Metamorphic Insertion

The designated project site is situated within Fisherman’s Wharf, a well-known waterfront area within the urban landscape of San Francisco. Recognized for its historical significance as a fish market, the locale has evolved over time into one of the city’s biggest tourist attractions, featuring Pier 39 and Ghirardelli Square among the most popular points of interest. The project site is positioned amidst these notable destinations, offering a nexus of pedestrian activity coupled with cable car stops, which makes it an opportunity to create the next city landmark. Regrettably, the heightened appeal of the area to tourists and the low-quality retail and concession-type food establishments have stirred a certain ambivalence among local residents towards its current character.

The onset of the global pandemic in 2020 had a profound impact on Fisherman’s Wharf, underscoring its enduring unpopularity among residents. Evidenced by the closure of numerous historic local eateries and even the withdrawal of larger chain restaurants from the vicinity, the economic fallout further added to the area's decline. Consequently, Fisherman’s Wharf has languished as an antiquated precinct, markedly diminishing its appeal to both local inhabitants and visiting tourists. Presently, the district remains in a state of disorder, still trying to recuperate from the deleterious effects of the pandemic.

The pandemic has underscored the paramount significance of local resident engagement in shaping the vitality and sustainability of urban districts, including areas mainly inhabited by tourism. Consequently, there exists a pressing need to cultivate environments that resonate with and accommodate the needs of the local community, thereby fostering increased local engagement through architectural and urban destinations and programs. It is important to create spaces that will cater to the local community and garner more interest from them to ensure a harmonious balance between local and visitor interests.

The proposed project creates a bathhouse experience that intricately intertwines the cultural heritage of both local residents and visitors frequenting the site. Central to this conception is the cultivation of an inclusive environment wherein egalitarian principles prevail. Augmenting this feature are additional amenities such as a marketplace, communal venues, public restaurants, and an urban garden, all meticulously orchestrated to enrich the collective encounter of Fisherman’s Wharf for its diverse array of inhabitants. By ingraining the area with these multifaceted programs, the aspiration of this project is to create a novel urban landmark, thereby catalyzing renewed interest and acceptance of the Fisherman’s Wharf area.