mark horton architecture: house of air

‘house of air’ by mark horton architecture in san francisco, california, USA all images courtesy mark horton architecture

american practice mark horton architecture has completed ‘house of air’, a sports and trampoline facility in san francisco, california. located at the foot of the golden gate bridge and the golden gate national park, the design utilizes a historic biplane hanger and seeks to maintain its original identity and character by leaving the majority of its exterior untouched.

street elevation

featuring a generous street facade with a 14-meter wide hanger door, the design takes this aperture as a point of departure and arranges the internal programs in an open and transparent fashion. the majority of the center floor space is dedicated to the trampolines with a pair of pavilions to the sides accommodating a cafe, meeting facilities, lockers, and a lounge. a system of trusses provide the necessary head space while keeping in industrial atmosphere to the interior space.

hanger door open

clad in translucent blue paneling are two large wall units that flank the center field trampoline area. abstract and graphic, the lights that illuminate the walls from within aim to amplify the vertical motion of the facility’s activities. an elevated cat walk offers views of the grounds as well as access to the pavilions on the side.

entrance

trampoline field

interior view from catwalk

elevated walkway

pivoting window

translucent blue wall

(left) lounge (right) viewing seats

original biplane hanger