[Aether in Hayes Valley via Sergio Ruiz]
Taking a cue from our sisters over at Eater, we're going to closeout the year by surveying local design, building, and real estate luminaries to get a read on the highlights and lowlights of the past year of real estate and development in San Francisco. The answers to our questions are in no particular order; all responses cut, pasted and unedited, below:
Q: What development or new building caught your eye this year?
Catherine Kwong, Principal of Catherine Kwong Design: I love the Aether store in Hayes Valley. It's a small space, made from just three shipping containers, yet it makes such a statement. It's incredibly elegant in its design, and a very nice study in branding - of how quiet beauty can sometimes speak louder than over-the-top graphics or signage.
Erin Feher, Editor-in-Chief at California Home + Design: I've been stalking the Trinity Plaza development on Mid-Market. 2 buildings up, 2 to go. My favorite moment of 2013 was when they tore down that horrible, airport-hotel-looking apartment complex on Eighth and Market to make way for the new structures.
Craig Scott, Founding Partner at IwamotoScott Architecture: It was the smaller projects like envelope A+D's Aether store in Hayes Valley & Craig Steely's Peter's House in Dolores Heights.
Allison Arieff, architecture and design writer: 8 Washington.
Margie O'Driscoll, Executive Director at AIA San Francisco: The Warriors Stadium- I love the design and the possibility of continuing to open up the Embarcadero to new activities. Just be sure that MUNI knows about the project- OK?
Brock Keeling, Editor-in-Chief at SFist: NEMA. How could you miss it? Also, people freaked.
Kearstin Krehbiel, Executive Director at San Francisco Beautiful: 8 Washington was the project of the year. It's curious to see condos on the ballot, and I'm unconvinced it's the best way to go about urban planning.