333 12th St. | San Francisco, CA

San Francisco's SoMa neighborhood is shaped by its industrial past, a district of current and converted warehouses where urban infill sites carry the potential for new homes. At 333 12th Street, Panoramic Interests pursued a bold vision: The City Gardens Apartments, a seven-story-plus residential building with 200 affordable-by-design units in a mix of two- and four-bedroom homes.

The project asked a great deal of a single infill site. Designed to encourage sustainable transportation, it provides zero parking, relying instead on on-site bike parking and multiple bike repair stations. Its architecture also had to respect the area's historically industrial context. Acting as architect of record, BDE Architecture guided the client through coordination, permitting and construction of the Type IB building, carrying a simple architectural expression and consistent range of materials from drawings to completion.

Completed in 2021, the building now gives residents two large roof decks, lounges on floors three through seven and a lobby lounge. Facades of composite siding and metal finishes echo the surrounding neighborhood, while large pre-cast sloped concrete columns and warm wood tones accent the ground level.

Address: 333 12th St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Client: Panoramic Interests

Number of Units: 200

Construction Type: IB

Year Completed: 2021

Photographer: City Gardens

Modern multi-story apartment buildings with street view, parked cars, streetlights, and trees at dusk
Rooftop terrace with wooden benches, a grassy area, potted plants, and city skyline at sunset.
Bright, modern apartment living room with sliding glass doors and windows, a white sofa with colorful pillows, indoor plants, and a dining table set for two with bowls and plates.
Interior view of a modern apartment with a living room and kitchen. The living room has a dark blue sofa with orange and white pillows, a glass coffee table with books and a plant, and a colorful abstract painting on the white wall. The kitchen featu
Modern multi-story apartment buildings with balconies, illuminated street, parked cars, and streetlights in an urban setting during dusk or early evening.