Building a Temporary Retail Center on Vacant Land

A new project is opening in San Francisco that utilizes a vacant piece of land for a temporary retail installation using shipping containers.

1 minute read

April 24, 2011, 7:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg


The space is designed by Douglas Burnham of Oakland-based Envelope A+D and includes 26 containers. The first to open is an ice cream shop.

"'It's the idea of a flexible machine that is operating at the pace of the Internet, where you have simple frames but the content is always different,' he said. The architect broached the idea with the city after winning a bid to build market-rate housing further down on Octavia Boulevard. The creative endeavor is financed in part by a client of Burnham's (who prefers to remain anonymous), who is funding some of the infrastructure; each vendor is paying for the build-out of their containers and a percentage of the rent for the lots.

For the city, the project is a chance to tinker with their vision for Octavia Boulevard. The two lots, comprising about 18,000 square feet, are next to the park at the foot of the street, Hayes Green, and segue into the Hayes Valley business district."

Thursday, April 21, 2011 in The Architect's Newspaper

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

A pencil rendering of Foundry Park, which shows skyscrapers and public green spaces.

Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment

The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.

October 23, 2026 - Chicago Sun Times

A rendering of a high speed rain station in California, with wide platforms and a sleep train with yellow highlights.

California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO resigns after $600,000 scandal

Under Ian Choudri, the authority used taxpayer dollars to fund first class flights and trips to nightclubs.

5 hours ago - Cal Matters

 A bridge stretches across the Missouri River at Chamberlain, South Dakota.

Want to study the Missouri River? Soon, you may need unanimous approval from 10 states

Legislation would require 10 governors’ permission to study or build projects moving water outside the basin.

7 hours ago - South Dakota Searchlight

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30 - Yale Environment 360