Header: Ty Cole
Min Design, an award-winning design studio led by E.B. Min, AIA, is known for creating spaces that blend a passion for architecture, landscape design, and art. The studio approaches each project as a unique creative challenge, seeking to infuse everyday living with pleasure and delight. Driven by engaged and thoughtful problem-solving, the studio designs public spaces that bridge structure and human interaction, creating environments that foster vitality, community engagement, and playful experiences.
These newly revealed projects reflect the studio’s distinct architectural approach within San Francisco’s new Mission Rock neighbourhood, a gathering place and regional destination developed by Mission Rock Partners (San Francisco Giants, Tishman Speyer, and the Port of San Francisco).
China Basin Park restroom
For China Basin Park, a dynamic five-acre public space, Min Design thoughtfully integrated the design of the public restrooms, ensuring they seamlessly blend in with the park’s aesthetic and functionality. Driven by an innovative approach, the studio conceived an all-gender restroom solution designed to enhance safety, equity, convenience, and visibility for park visitors.
Mindful of the park’s spatial limitations and programme, the resulting design not only prioritises a harmonious integration of the restrooms within the landscape, but it also enriches the overall experience of China Basin Park and the surrounding community. This project exemplifies Min Design’s dedication to creating public amenities that are functional and contribute positively to the vitality and inclusivity of the spaces they inhabit.
The project has garnered significant industry recognition, including Interior Design’s Best of Year Award for Best Public Restroom and the Architectural Foundation of San Francisco’s Kirby Ward Fitzpatrick Award. Further underscoring its design excellence, the AIASF Design Awards bestowed a Commendation Award, with jurors highlighting the design as “a small but dignified civic structure that impressed us with its thoughtful design, material palette, and gender-inclusive layout. It integrated sustainable features like greywater recycling and achieved a balance between utility and elegance. Furthermore, it exemplifies how everyday infrastructure can be elevated through design.”
The Garden Party
The Garden Party is a public art installation that gracefully activates the urban streetscape of the Mission Rock development, offering an open and inclusive space for dining and social connection. Inspired by classical greenhouses, Min Design constructed a visually open yet defined geometry that encourages pedestrian interaction, creating a welcoming “street room” along the paseo where passersby can pause and engage. This modern reinterpretation of Victorian-era conservatories features a distinctive upward-curving oval form, meticulously crafted with custom rails, and blends architectural precision with organic grace.
Central to the design is its living canopy: two existing trees creatively integrated to provide natural shade as they mature. This thoughtful approach ensures the pavilion evolves into a beautiful, organic retreat. Navigating site constraints like fixed trees and utilities, the design team created a structure that offers a serene counterpoint to its urban surroundings. As the area develops, The Garden Party serves as a tranquil haven for visitors to relax and connect within the vibrant energy of Mission Rock, embodying a balance of openness and intimate gathering.
