In San Francisco’s bustling Mission District, a unique coffee shop, Grand Coffee Too, stands as a testament to the evolving concept of ground floor retail spaces. It transforms from a commercial entity into vital social infrastructure.
The Sister Lillian Murphy Community, located in San Francisco’s Mission Bay, is a thoughtfully designed affordable housing project created by Paulett Taggart Architects in collaboration with Studio VARA. The project addresses the increasing demand for inclusive housing in the urban setting while ensuring a high quality of life for its residents.
Perched atop an oak-studded hill west of Healdsburg, California, the Fire Country Lookout by Studio VARA serves as a multi-generational family retreat and a forward-thinking prototype for sustainable living in the “post-climate-change” West.
This adaptive reuse project transforms the most banal of commercial box buildings into a light-filled courtyard office space specifically outfitted for a discerning, high-end residential builder with an exclusive clientele.
A young couple approached Studio VARA to design a new ground-up residence for their busy family of five on a prominent yet petite corner lot in Old Palo Alto.
Offering spectacular Bay Bridge views, this two-level loft was an uninspired white box chopped up into many small rooms. Having worked with the owners on another home in the Carmel Valley, the designers wanted to bring a similar warm, modern and spacious character to this loft that celebrates the view while offering two-bedroom suites for overnight guests.
When the owners purchased this 1970’s ranch home in Kentfield, Marin County, it was dark, dank, and in danger of sliding down a hill. The interior was dated and needed to be updated to modern standards.
A research scientist with an eye for detail approached us with a modest vision and a couple of basic practical needs: First, transform a 1908 Noe Valley cottage– with a history of subpar alterations – into a cohesive modern dwelling.
