Established: 1997

Shift Design Studio was founded as a one-woman design practice run as an arts studio specializing in personalized design of buildings, interiors and landscapes. Certified as a 'Climate Positive, Green Business’, Shift Design Studio offers full services for commercial, residential and civic projects, from pre-design research through design, permitting and construction administration, with an emphasis on sustainability (materials, energy, lifestyle) and universal design (ADA, disabled access, aging in place). Project management, permit expediting, budget coordination, color consulting, arts services, materials selections, interior design and custom furnishings are available for projects of any size.

Location: Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand

Project: Interior and exterior renovation

Client: Residential

Services: Full Architectural Services: Design; Materials Selection; Construction Detailing; Art Selection; Project Management.

Woven bamboo panels conceal structural plywood fastened to ceiling joists. This assembly covers 1950s peeling wallpaper while adding earthquake safety to living areas under concrete roof tiles and pulling sagging areas back into level. Avoiding removal of the existing ceiling shortened the construction time while reducing cost, mess, and landfill as well as potential exposure to hazardous materials. Factory-finished panels minimise paint and honour the beauty of renewable natural materials. Luminous gold-painted negative detail and discretely placed off-the-shelf lighting create a polished island-vibe style on a tight bach-vibe budget. Installation by Christie Construction. Fine art painting is by Aotearoa New Zealand artist Aria Hinewai Parker (courtesy of Māorilands, Otaki).

Location: San Francisco, CA

Project: Interior renovation

Client: Residential

Services: Full Architectural Services: Design; Materials Selection; Permitting; Construction Detailing; Project Management.

Location: San Francisco, CA

Project: Interior renovation

Client: Residential

Services: Full Architectural Services: Design; Materials Selection; Permitting; Construction Detailing; Project Management.

Location: San Francisco, CA

Project: Landscape

Client: Residential

Services: Full Landscape Architecture Services: Design; Materials/Plants Selection; Permitting; Construction Detailing; Planting; Project Management.

Location: San Francisco, CA

Project: Front yard renovation

Client: Residential

Concept: Social exchange between private and public space.

Function: Converted 100% paved driveway into planted oasis; Extended 'effective front yard' by 16' into shared public space.

Sustainability: All recyclable materials; Low maintenance design; Native and climate-adapted self-propagating plant species; Local materials; 100% Rainwater diversion.

Services: Design; Materials and Plants Selection; Historic Landmarks Review; Permitting; Construction Detailing; Sourcing/Ordering; Project Management; Plant Installation; Custom Sculptural Topiary Triceratops Fabrication; Color Consulting; Post-Construction Services

Components: Garden, Stairs, Custom Furnishings, Custom Gate, Custom Railing, Sidewalk Landscaping, Parklet

Location: San Francisco, CA

Project: Front yard renovation

Client: Residential

Concept: Social exchange between private and public space.

Function: Converted 100% paved driveway into planted oasis; Extended 'effective front yard' by 16' into shared public space.

Sustainability: All recyclable materials; Low maintenance design; Native and climate-adapted self-propagating plant species; Local materials; 100% Rainwater diversion.

Services: Design; Materials and Plants Selection; Historic Landmarks Review; Permitting; Construction Detailing; Sourcing/Ordering; Project Management; Plant Installation; Custom Sculptural Topiary Triceratops Fabrication; Color Consulting; Post-Construction Services

Components: Garden, Stairs, Custom Furnishings, Custom Gate, Custom Railing, Sidewalk Landscaping, Parklet

Location: San Francisco, CA

Project: Storefront renovation

Client: Retail

Services: Full Architectural Services: Design; Materials Selection; Permitting; Construction Detailing; Project Management; Landscape design and installation.

Components: Reconfigured storefront; Custom signage; Lighting; Custom recess security gate; Container planting.

Location: San Francisco, CA

Project: Storefront renovation

Client: Retail

Services: Full Architectural Services: Design; Materials Selection; Permitting; Construction Detailing; Project Management; Landscape design and installation.

Components: Reconfigured storefront; Custom signage; Lighting; Custom recess security gate; Container planting.

Location: San Francisco, CA

Project: Complete renovation of 7,000sf firehouse (built 1908)

Client: Advertising Agency

Services: Full Architectural Services: Design; Materials Selection; Permitting; Historic Preservation Review; Construction Detailing; Project Management; Furnishings Selections.

Components: Custom furnishings and fixtures; Lighting; Reconfigured floor openings; 3-story fireman's pole; Custom doors; Custom railings.

Location: San Francisco, CA

Project: Complete renovation of 7,000sf firehouse (built 1908)

Client: Advertising Agency

Services: Full Architectural Services: Design; Materials Selection; Permitting; Historic Preservation Review; Construction Detailing; Project Management; Furnishings Selections.

