What happens when an architect and a graphic designer take 530 square feet of blank space and open it up to the creative public? Answer: anything from a pop-up travel agency to a woodcraft shop specializing in longboards made from reclaimed wood.
Conceived by Yosh Asato and David Baker, StoreFrontLab in Sanfrancisco's Mission District, is an experiment in "community, creativity, and local industry." The space is designed to be flexible, accomomdating anything from a pop-up travel agency promoting car-free trips to an interactive kids' playground; from a week-long artist-in-residency to a one-day DJ vinyl exchange. All you have to do is apply. Funded by the Micro Mission 888 Foundation, StoreFrontLab invites proposals for projects lasting from one day to one month.
Next at StoreFrontLab: Pallette Playhouses. For a complete calendar of events, visit StoreFrontLab's website.
Above: StoreFrontLab's first event was an artist-in-residency by Deep Craft Atelier.
Above: A wide view of the Deep Craft's event shows goods including Scott Constable’s long boards made from reclaimed California woods.
Above: Deep Craft's distinctive mallets, cheese boards, and long boards adorn one wall.
Above: As part of StoreFrontLab's mission, all events actively engaged the public. Here, Deep Craft's Scott Constable demonstrates how he makes a long board. Photo by Hans Kwiotek.
Above: A Deep Jersey by Gabriel Russo for Deep Craft hangs alongside other wear by Mary Brogger.
Above: The storefront, located at 337 Shotwell Street in San Francisco's Mission District. The design of the physical storefront represents a collaboration between architects David Baker and Jane Martin and fabricator Hoss Ward.