242 State Street

242 State Street, by Tom Kundig of Olson Kundig Architects, transform an enclosed structure in Los Altos, California, into an environment that invites the community into the space.

Located in downtown Los Altos, the highlight of this 230 square meters adaptive re-use project is the introduction of a new façade that enables the circa 1950’s building to morph from an enclosed structure into an environment that invites the community into the space.

The transformation was achieved by essentially replacing the entire front facade with a double-height, floor-to-ceiling window wall that can be raised or lowered depending upon the needs of the user.

Olson Kundig Architects, 242 State Street, Los Altos, California. Photo by Bruce Damonte, Courtesy of Olson Kundig Architects

The window wall is operated by engaging a pedal – to unlock the safety mechanism – then turning a hand wheel which activates a series of gears and pulleys that opens the five-meters by three-meters window wall. When the window wall is closed, visitors to the shop enter through a pivot door. In addition to the front facade, other changes to the building included raising the roof by half-of-one story to create a better proportioned interior volume, and installing skylights to bring in more natural light.

The building most recently served as one of the temporary off-site locations for SF MoMA’s Project Los Altos. Beyond the introduction of the window wall, the interior was relatively untouched, leaving the space as flexible as possible for its future tenant.

Olson Kundig Architects, 242 State Street, Los Altos, California. Photo by Bruce Damonte, Courtesy of Olson Kundig Architects

Olson Kundig Architects, 242 State Street, Los Altos, California. Photo by Bruce Damonte, Courtesy of Olson Kundig Architects

Olson Kundig Architects, 242 State Street, Los Altos, California. Photo by Bruce Damonte, Courtesy of Olson Kundig Architects

Olson Kundig Architects, 242 State Street, Los Altos, California. Photo by Bruce Damonte, Courtesy of Olson Kundig Architects

Olson Kundig Architects, 242 State Street, Los Altos, California. Photo by Andria Lo, courtesy of SFMoMA. 242 State Street

Olson Kundig Architects, 242 State Street, Los Altos, California. Photo by Andria Lo, courtesy of SFMoMA. 242 State Street

Olson Kundig Architects, 242 State Street, Los Altos, California. Photo byAndria Lo, courtesy of SFMoMA. 242 State Street

242_STATE STREET_plans and sections

Olson Kundig Architects, 242 State Street, Los Altos, California. Floor plan and section

242 State Street, Los Altos, California
Architects: Tom Kundig – Olson Kundig Architects
Area: 230 sqm
Completion: 2014

242 State Street

242 State Street, by Tom Kundig of Olson Kundig Architects, transform an enclosed structure in Los Altos, California, into an environment that invites the community into the space.

242_STATE STREET_plans and sections

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