competing designs revealed for presidio parklands project in san francisco

competing designs revealed for presidio parklands project in san francisco
image by CMG landscape architecture

following selection by the presidio trust to participate in a design competition, five internationally renowned teams have revealed their envisioned plans for the presidio parklands project to be located on san francisco‘s bayfront. firms vying for the landscape redevelopment project include CMG landscape architecture, snøhetta, james corner field operations, west 8, and olin. 

the proposals reimagine a project site bounded by historic military camps to the south and open marshland to the north, with connectivity to the active recreation area, crissy field. the call for entries required parklands to bridge above not-yet-realized tunnel roadways, which will replace an existing elevated highway (doyle drive). the schemes were also tasked with revitalizing existing presidio visitor center and crissy field center youth campus, with the latter to incorporate a ‘learning landscape’.

in san francisco-based CMG’s design, a pedestrian bridge crosses a roadway to link the parkland project to crissy field
image by CMG landscape architecture

a public unveiling event was held at the presidio’s ‘observation post’ on september 4, 2014, while the concept design images will be on display at the presidio trust headquarters starting september 5. following a series of presentations through the fall, a winning team will be selected in january for the commission to carry the design forward.

snøhetta’s predominantly-grassland scheme is divided by a series of curving pathways
image by snøhetta

a viewing platform cantilevers toward the marshland
image by snøhetta

building forms are expressed minimally within the natural landscape
image by snøhetta

image by james corner field operations

an outdoor amphitheater allows for various performances
image by james corner field operations

west 8’s scheme is centered around an elliptical plaza
image by west 8

a wide boardwalk links the length of the site together
image by west 8

a series of U-shaped forms distinguish spaces and grassy lawns in olin’s scheme
image by olin

a submerged walkway immerses visitors in the marsh terrain
image by olin

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project teams:

CMG landscape architecture

EHDD
the exploratorium: studio for public spaces
susan schwartzenberg
MJM management
contemporanea
kristina hill
rob mcginnis / OCULUS

snøhetta

hood design
magnusson klemencic associates
MIG
center for eco-literacy

james corner field operations

rockwell group
gregoire associates
JFCO
page & turnbull
magnusson klemencic associates
HR&A advisors
richard turner
perry & associates collaborative
greenlee & associates

west 8

bionic
jensen
SITELAB urban studio
the cultural landscape foundation
volume, inc.
wendy macnaughton
manusson klemencic associates
architectural resources group
nelson nygaard
ESA
ETM associates
AECOM

olin

olson kundig architects
local projects
heritage landscapes
natural learning initiative
biohabitats