San Francisco's Urban Design Sensibilities

New "starchitects" are challening San Francisco's traditional sense of urban design.

1 minute read

July 23, 2001, 12:00 PM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"Should a tall boutique near Union Square have portholes instead of windows? Should a classical courthouse be joined by a concrete-and-glass tower draped in stainless steel panels? Should one new museum be clad in copper mesh, while another jags outward dramatically from an old brick building? Such dilemmas are sending shock waves through local planning circles. It's high time. San Francisco has flourished because it welcomes new cultural movements, new populations, new ideas and new technologies. Why should new- looking buildings make people panic?"

Thanks to Design Architecture

Monday, July 23, 2001 in The San Francisco Chronicle

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