85 NATOMA

San Francisco, California

1998

An urban infill project of nine residential units, 85 Natoma is composed of a curved metal skin, cement board panels on flat walls, and generous areas of glass.  To create a unique identity in a transitioning neighborhood, the form of the building follows a gentle arc as the exterior wall becomes the roof.  By contrast, large rectangular window bays make a planar surface, connecting the building to the street. A rear courtyard is formed with an existing hundred-year-old structure, a gesture toward context and continuity.

The building infuses its street, and the outlying transitional neighborhood, with a clarity and sophistication it hadn’t known before.  Only Jennings could do it so deftly.

Minimalist Architecture (Spain) 2003

Jim Jennings, one of the Bay Area’s outstanding architects, has created a metal-sheathed structure whose sweeping curves and irregular composition inject refinement into industrial aesthetics. This residential building presents an architectural vision and offers a welcome divergence from the boxy, urbanized designs that have emerged as the norm for San Francisco lofts.