Components: Custom furnishings and fixtures; Lighting; Reconfigured floor openings; 3-story fireman's pole; Custom doors; Custom railings.

Location: San Francisco, CA

Project: Complete renovation of 7,000sf firehouse (built 1908)

Client: Advertising Agency

Services: Full Architectural Services: Design; Materials Selection; Permitting; Historic Preservation Review; Construction Detailing; Project Management; Furnishings Selections.

Components: Custom furnishings and fixtures; Lighting; Reconfigured floor openings; 3-story fireman's pole; Custom doors; Custom railings.

Location: San Francisco, CA

Project: Complete renovation of 7,000sf firehouse (built 1908)

Client: Advertising Agency

Services: Full Architectural Services: Design; Materials Selection; Permitting; Historic Preservation Review; Construction Detailing; Project Management; Furnishings Selections.

Components: Custom furnishings and fixtures; Lighting; Reconfigured floor openings; 3-story fireman's pole; Custom doors; Custom railings.

Location: San Francisco, CA

Project: Complete renovation of 7,000sf firehouse (built 1908)

Client: Advertising Agency

Services: Full Architectural Services: Design; Materials Selection; Permitting; Historic Preservation Review; Construction Detailing; Project Management; Furnishings Selections.

Components: Custom furnishings and fixtures; Lighting; Reconfigured floor openings; 3-story fireman's pole; Custom doors; Custom railings.

Location: San Francisco, CA

Project: Complete renovation of 7,000sf firehouse (built 1908)

Client: Advertising Agency

Services: Full Architectural Services: Design; Materials Selection; Permitting; Historic Preservation Review; Construction Detailing; Project Management; Furnishings Selections.

Components: Custom furnishings and fixtures; Lighting; Reconfigured floor openings; 3-story fireman's pole; Custom doors; Custom railings.

Location: San Francisco, CA

Project: Sidewalk Landscaping, bicycle parking, custom seating

Client: Waldorf Grade School

Services: Design; Materials Selection; Permitting; Planting Facilitation Workshop, Project Management.

Location: San Francisco, CA

Project: Landscape

Client: Residential

Services: Full Landscape Architecture Services: Design; Materials/Plants Selection; Permitting; Construction Detailing; Planting; Project Management.

Location: San Francisco, CA

Project: Architectural renovation

Client: Residential

Services: Full Architectural Services: Design; Materials Selection; Permitting; Construction Detailing; Project Management.

Location: Guerrero/San Jose/28th Street, San Francisco, CA

Project: Temporary conversion of excess street to park. (2009-2012; renovated and extended to 2017)

Client: San Francisco Planning Department

Services: Design; Materials and Plants Selection; Permitting; Construction Detailing; Project Management; Inter-agency Liaison; Plant Installation Workshop.

PRESS: The New Fillmore

Location: Fillmore at O'Farrell Streets, San Francisco, CA

Project: Existing Plaza renovation

Client: Civic

Concept: Interpretation of Adinkra symbols, Botanical Gardens (African Plants)

Function: Enliven existing public space

Sustainability: All recyclable materials; Low maintenance design; Climate-adapted self-propagating plant species; Local materials; Rainwater diversion.

Services: Design; Materials and Plants Selection; Construction Detailing; Sourcing/Ordering; Project Management; Plant Installation (workshop facilitation); Custom Planter/Bench Design, Cultural Programming, Interpretive Signage Design, Post-Construction Services

Components: De-paving, Custom Furnishings, Cultural Program, Botanical Gardens (African species), Interpretive Signage

Location: Naples/Geneva Streets, San Francisco, CA

Project: Conversion of excess street to park.

Client: San Francisco Planning Department

Concept: Meander

Sustainability: Stormwater diversion (8,000 sf)

Services: Design; Materials and Plants Selection.

Location: San Francisco, CA

Project: Parklet

Client: Commercial

Photo Credit: Venga Empanada

Concept: Combine street space with sidewalk.

Function: Connect parklet and sidewalk landscape permits to create new depth of space in this typology.

Sustainability: All recyclable materials; Low maintenance design; Native and climate-adapted self-propagating plant species; Local materials; Rainwater retention.

Services: Design; Materials and Plants Selection; Permitting; Construction Detailing; Sourcing/Ordering; Project Management; Plant Installation; Color Consulting.

Components: Sidewalk Landscaping, Parklet

Location: The Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

Project: Interior Renovation in Historic Building

Client: Ice Cream Shop (Humphry Slocombe)

Services: Full Architectural Services: Design; Materials Selection; Permitting; Construction Detailing; Custom furnishings; Project Management.

