story. Furnishings are a mix of local, retail and contract furniture, designed and chosen for pragmatics and comfort. Studio BBA designs include the reception desk, and the “wide-hex” meeting tables that merge the communal nature of a circular table with the ergonomic efficiency of straight edges. Back to Projects page Client Thumbtack BBA Team Bonnie Bridges David Ornvold Anand Sheth Size 23,200 SF Contractor Matarozzi Pelsinger Builders Collaborators Architect of Record: Costa-Brown Architecture Reception Desk Fabricator: Chris French Conference Table Fabricator: MASH Studios Photography Bruce Damonte Back to top

SAN FRANCISCO BERNAL HEIGHTS HOUSE SAN FRANCISCO Form and function exist hand-in-hand in this joy-filled modern home. An intricately detailed dwelling for a tight-knit family of four, the Bernal Heights House boasts inspired finishes, strategic placemaking and conceptually rich accents throughout. An homage to the dad’s family home in Australia, designed by his architect-father, Studio BBA conceived of a “rescue house.” “Memories of the outside world will never have the same tonality as those of home and, by recalling these memories, we add to our store of dreams; we are never real historians , but always near poets , and our emotion is perhaps nothing but an expression of a poetry that was lost.” -Gaston Bachelard, The Poetics of Space An all-too-true San Francisco story applies here; after searching for years for a new home, the family finally settled on one in terrible shape and with few resources left for a renovation. Through a strategic design exercise, Studio BBA assisted the family in a new design approach, circumventing the Planning Department by staying within the building’s envelope and expanding down. Coupled with the necessary foundation upgrade, the new lower level added minimal work for maximum opportunities. The program is split between three floors: a lower floor for parents, a middle floor for the family, and an attic floor for the kids. The levels are tied together and enveloped in wood: a douglas fir slatted ceiling above and a white oak hardwood floor below. The wood detailing visually extends as an outdoor canopy, integrating the outdoor bathing and lounging space adjacent to the master suite. Studio BBA took advantage of every nook to achieve function and beauty. The Welcome Niche at the top of the stairs provides a place for everyday objects, serving platters, and family games. Open wood shelves display Australian heirlooms and family artworks. Efficiently planned kitchens and baths host colorful tile and new daylight via two added skylights and large sliding doors. Added space even allowed for an upright piano in the dining room. Like all BBA projects, sustainability is inherent to the design and integrated into every design detail; this house is solar powered and offers radiant heating on two floors, leaving the attic uncontrolled because the building envelope is tightened and heat naturally rises. Our design work continues with a new garden project and mural in the stairwell. Back to Projects page Client Confidential BBA Team Bonnie Bridges Megan McGuinn Size 1,890 SF Contractor Elliot Build Remodel Collaborators Semco Engineering Photography Brian McCloud Photography Back to top

SAN FRANCISCO PLAYSTUDIOS SAN FRANCISCO PlayStudios made the decision to move from the Peninsula to downtown, reducing their square footage but doubling-down on a location that put them alongside premier VC firms, and being in an urban center that partners wanted to visit. After the lease was signed, Studio BBA was brought in to refresh the space into something nearly unrecognizable. Walking into this space, fronting fabulous South Park in San Francisco, it would have been perfect as-is if you were seeking an industrial steam-punk office. That vibe did not align with the brand and identity standards of online gaming company PlayStudios—where they emerged as a light and bright brand in hospitality forward Las Vegas. The program and use of each space was inspired by an activity based workplace—the hybrid office allows heads-down focus work to happen at home, and brings the office to an activated social role in their workplace culture. This shift was to help create a magnet rather than mandate to return to office. To make the most of the leased area, Studio BBA helped to convert the very low storage loft into a cozy gaming lounge with low to the floor individual seats arced around the console system, and a nearby round table for board games. We were told a sweet story after the project completed, that a group of the staff get together on Saturdays to use the game table. Pride of place has attracted not just their staff, but friends, family and extended networks. Emphasizing play, Tinkering Monkey and the PlayStudios team brought our vision to life, creating an interactive art installation that makes you pause to play with an analog View-Master toy to view PlayStudios’ original art created by their illustrators. The art installation is just one layer of the detail attended to the accessories. Furniture selections with complimenting pillows, to planters and their plants, lamps, rugs, and a toiletry program to add a level of care to the restroom. Juxtaposing the minimal and bright design of the space, Studio BBA designed a plant program to extend the park on their doorstep in through the folding glass door façade, layering life into the office. Back to Projects page Client PlayStudios BBA Team Bonnie Bridges Samantha Buckley Vishnu Balunsat Size 2,695 SF Contractor GCI Collaborators Furniture: RDI Signage: Tinkering Monkey Plants: Flora Grubb Gardens Photography Jasper Sanidad Back to top

