20080826

Slow

You've probably heard about the Slow Food Nation festival being held in San Francisco this weekend. But what you might not know about is the festival's design program, which has brought together many of the region's top architects to produce various pavillions. Unfortunately, there appears to be only one Oakland firm, envelope A+D, best known for the Mission restaurant Delfina and their winning scheme in the Octavia Boulevard competition for the San Francisco Prize a few years back.

The main complaint I have is that some of the firms are too established for this type of work. A small commission like this is the perfect opportunity for young firms to gain some work and experience, and it is too bad the likes of SMWM, BCV, and Roma Design Group are involved. And actually calling it a commission is incorrect, the architects and designers are working pro bono, which is perhaps why even the younger, smaller firms tapped are somewhat established; they are probably just using it as a marketing tool.

Still, it is hard to complain about good architecture, and all of the firms tapped are capable of producing it. It should be interesting to see. I am a bit concerned that many of the pavillions will be inaccessible, however, because it appears they have been sold out. I'll be checking into this tomorrow and let you know what I find out.

UPDATE: The taste pavillions have been sold out, and I was told there no access to those without tickets at any other times. Still, there is some work at the Civic Center that will be accessible the entire event. You can find a good run down of the architects and designers, and the focus and location of their work here.

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