DREAMING BIG WITH GROUND OAKLAND We often have clients find us through the myriad of hospitality projects that we have done over the years . . . where people connect the dots of their favorite Bay Area places (and their ability to foster deeper human connections) back to us. It is endearing and humbling and sometimes surprising, as is the case with these speculative projects for Binta Ayofemi and her non-profit, Ground. Over the course of two years, we worked with this artist to create the master plan, the collages and the architectural backbone for her ambitious artistic vision. You can see the results of one such project at Commons in Oakland. The others live on as dreams for a fairer future in which the flow of global capital emerges from the ground where ideas are born. Back to Projects page Client Binta Ayofemi, Ground BBA Team Bonnie Bridges Anand Sheth Vishnu Balunsat Size Varies Contractor Unbuilt Collaborators Binta Ayofemi Photography None Back to top

DROPBOX HQ SAN FRANCISCO Our design for this young company’s new 70,000 sq. ft. China Basin headquarters provides flexibility for their fast-growing business, while introducing innovative approaches to urban workplace density. If cubicles are the suburbs then our approach to Dropbox HQ is downtown, with their core product as the design inspiration. The company’s new workspace a simple, well-executed container that maximizes functionality and allows for customization without compromising honest aesthetics. Our design reiterates our belief that all spaces – particularly the all-too-often neglected office – deserve real materials and attentive, appropriately-scaled interventions. The primary challenge of this design was to continue the charged and collaborative newsroom feel of the company’s former open office space, while planning for projected growth that could more than quadruple staff. Wrapping the existing building core, a nearly 1,600 ft. continuous circulation loop provides daylight and views to the entire office. The open space plan is organized to be approachable but intensively active and vibrant. Team groupings of open workstations and centralized social spaces line the glazed perimeter, interspersed with shared work rooms, interview and meeting spaces, and informal lounges. The scale and placement of the work groups provides team unity and isolated acoustics, while still maintaining views to neighboring groups to achieve the company’s desire that everyone maintain a connection to overall density. Specific auxiliary spaces include: phone, break, game, music, server, gym, kitchen, and dining. Back to Projects page Client Dropbox BBA Team Bonnie Bridges Seth Boor Sarah Fucinaro Size 70,000 SF Contractor Skyline Construction Collaborators Interiors: Geremia Design Photography Bruce Damonte Studio BBA Back to top

THE PLANT CAFÉ ORGANIC - DOGPATCH SAN FRANCISCO Revitalizing the exposed brick and timbers, original sash windows and concrete floors of this space in the storied 1915 American Can Company sets the backdrop for this location of The Plant Café Organic. At the heart of the Dogpatch neighborhood, the ACC complex was originally dedicated to manufacturing but has evolved into an epicenter for designers, artists, makers, culinary businesses and cultural spaces. Studio BBA’s design approach focused on creating integral outdoor spaces and connections to surrounding businesses. By cutting a new opening through the rear brick wall, we introduced access to the existing courtyard patio, now framed by a beautiful custom mahogany door. An enormous ceramic planter and palm add greenery, and a new window into the adjacent bakery adds interconnectivity. Inside, custom steel and maple shelving and tables, dimensional Heath Ceramics tiles, and truly awesome carnivorous plant-themed wallpaper enliven the space. This café adjoins The Plant Café Organic’s ‘mother ship’ facility, which they affectionately refer to as “the plant of The Plant”—the central kitchen where new and seasonal creations are developed, provisions are prepped and distributed, and their catering operation is housed. The café’s adjacency to this facility lends the atmosphere a tone of inspiration and invention. Back to Projects page Client The Plant Caf é Organic BBA Team Seth Boor Bonnie Bridges Megan McGuinn Size 2,400 SF Contractor Justin Farrelly, Inc. Collaborators Structural: Degenkolb Photography Nicholas V. Ruiz Back to top