Location: San Francisco, CA

Project: Office, Storefront and Facade renovation

Client: Commercial Office [Shift Design Studio 1998-2006]

Services: Full Architectural Services: Design; Materials Selection; Permitting; Construction Detailing; Fabrication; Project Management; Landscape design and installation.

Location: San Francisco, CA

Project: Office, Storefront and Facade renovation

Client: Commercial Office [Shift Design Studio 1998-2006]

Services: Full Architectural Services: Design; Materials Selection; Permitting; Construction Detailing; Fabrication; Project Management; Landscape design and installation.

Location: San Francisco, CA

Project: Kitchen renovation

Client: Residential

Services: Full Architectural Services: Design; Materials Selection; Permitting; Construction Detailing; Project Management.

Location: San Francisco, CA

Project: Sidewalk Landscaping

Client: Retail Plant Nursery

Services: Design; Materials Selection; Permitting.

Location: San Francisco, CA

Project: Office, Storefront and Facade renovation

Client: Commercial Office [Shift Design Studio 1998-2006]

Services: Full Architectural Services: Design; Materials Selection; Permitting; Construction Detailing; Fabrication; Project Management; Landscape design and installation.

Location: San Francisco, CA

Project: Landscape

Client: Residential

Services: Full Landscape Architecture Services: Design; Materials/Plants Selection; Permitting; Construction Detailing; Project Management.

Location: Glen Ellen, CA

Project: Landscaping renovation

Client: Residential

Services: Design; Materials Selection; Landscape Installation.

Location: San Francisco, CA

Project: Sidewalk Landscaping

Client: Commercial Office

Services: Design; Materials Selection; Permitting.

Location: San Francisco, CA

Project: Interior renovation

Client: Residential

Services: Full Architectural Services: Design; Materials Selection; Permitting; Construction Detailing; Project Management.

Location: San Francisco, CA

Project: Interior renovation

Client: Residential

Services: Full Architectural Services: Design; Materials Selection; Permitting; Construction Detailing; Project Management.

Location: San Francisco, CA

Project: Interior renovation

Client: Residence and Office [Shift Design Studio 2007-present]

Services: Full Architectural Services: Design; Materials Selection; Permitting; Construction Detailing; Project Management; Landscape design and installation.

Location: San Francisco, CA

Project: Landscape

Client: Residential

Services: Full Landscape Architecture Services: Design; Materials/Plants Selection; Permitting; Construction Detailing; Planting; Project Management.

Location: San Francisco, CA

Project: Custom Gate

Client: Commercial Office

Services: Design; Materials Selection; Permitting; Construction Detailing; Project Management

Location: San Francisco, CA

Project: Law Office and Art Gallery Interior

Client: Commercial Office and Art Gallery

Services: Full Architectural Services: Design; Materials Selection; Permitting; Construction Detailing; Project Management.

Concept: Language through movement

Commissioned by: Danze Comun, Bogota, Colombia

Services: Live performance and teaching

Title: T/Here (Still Life)

Concept: Objects as they are seen; foreground and background converge.

Medium: Watercolor

Exhibited: MM Galleries, San Francisco

Title: 'After Velasquez'

Concept: A study in spatial relationships.

Medium: Pencil and Watercolor

Exhibited: Private Collection, North Carolina

Title: 'PlayGround'

Medium: Live performance with video

Exhibited: Dance Mission Theater

Title: "Anywhere a Cat Can Go" (48 Prepositions of the English language)

Medium: Watercolor

Project: Since 2003, Shift Design Studio has pioneered  replacing excess urban concrete with sustainable gardens. Jane Martin founded Plant*SF in 2004 in order to establish and promote the city's formal process. She co-authored San Francisco's Sidewalk Landscaping Permit with the Department of Public Works under the direction of the Mayor's Office. In place since 2006, more than 1,500 applications have been filed and more than 100,000 square feet have been converted. Further, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (sewer authority) has formally adopted the practice as a strategy for diverting rainwater from the overloaded sewer system and for increasing freshwater reserves in local aquifers. Now emeritus, Ms Martin continues to consult on public space greening and provide design services.

Services: Shift Design Studio provides services for citywide demonstration projects, including Concepts, Grant Writing, Agency Liaison, Design, Permitting, Project Management, Planting Workshops, and Educational Tours.

Jane Martin presents the work of Shift Design Studio and Plant*SF locally and internationally. Presentation content and format are tailored to the audience, be they school children, engineers, contractors, garden clubs, university students or government officials.

Invitations for guest lectures, conference panels, teaching, project tours, policy development, arts performance, workshop demonstrations, speaking engagements and other creative projects are welcome.

Watercolour and Pencil