901 Fairfax Avenue

This building continues the restoration of San Francisco’s Hunters View neighborhood, remediating decrepit and outdated housing with bright, healthy homes and resources as part of a larger master plan.

Located at the top of the hill, the building offers centralized community amenities, including a public plaza, child-development center, a shared outdoor play zone, a multi-purpose community and event room, wellness center, recording studio, and social service offices. The 72 affordable homes and open-air bridge circulation enjoy sweeping views of San Francisco Bay and downtown.

This project was designed in partnership with Paulett Taggart Architects and in close collabora-tion with Andrea Cochran Landscape Architecture. The design is integrated with 847-848 Fairfax Avenue on the neighboring parcels—apartments and townhouses that were also built in this phase of the redevelopment.

The design team revised the master plan’s massing approach for this site, reducing the amount of excavation into the hillside required and lowering construction costs. Cut into the steep slope, the central spine of community spaces at 901 Fairfax culminates in a surprising outdoor room topped by a dramatic overhead oculus that fills the space with sunlight and fresh air.

The building form breaks the massing into two wings to give the structure a more human scale, creating the opportunity for a landscaped entry plaza that doubles as a welcoming gathering and meeting place. The two wings are linked by an open-air stair to draw people away from the elevators and create opportunities for informal encounters. The west wing features a serrated façade that echoes the curve of Fairfax Avenue and frames residential views out toward San Francisco Bay.

The design encourages social interaction, provides stable homes with healthy indoor environments, and supports a safe, walkable neighborhood.