Reimagining one of Dogpatch’s Historic Landmarks
The Bowie Court is a public space located in the preserved corner of the historic Bowie Switch Company factory. The Bowie Switch Company building, a brick-faced classic revival style structure in the utilitarian tradition, was designed by noted Swedish architect August J. Nordin, designer of the historic landmark Swedish American Hall. Augustus Bowie was one of the San Francisco Bay Area’s earliest technology pioneers, and his invention, marketing, and production of groundbreaking disconnecting switch technology was a key component in the spread of electrification outside city centers on the American west coast. The streetscape and courtyard are connected and expanded with a permanent bulbout and built-in wood and concrete seating. The courtyard design features a tensioned cable lighting system that references the wiring and routing of his early electrical inventions.
Bowie Switch Court, San Francisco
Neighborhood: Dogpatch
Date: 2018 Completed
Size: 2,000 sf
Client: DM Development
Role: Landscape Architecture
SUSTAINABILITY
Rainwater from the rooftop is collected and transferred into an irrigation cistern below the building. That cistern is used to provide water for all of the planting areas across the site. Cistern water was sent to the roof to evapotranspire via the low-height sedum.
The bioretention planter in the courtyard was designed to use high water use planting. This planting uses the recycled cistern water and encourages a greater amount of evapotranspiration.
