The Enterprise Rose Architectural Fellowship

Fellow Profile

Fernando Martí

“This is the challenge. How do we make abstracts— such as land-use, what gets developed where, who benefits, etc.—real for people. During my Rose Fellowship I had the opportunity to focus on these issues, practicing community-based planning and architecture that respects all involved.”

— Fernando Martí

Fellowship Hosts:
Neighborhood Design (2004-2006)
San Francisco, CA —
Mission Housing Development Corporation (2003-2004)
San Francisco, CA

A community planner, architect and artist, Fernando Martí brought multiple talents to his fellowship with Asian Neighborhood Design (AND). Chief among his many accomplishments was the community planning process for the Mission Anti-Displacement Partnership, for which he designed educational tools for community organizers, in addition to developing alternative zoning and housing policies to create incentives for more affordable housing.

Fernando’s primary built project during this time was the renovation of a 21-unit apartment building in San Francisco’s Chinatown in partnership with the San Francisco Community Land Trust (SFCLT) and Chinatown Community Development Center. This project was SFCLT’s first building and the first project of its kind in San Francisco. It also held particular meaning for Fernando, as he was one of the founders of SFCLT.

Fernando’s myriad contributions also included an award-winning artists’ housing proposal for the Octavia Boulevard San Francisco Prize competition, in collaboration with Rose Fellow Daniel Adams. In addition, he led several urban design projects for AND: most recently, community-based design guidelines for a new Chinatown subway station and several design-build and community arts projects.

Born in Ecuador, Fernando received a joint master’s degree in architecture and city planning from UC Berkeley. Fernando serves on the board of PODER, a grassroots environmental justice organization. He has served on the board of Urban Ecology in San Francisco, and on the steering committee of Planners Network. He has taught design studios at University of San Francisco and at UC Berkeley where he currently teaches in the Department of City and Regional Planning.

See Fernando’s Project

53 Columbus Avenue »

Gallery

(hover over image to zoom)

Fernando Martí
A garden shed built by trainees in AND’s pre-apprentice job training program and AND’s architecture staff.
People’s Plan zoning map, prepared as a participatory process with Mission District Residents, to promote development of affordable housing together with preservation of the local jobs base.
Octavia Boulevard Housing Competition, developed by AND’s Fernando Marti and Dan Adams, together with Geoffrey Holton Architects. The proposal, for living and working spaces for artists on a tight (15' x 100') lot, received an SFPrize award for community merit.
by I Have A Dream Foundation
Talkin’ architecture with the little ones at a Mission District elementary school.
by Robert Marosi
Working with Mission District youth on a community mural at MHDC’s “Secret Garden.”
Facilitating a design group for AND’s “Enterprise Housing Charrette,” a partnership with USF to develop prototypes for housing that provides opportunities for home-based work.
by Asian Law Caucus
Chinatown tenants at 53 Columbus, celebrating their victory over eviction and demolition.
Photomontage of streetscape improvements for Lower Divisadero in San Francisco.