FORT MASON, SAN FRANCISCO EQUATOR FORT MASON FORT MASON, SAN FRANCISCO Our sixth cafe with Equator Coffee & Teas, this historic San Francisco waterfront location occupies the original Fort Mason Gatehouse—rejuvenating the building to resume its role in welcoming visitors to the complex. Studio BBA worked hand in hand with the Client, Fort Mason Center, and the National Park Service to develop a lovely space for people to enjoy while respecting the site’s significance. Being part of the larger Fort Mason cultural community, it was important to conceive this new café in relationship to the whole campus, its master plan and goals for the future. We love to celebrate beauty in utility, and we generally opt for reason over flourish—striving for all elements to serve a purpose while being aesthetically pleasing. These principles were top of mind when designing this new café—further inspired by Fort Mason’s utilitarian nature. Formerly known as the “San Francisco Port of Embarkation”, for more than 100 years the complex was a U.S. army post, coastal defense site and military port facility. Design concepts for a plaza surrounding the café are in the Fort Mason Center’s pipeline! Back to Projects page Client Equator Coffees BBA Team Bonnie Bridges Sarah Fucinaro Size 675 SF Contractor ACI Construction Collaborators MEP: MHC Engineers Photography Eric Rorer Back to top

BERKELEY TARTINE BERKELEY BERKELEY Tartine Berkeley is in the historic Graduate Hotel, a Spanish Colonial style building from 1928. Over the years, the space has evolved from a floral shop, into a sunroom, and now a feature bakery. Studio BBA was engaged to design Tartine’s fifth Bay Area restaurant while we were constructing The Manufactory LA and designing Tartine Inner Sunset , allowing for the emergent process of design to shape this new space. The building’s story, like all of Studio BBA’s work for Tartine, was a main inspirational driver for the design. There is nothing to “roll out” and no mandates on continuity, only the desire to approach our circumstances with strategy and authenticity. Sunrooms are filled with clay tiles and potted plants, garden furniture and wrought-iron, and beautiful light casts over white-washed structures. Tartine Berkeley’s layout achieves internal function while providing maximum visibility through the existing multi-paned windows. Dialed-in millwork consists of heavy cypress, refined zinc (an incidental carry-over from the utilitarian dining rooms in LA), and custom steel and glass. The café’s lounge seating, detailed with traditional wood paneling and elevated furniture, is only accessible through the hotel’s lobby; the flow between spaces is intentionally disconnected, as the change in floor elevation infringed on accessibility requirements. Studio BBA took this challenge head-on, to create engaging spaces for people of all mobilities and adhere strictly to the ADA (which was born just one block away, on UC Berkeley’s campus). An articulated drink pass was reinstated during construction to provide functionality and visual continuity between the café & lounge. To reinforce the sunroom design elements, the space features custom hanging metal bread racks and precious ceramic planters. The back of house is just as considered – organized and oriented to be washed with light through façade windows and skylights. Back to Projects page Client Tartine Bakery BBA Team Bonnie Bridges Anand Sheth Size 1,500 SF Contractor Echo Summit Construction Collaborators MEP: Acies Engineering Lighting: Hiram Banks Lighting Design Kitchen Equipment: Myers Food Service Photography Eric Rorer Photography Back to top