First Look at Orlando Diaz-Azcuy-Designed 181 Fremont Residences

Photo by Patricia Chang / Curbed SF

As the Transbay Center moves to the finish line, it will have the distinct privilege of getting to sit next to the city's arguably chicest new residential tower—181 Fremont. While it be one of San Francisco's most luxe residences (yes, every other rushed high-rise labels themselves as such, but 181's pedigree is both astounding and unique), it will also offer additional smaller suites available only to their buyers.

The habitable units, which will make up the top 16 floors of the building (the first 38 floors will be relegated to office space), are made up of two- and three-bedroom homes and penthouses that range in size from approximately 1,200 to a whopping 7,000 square-feet for the 70th full-floor penthouse.

Residences will begin in the low $3 millions for two-bedrooms, with three-bedroom units going starting in the mid $6 millions.

Fabulous, yes, but nothing new. However, here's how 181 stands apart: 12 accessory suites, ranging from studios to one bedrooms, will also be available for purchase, but only for clients who plan on buying at least one of the aforementioned two- and three-bedroom homes.

Photo by Patricia Chang.

These accessory units would be for guests or private staff. High-rise living like this, while common in Europe and New York City, is a first for San Francisco.

Overall, only 55 residences will be available. Of those residences, a maximum of four homes will be on each of the building’s top 16 floors, meaning that each unit comes with an impressive amount of space.

181 Fremont's other big bullet point is that famed San Francisco interior designer Orlando Diaz-Azcuy dreamed up the interiors of the new spaces. The living rooms, kitchens, foyers, and bathrooms (four of the spaces available for viewing during our prototype tour) have the designer's signature postmodern touch. From a streamlined kitchen to floor-to-ceiling marble bathrooms, the homes' minimalistic decor provides the perfect contrast to the stellar views outside (residences begins at more than 800 feet into the sky).

The entire building, designed by Heller Manus Architects and developed by Jay Paul Company, cost approximately $665 million. Sales have already started; move-ins start in early summer 2017.

• 181 Fremont [site]
• Sneak Peek: Renderings of Luxe 181 Fremont, the West Coast's Tallest Residential Building [Curbed SF]
• Orlando Diaz-Azcuy [ODADA]
• Heller Manus Architects [site]