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San Francisco commissions generally back modern redesign of public toilets and kiosks, urge material and maintenance safeguards
Summary
The Historic Preservation Commission and Arts Commission Civic Design Review Committee reviewed SmithGroup—s winning designs for replacing 25 public toilets and 114 kiosks; commissioners praised the sculptural approach but pressed for material samples, clearer plans for maintenance, limits on reflective finishes and caution about rooftop planting. (Aug. 15 return scheduled.)
SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission met jointly with the Arts Commission Civic Design Review Committee on a special hearing to review a proposed citywide replacement of public toilets and street kiosks, a project led by San Francisco Public Works in partnership with JCDecaux and designed by SmithGroup.
Natalia Koyd Kowska, planning staff, told commissioners the project would remove and replace 25 public toilets and 114 kiosks citywide, including six toilets and 34 kiosks located in Article 10 and Article 11 landmark and landmark districts, and asked for advisory comments on compatibility with Secretary standards. Beth Rubinstein of San Francisco Public Works said the redesigned street furnishings grew out of an invitation-only design competition and more than 200 public responses gathered through an exhibition and online survey.
The commission—s discussion focused on three central issues: materials and durability, siting and engineering constraints, and programmatic elements such as interactivity and rooftop planting. Commissioners…
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