La Cocina Kitchen Incubator
& Folsom Housing
Set within an established residential area of the Mission and on the site of a former commercial building, the kitchen incubator—developed by an existing PTA client and formed as we designed the project—trains women, immigrants, and people of color to develop viable food and drink businesses. The organization needed a facility to house a number of interlocking programs to support its mission of solving problems of equity in food business ownership.
From the outside, a cement plaster, glass, and wood facade plays well with its Folsom Street neighbors, helping to cement the presence of La Cocina in this storied part of town. Inside, the plan divides the space into front and back zones, with an office and loading area at the front and a large kitchen at the back. This last space stretches over one-and-a-half stories and includes two cooking lines, four prep areas, one cleanup area, and a walk-in refrigerator/freezer. North-facing clerestory windows bring light in and keep the space bright throughout the day. Upstairs, a break room provides much-needed space to put one’s feet up after a long day of cooking.
A screened clerestory above head height provides natural ventilation and daylight.
Awards
AIA San Francisco, Excellence in Architecture Merit Award, 2007
Architectural Foundation of San Francisco, Kirby Ward Fitzpatrick Prize, Firm Excellence in Design Award, 2006
Curbed SF, ‘Best New Buildings of the Decade,’ 2009
AIA San Francisco Home Tour, 2006
Credits
Photography by Jane Lidz and Jamie Kripke