Sausalito Art Studio

This project bolsters the ever resilient and innovative artist community along Sausalito’s scenic waterfront.

The site and surrounding area carry a historical significance and cultural heritage of maritime innovation, ship building and artistic experimentation. The clients acquired three adjoining, dilapidated lots in hopes of bringing artists and their industrial craft-making back to the Sausalito community that has struggled with skyrocketing rental prices, increased flooding, and lack of studio space. The project consists of three artist live/work homes, a large art studio building, and floating houseboats offshore that unite into a collective of living residences, flexible artists studios, event space, co-working areas and light food/beverage manufacturing facilities. Half the site will be open to the public to explore, while the other half will remain private to artists-in-residence.

The bayside site, originally a tidal marsh, floods often during extreme high tides and storm events throughout the year. In order to both honor the site’s natural fluctuations and remain resilient to future sea level rise and increased storms, the project proposes that the land-based residences be designed with floating foundations to literally float in place when inundated. The larger art studio building, while too large to float, will be built with an impermeable base and high ceilings that allow for the ground floor to be lifted up to 3’-6” in the future as sea levels rise. The landscape beyond the buildings themselves will embrace rising waters through innovative water management strategies and flood friendly planting that naturally filters waters as they drain back to the Bay.

Designed to remain usable and adaptable for a 100 year lifespan, the project will be a great example of both culturally and environmentally-resilient architecture.