AXIS Architecture + Design has revitalized the Fillmore Center Plaza in San Francisco, combining the communal atmosphere of an Italian piazza with the neighborhood’s historic jazz traditions. "We were inspired by the renaissance going on in the neighborhood of jazz clubs and restaurants in an historical mixing pot of African-Americans, Japanese, and Jewish cultures," says AXIS principal Terry Lofrano.
Specifically, the firm enlivened the neighborhood’s outdoor spaces to become an inviting place for concerts, farmers’ markets, and community gatherings. Lofrano and partners Cory Creath and Shawn Alexander opened up the closed, sterile area by introducing sweeping curves and softly shaped boundaries to offer a friendlier, more accessible sense of space and security. Boundary bench walls form the plaza, which features lush garden areas and a site-specific sculpture atop a shimmering fountain, creating a setting where people can relax and enjoy meals, music and conversation.
In designing the plaza, AXIS had to overcome some difficulties, such as shielding performers and audiences from occasional fierce winds. As such, the firm created a colonnade and lintel in the plaza, which is outfitted with wind screens that may be instantly installed to provide an inviting backdrop and wind protection during events. In addition, AXIS defined guidelines that encourage the connection of retail and food establishments to the street environment.
