how we bring the “story” to its modern presentation

The Story:

The San Francisco Presidio, home to the native Ohlone and later layers of Spanish exploration, US military occupation, urban residences, and National Park, each phase of life has contributed to the evolution of this coastal land known as the ‘Golden Gate’. The San Francisco Presidio has been and is a place of hospitality, healing, and beauty. The former Public Health Service Hospital originally built in 1932 and the largest historic structure in the Presidio was restored in 2010 to become 154 LEED Gold status residences with 37 different floor plans. This new development is anchored to its history through subtle details such as a warming by the fireplace with a blanket and cup of hot cocoa just as the Spanish explorers had requested upon their arrival in 1775 and the restored original merchant marine anchor and caduceus symbols framing the historic portico.

This project exemplifies how our research can benefit a project at any stage of development. In this case Xsense became engaged with the Presidio Landmark after the initial architectural plans had been drafted and re-construction was well under way. When the developers realized they had untapped historic resources and wanted a deeper connection to it, Xsense came on board and gave the marketing and operations team a guidebook filled with opportunities to connect the future development to the living legacy of the historic Presidio.  

Research:

A variety of sources including published materials, periodicals, the internet, personal interviews with former Presidio families and hospital personnel, Ohlone descendants, Presidio Trust historian, site visits, and collaboration with knowledgeable local authorities from historic museums and art guilds.

Findings and Recommendations:

All of our findings and research were compiled into a book which is given to everyone involved in the project.

Effects:

Connection to nature at the Presidio and the legacy of health and wellness from the former merchant marine hospital lives today in the Presidio Landmark in which residents have access to bike trails, sauna, and a private yoga studio. The Presidio Landmark logo was inspired by the eucalyptus pod. Eucalyptus which was introduced to the Presidio by the military planting efforts of 1886-1910 is known to restore balance and increase vitality. One will find modern Kohler fixtures in the Belles just as they used in the original hospital’s hydrotherapy room.

In true spirit, a portion of rent helps keep the National Park in all of its splendor. A concept taken from the country’s first public health care initiative, where 20 cents was deducted from the monthly wage of each merchant seaman in order to build hospitals and finance medical care. The Presidio Trust encourages the residences to take an active role in the preservation and continuation of the Presidio by taking part in archeological digs, forest and tree care, gardening, habitat restoration, landscape maintenance, or trail building.

The historic restoration reintroduces original materials such as terracotta and Indiana limestone. Nearly 700 historic wood windows were restored, and 20,000 custom match bricks replaced. The traditional institutional green was reintroduced in a fun and modern way.

Developer: Forest City
Authenticity: Xsense
Landscape Architect: CMG Landscape Architecture
Architect: Perkins + Will
Historic Architect: Page & Turnbull
Interior Designer: Shopworks
Graphic Designer: Gensler

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