This vibrant neighborhood brewery restaurant is the result of a dynamic collaboration between Studio BBA, the owner and the builder. Housed in a former machine shop at the termination of an old train line, the vast industrial shell allowed plenty of room for the client’s mixed program: bar, restaurant and full production brewery.
Inspired by the utilitarian nature of the building and its detailing, we sought opportunities for purposeful, thoughtful design interventions in line with Southern Pacific’s developing brand. Remnants of the old machine shop on site provided abundant raw and reclaimed materials, furniture and equipment for us to re-imagine as design elements, including the steel C-channel door trim, I-beam beer tap, and steel plates used in the railing construction.
Inspiration also came from looking at historic public market and railway buildings—for the way people interact with the grand scale, and the connection between inside and out. The addition of skylights and indoor trees brings nature inside, and maximized views through the original wall of industrial glass provides a two-way connection between the interior and the new outdoor beer garden.
Studio BBA was located not far away from Southern Pacific at the time in our original Mission District office, from which we invested a lot of energy into the revitalization of the area. And it made for a convenient place to enjoy Friday staff meetings while laying the foundation for our expertise is brewery and restaurant design.
