It is our passion to design compelling and evocative spaces and places that stir the imagination and stand as precedents of design excellence.
In our approach, we blend innovation, sustainability strategies, ecology and biology, economics, architectural detailing, engineering, and identity of place - all in one discourse.
We work across the globe, conceptualizing and realizing public and private projects of all sizes. These include small intimate gardens, residential developments, private estates, urban master plans, public realms, parks, streetscapes, waterfronts, commercial developments, institutional campuses, the outdoor spaces of museums and recreational facilities, as well as other civic and cultural destinations.
Our attitude is collaborative, positive and optimistic, and we truly work across disciplinary boundaries while embracing unrestrained creativity.
For us, every project deserves a holistic approach in order to achieve the best possible outcome - socially, culturally, economically, and environmentally. We also consider what our design will mean for the adjacent context, as often our projects are found within historic settings. What impact will our design have on the identity of the place as a whole? What is the experience? And most important, how will our design work for people?
As dreamers and pragmatists, we are driven to come up with bold ideas that are rooted in functionality, meticulous detailing, and constructibility.
Our objective is to create designs which have embedded immersive and alluring qualities - that are refreshing, comfortable, and welcoming - spaces that are original and have never been seen before, that exude an inherent positive spirit and carry elements of surprise.
Our goal is always to establish an appropriate and unique character, ultimately resulting in a place that is memorable, frequently used, and loved.
Client: Brookfield Properties - Project Partners: Cliff Lowe Associates, BKF Engineers, Thornton Tomasetti, AIP Partners, CB Engineers, Meyers+ Engineers, HLB - Photography: Jason O'Rear
The Parks at 5M - San Francisco
Project Info
Formerly a neglected area comprised of a series of dilapidated parking lots amidst a number of historic buildings, the Parks at 5M is now a vibrant community amenity connected to the surrounding fabric of San Francisco’s SoMa District. Embraced by the local community, the space is activated daily with various program and activity, effectively operating as a “town square”.
!melk’s design introduces a multi-functional space for public use, that is overwhelmingly well-liked. Being in a cultural heritage district, !melk intensively interacted with the local Filipino community through an extensive public outreach period from which emerged motifs and symbols, which were subtly integrated in the design.
A key component and visible feature of the design are the two sculptural architectural structures located on the north and south sides of the site. Early in the design process, while analyzing the site conditions, !melk identified the need for mitigating the wind tunnel effect caused by the two adjacent towers on the site. The solution was to integrate vertical “wind baffles”. While the sculptural geometry of the structures appears to “solidify” wind turbulence, the form and function of these elements were carefully and repeatedly tested for performance throughout the design process.
Overall, !melk established a contiguous and cohesive public realm with a unique and singular identity, ultimately delivering a place that responded to a real need for a green programmable amenity space in this part of Downtown San Francisco.
Formerly a neglected area comprised of a series of dilapidated parking lots amidst a number of historic buildings, the Parks at 5M is now a vibrant community amenity connected to the surrounding fabric of San Francisco’s SoMa District. Embraced by the local community, the space is activated daily with various program and activity, effectively operating as a “town square”.
!melk’s design introduces a multi-functional space for public use, that is overwhelmingly well-liked. Being in a cultural heritage district, !melk intensively interacted with the local Filipino community through an extensive public outreach period from which emerged motifs and symbols, which were subtly integrated in the design.
A key component and visible feature of the design are the two sculptural architectural structures located on the north and south sides of the site. Early in the design process, while analyzing the site conditions, !melk identified the need for mitigating the wind tunnel effect caused by the two adjacent towers on the site. The solution was to integrate vertical “wind baffles”. While the sculptural geometry of the structures appears to “solidify” wind turbulence, the form and function of these elements were carefully and repeatedly tested for performance throughout the design process.
Overall, !melk established a contiguous and cohesive public realm with a unique and singular identity, ultimately delivering a place that responded to a real need for a green programmable amenity space in this part of Downtown San Francisco.