Architecture can be immensely divisive in terms of opinions about the designs. There are buildings that architects, critics and members of the public love and others that they loathe. It is interesting how opinion can be split so easily. This is a great example of the fact that everybody views and appreciates architectural designs differently. It is important to keep this in mind when designing.

One building that has become immensely popular recently and gained plaudits across the board is 145 Natoma Street in San Francisco. The property dates from 1971. It was previously a hidden gem but has been uncovered thanks to the opening of the Museum for Modern Art. Many people heading to and from it have passed the eye-catching red brick building and been struck by the design and its low key setting.

The office building at 145 Natoma Street was designed by Thomas Lile. It covers five floors. Each floor has an interesting feature that is not seen very often on commercial architecture, especially in busy city centres. These features are spacious balconies. The presence of them is very interesting and has a clear impact on the aesthetics of the facade.

The design of the property is from a little known architectural style called Third Bay Area. The period only lasted from 1945 to the 80s in San Francisco but created some interesting buildings across the area. The style utilises modern and vernacular styles, including cubistic elements.

At Coffey Architects we love seeing beautiful buildings from various ages, including those hidden gems that fall into very niche design categories. They are particularly amazing in large cities and go to show that you should never stop looking for inspirational properties in urban areas. In fact the act of searching to find them becomes a beneficial experience in itself. Being based in London has shaped and reinforces our views on this.