California City Scoop: Construction Starts in San Francisco
John Marx Co-Founding Design Principal, Chief Artistic Officer Form4 Architecture
Over the past decade, along with changing the city’s culture and commercial scene and dramatically increasing workspace and housing demand, Silicon Valley’s expansion into San Francisco has brought more international capital and raised expectations for architecture quality. “International investment presents an opportunity to reverse a cultural trend best identified by this 40-year-old question: ‘Why does San Francisco seem to routinely get B-level architecture from A-list architects?’” asks Marx, who says it’s not for lack of local talent but from a dearth of cultural interest. “When capital changes its value equations, there should be a direct effect on architectural design and culture.”