TARTINE MANUFACTORY LA LOS ANGELES The vast, two-story SoCal abode we’ve designed for Tartine Manufactory DTLA houses an ecosystem of high-volume artisanal food and beverage concepts, including food production, restaurants, cafes and a marketplace under one umbrella. Occupying an entire building at ROW DTLA in LA’s Arts District, the site has ties to Tartine’s value for local ingredients and farmers as it was originally home to the LA Terminal Market—the center of produce distribution across the region. Through adaptive reuse efforts, it’s now 30+-acres of historic buildings and gardens reborn as a place for culture, retail, eateries, innovation and creativity. Inspired by the intrinsic connection between place-making, process and service, our design team’s approach was to balance the magnitude of the industrial building, with its high ceilings and huge windows, with modern, human-scaled pavilion-like elements that are distinct but interrelated. The Tartine Craft Bakery + Mill is the company’s regional headquarters for Los Angeles bread and pastry production and distribution for which we designed an architectural framework for the large equipment and chose a palette of refined, tactile, utilitarian materials. The highly visible, full-scale operations are punctuated by custom displays of tools and goods to highlight the baking process. Several mills and a grain silo are located in the basement level, as well as a huge coffee roastery using direct trade-purchased beans in collaboration with Califia Farms. A sunken exterior patio flanks one side of the bakery allowing for visual access into the basement coffee roastery, and a gateway into “The Narrows”—a communal alley boasting outdoor seating for each establishment. Across the shared central kitchen is an expansive marketplace with restaurant and ice cream shop. For the small market we were inspired by the circumstantial charm of an urban apartment pantry. Custom display shelving and lighting emphasize the curated selection of seasonal produce, gourmet foods and artful kitchen goods. The casual, accessible, boisterous market restaurant features a related palette to that of the bakery, and is designed with areas that cater to both lingering meals and hastier bites. Tartine’s Cookies+Cream is an ice cream shop and café, oriented toward a large transaction window, allowing for quick service and giving patrons proximity to the café seating along an elevated catwalk. An oasis of its own, Coffee Lab is an experimental station where coffee enthusiasts can witness the roasting process and taste micro-lot coffees. We purposefully separated the Lab from the bustling complex in an elegant jewel box where patrons can stay to interact with the experimenters or enjoy their coffee at the outdoor patio’s custom sculptural drink rail surrounded by coffee plants. Naturally varied mosaic tile serves as a backdrop to the sample roaster and custom wall of archival cabinetry. Large roll-up doors open onto the building’s breezeway and encourage a sense of discovery in the entry sequence. Continuing down “The Narrows” a densely planted trellis canopy marks the entry to the dinner restaurant, another collaboration of Tartine and Bianco. Our design alludes to the enchanting qualities of a kitchen garden—the intimate exterior bar and dining room are filled with aromatic herbs and colorful citrus while the warm, familiar dining rooms provide homes for the chef’s father’s oil paintings and other curios. Back to Projects page Client Tartine Bakery BBA Team Bonnie Bridges Seth Boor Anand Sheth Size 38,500 SF Contractor Howard CDM Collaborators Architect of Record: House & Robertson Architects Associate Architect: Osvaldo Maiozzi Photography Jakob Layman Karyn Millet Back to top

EQUATOR MILL VALLEY MILL VALLEY Studio BBA’s concept for this historic town square café draws on the area’s rustic and natural energy and connects to the vibrant street life, while reflecting the refined character of Equator Coffees and Teas. Expanding on elements we used at the Equator Prooflab location, our Mill Valley café design deepens the company’s brick-and-mortar brand palette with the warmth of salvaged redwood, balanced by concrete, plaster, tile and copper, and accented by ‘Equator red’. We capitalized on existing high ceilings in the storefront to feature a 27-point light array, half of which suspends down to reveal the fixtures’ slip-cast concrete texture. To further integrate Mill Valley’s history, Studio BBA designed a table of redwood and salvaged railroad rails for the outdoor seating area. Back to Projects page Client Equator Coffees BBA Team Bonnie Bridges Sarah Fucinaro Size 950 SF Contractor Dan Dafoe Collaborators MEP: MHC Engineers Photography Nicholas V. Ruiz Back to top

MISTER JIU'S SAN FRANCISCO Our design for Mister Jiu’s 2-story Chinatown space — originally home to one of SF’s oldest and longest running restaurants — reflects the spirit of chef/owner Brandon Jew and his inventive contemporary Chinese food. The concept naturally leaned toward the duality of yin and yang, dark and light, which we reinterpreted as a modern interior inspired by its cuisine’s lively energy, and embedded with references to its deeply rooted history and culture. The first step we took was to relocate the restaurant’s entry from Grant Street’s bustle to the cloak of Waverly Street. Akin to modern-day Hong Kong alleyways that frame their destinations, this brings visitors in from a sheltered passage to the dim reception and bar areas, and gives a composed glimpse into the light-filled dining room beyond. It was important to the chef that the dining room feel bright and refreshing. We took inspiration for the palette of green, teak and varied textures from the aesthetics of tea growing, and Guilin’s iconic Li River, with accents including a parquet tile pattern, and repurposed lotus chandeliers and brass pendants. The large elements of the space were made simple, to create a quiet visual field and add elegance — with tone-on-tone plaster, painted walls and custom teak tables. Mister Jiu’s kitchen is huge and robust by San Francisco standards, and is truly the heart of the space. Open to the dining room, it offers diners and restaurant staff the same experience — views, high quality finishes, spaciousness, thoughtful organization — so they may equally enjoy their experience and time in the restaurant. Back to Projects page Client Mister Jiu's BBA Team Bonnie Bridges Size 5,000 SF Contractor C&C General Engineering, Inc. Collaborators Sculpture: Beth Naumann Landscape Art: Afton Love Photography F. Jason Campbell Back to top

