America’s Cup Village for San Francisco
The America’s Cup is a sailing regatta match to win the oldest trophy in international sport. Our team proposed the master plan for the 2010 America’s Cup village at the China Basin site in San Francisco. After developing the master plan as a team, each person individually designed our own version of the landmark building.
Master Plan Team
Helen To
David Watkins
Amy Chan
Fernando Perez
Colby Reece
Master Plan
Our main goals for the master plan were to create focal points to enhance the sense of community in the area, rejuvenate the site and local economy, and encourage pedestrians and biking. Currently, the site is an existing parking lot in a redevelopment area. We used the existing city grids to organize our master plan and integrate it into the area.
In our development, we added commercial and retail space on the southeast and northern parts of the site to continue the pattern of activity from the city grid as well as to make the village economically viable after the America’s Cup. We also created a jetty to protect the basin and allows the community to connect more with the water. The landmark building is placed at the end of the jetty, making it the primary building people see when approaching the site from the water.
We continued the waterfront pedestrian path that was cut off by the parking lot the site currently is as well as added green spaces where people can interact. By limiting the vehicular access on-site, we are promoting a pedestrian and bike friendly area. Our design also integrates the existing pier that is no longer usable by exposing its piles and interjecting them into the park we plan to develop.
Landmark Building
The landmark building is the main attraction on the site during the America’s Cup races. It hosts a variety of uses including retail, administration spaces, as well as VIP facilities. In my design, I focused on the idea of a path (ramp) going up the building which pedestrians would access and which also doubles as the roof the structure. The spaces inside the building are separated based on public and private spaces, with public spaces on the first two levels and private spaces on the upper two levels. The ramp itself would be accessible to everyone.