PACIFIC SAN FRANCISCO We began working with this client in early 2011 on a two-phase renovation of their property—a multi-unit residence located on an amazing site at the top of Pacific Heights. Phase One addressed two priorities: mending systems and detailing from previous work performed at the time of purchase, and creating a new, south-facing, garden apartment from a former storage space. An additional benefit of this clean-up phase was that it allowed us in-depth time to get to know the building and the client. After that initial mending was underway, we dove into the more substantive transformation of the property, to make it into the place the clients had envisioned at first sight. While they were tempted to continue on a path of phased work, the team stressed that the design and construction process would be stronger and more efficient if we tackled it holistically, in order to achieve the desired quality throughout the five-story structure. And so it was. A complete gut and redesign of the top two floors—the owners’ unit—enabled us to create a home worthy of its address: an elegant entry, large, formal entertaining spaces, a gourmet kitchen, family room, library and roof decks. Throughout the process, the words semi-formal , elegant and comfortable guided our decisions. The building facades received a complete face lift of integral color Italian plaster, restored terracotta keystones and new lighting. The formal front garden and cobblestone driveway complete the picture. A few months prior to completion, a strange twist of fate required our clients to relocate to London for three years. In the interim, the house was rented to Louis Vuitton during the America’s Cup, who described it as the perfect spot for hosting their clients as well as providing an elegant living situation for the two full time hosts. Back to Projects page Client Confidential BBA Team Bonnie Bridges Size 3,695 SF Contractor Hughes McGinnis Builders Collaborators Inteiors: Fix Interiors Photography Studio BBA Back to top

THUMBTACK LIBRARY SAN FRANCISCO The Thumbtack Library showcases the relationship of trust fostered between the client and Studio BBA. As a 5x repeat client, we were so excited to collaborate and experiment with Thumbtack as we all tackled the future of workplace in the middle of a pandemic. During the pandemic, Thumbtack made the decision to become an all-virtual company. Instead of traditional offices, they created a plan for four “libraries” across the globe for socializing, gathering and connection. With this directive, we’ve created something entirely new. Libraries are strategically located as a resource to employees globally to allow for connections, community and socializing in-real-life. This partnership resulted in a truly iterative process upheld by the strong ethos of Thumbtack’s Head of People and a committed and supportive Landlord team. Thumbtack is evolving and transforming, and their new space reflects that, meeting them in their commitment to equity. The library is not a one solution fits all. By creating a spectrum of places, the library offers neighborhoods from noisy and extroverted, to quiet and pensive. Spaces support independent laptop work, but also phone booths for private calls, or high-back feet-up lounge chairs for soaking in the view while thinking. Other experiments in the office include providing phone booths large enough to act as offices for acoustic privacy for executives and staff discussing confidential information. Back to Projects page Client Thumbtack BBA Team Bonnie Bridges Samantha Buckley Vishnu Balunsat Size 20,000 SF Contractor MCS Collaborators MEP: ACIES Structural: Magnusson Klemencic Associates Furniture: Pear Workplace Solutions Plants: The Plant People Signage + Branding: Tinkering Monkey Photography Victor Goods Back to top

MAMAHUHU CLEMENT SAN FRANCISCO Studio BBA’s design of Mamahuhu, a casual Chinese-American restaurant in the Inner Richmond, can be described as a fresh expression of its cuisine — forward-thinking, lighthearted, and a tad eccentric. Striving to satisfy a craving for nostalgic flavors done in a modern and healthful way, Mamahuhu owners, Chef Brandon Jew of Mister Jiu’s (another Studio BBA-designed restaurant) and Ben Moore and Anmao Sun of Hunter Gatherer, called on BBA to create an elevated but accessible design. The space accommodates counter-service style dining with a resolved option for guests to be in and out quickly without disrupting the vibrant dining experience. To execute the owners’ vision for a fun, easy and casual environment that calls to mind Chinese-American heritage, BBA employed unexpected design choices through architectural details and materials that support the brand experience. A mix of high and low materials strike the right balance between approachable and refined. From the exterior, variegated storefront tiling welcomes guests and just inside, a vintage lantern at the frontmost communal table sets the stage for an experience. The story continues through arched openings and unique design details like tile stripes in the dining area and a sculptural skylight condition above the point-of-sale and in the bathroom. BBA’s design considers everyone’s experience — a person waiting in the queue, a single diner, family dining, takeout, delivery, while up leveling the kitchen and front of house staff. The entire space is methodically designed to encourage social interactions with flexible seating opportunities and ample circulation space. A large, bar-height table for big groups and single diners alike activate the storefront. Beyond, cozy booths with low lighting provide intimate eddies in the middle of the flow of circulation and flexible two tops and banquette seating offer additional dining options. A clearly defined queue manages busy lines and takeout, eliminating confusion. Design aesthetics complement the colorful cuisine, letting the food speak for itself and providing a warm dining opportunity on an overcast day in the Inner Richmond. Back to Projects page Client Mamahuhu BBA Team Bonnie Bridges Megan McGuinn Anand Sheth Size 1,900 SF Contractor Echo Summit Construction Collaborators MEP: MK Engineers Kitchen Consultant: Design West Partnership Photography Mariko Reed Back to top

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