Residents of and visitors to San Francisco’s 181 Fremont Condominium Residences are sure to notice the eye-catching works of art that animate the luxury condo’s presentation suite. Selected for 181 Fremont by San Francisco gallerist Jessica Silverman, these works are only a hint of the rich connections between this exquisite residence and the vibrant contemporary art community of San Francisco. Silverman has partnered with 181 Fremont to offer her expertise and advice to residents who wish to establish or expand a new collection. San Francisco’s unusual combination of an established and world-renowned cultural community with the robust venture capital (VC) and technology sectors gives new collectors and patrons of the arts opportunities to make a real contribution to the city’s artistic landscape—and that always begins at home.

As Silverman recalls, her grandparents’ collection of avant-garde FLUXUS works sparked her passion for art, and the excitement of owning her own business made the gallery world a natural fit for her. Here, Silverman talks about her journey to the art world, her observations about collecting today, and her high hopes for the artistic community of 181 Fremont.

1.Where does your passion for art come from?

One of my earliest memories is of my grandparents’ FLUXUS collection. I recall seeing not only FLUXUS objects around the house, but also works by Duane Hanson, Lucio Fontana, Janine Antoni, and an extensive collection of Joseph Beuys. The FLUXUS work I remember most vividly is Ay-O’s wooden boxes because I could put my finger inside of them and feel various textures. I still remember one box in particular, which was covered in black tape to prevent me from playing with it because it had a needle inside. These objects made an early impression on me and have recently been donated to the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

2.What drew you to the gallery side of the art world?

I could combine my love of art and business into one space, bringing together my passion for working with artists and my interest in owning my own business.

3.How would you describe the art scene in San Francisco? How does it compare to other major cities?

San Francisco has a rich history of philanthropy and a lot of support for its museums and arts institutions. We are also in the midst of many new collectors who come from various VC and technology sectors, which is unlike most other cities. This means that for us, education is important because it helps guide new collectors to build a strong collection and a stable relationship with the gallery ecosystem.

4.What is your process for selecting art and artists to feature in your gallery? What do you look for most?

I have a slow and deliberate process when working with artists. It is based on seeing the seriousness of their practice, having conversations with them, and also trust. My mission is to “build careers.” My process usually begins with three to four studio visits to meet the artist and view the work. While I’m interested in their current work, I’m also looking for the potential of the artist and how they will expand beyond a singular body of work. I do look for artists who are willing to push the boundaries of contemporary art and who are not easily swayed by trends.

5.What emerging artist(s) have you recently featured or are you hoping to feature?

On November 4^th, we open a new group show called An Uncanny Order, which includes two younger artists that I am very excited about—Nevine Mahmoud from LA and Sebastian Fierro from Bogota.

6.What is your favorite piece from the sales gallery? Tell us a little bit about that piece.

It is very hard to choose favorites. That being said, I love the Hugh Scott-Douglas “laser-cut” work. This series consist of abstract laser cuts on white gessoed canvas. Each composition is developed from vector files in which the visual information is provided by photographs of the artist’s earlier cyanotype works. This information is then reordered by a digital algorithm and laser cut into the surface of a white gessoed canvas.

7.What do you like most about the 181 Fremont property? Is there a specific room or detail that caught your attention?

I love the details in each room and the surfaces. The marble in the kitchen, the bathroom fixtures. When it all comes together, it really screams luxury and comfort!

8.In your eyes, what sets 181 Fremont apart from other new developments in the area?

The fact that Orlando Diaz-Azcuy pays attention to every aspect of the apartment spaces sets 181 Fremont apart from everything else on the market.

9.Tell us a more about the invitation you have extended to 181 Fremont buyers—welcoming them to the gallery for private consultations. How do you help select art for the space?

It would be my pleasure to discuss art with anyone who is considering living at 181 Fremont. I think that when they consider a space, they may think about the nice white empty walls and what could live on them. Through education, looking at art, having conversations, and getting to know each person, it becomes a fun, exciting, and rewarding (on both sides, I hope) process to find great pieces that they want to live with for many years to come!

10.What would we find on the walls of your home?

My partner Sarah Thornton and I love to live with art. Right now, we have many amazing works in our downtown SF apartment. Many of the works are by gallery artists such as Hugh Scott-Douglas, Julian Hoeber, Margo Wolowiec, Dashiell Manley, and Matt Lipps. Alongside these works are pieces that Sarah acquired while living in London and following photography. These works are by Lorna Simpson, John Baldessari, Francesca Woodman, and Idris Khan. One of my favorite works was a gift from my grandparents, a 1972 Edward Kienholz edition.

11.In your opinion, what effects do different kinds of art (sculptures, paintings, mixed media pieces, etc.) have on a room? 
It really depends on the kind of room we are considering and the way in which a person likes to live with art. Some people like to fill every wall and corner with art. I personally like to work with art as points of focus, to fill emptiness, and to start conversation. It is so great when you walk in a room, and everything from the carpet to the couch to the art on the wall feels loved, lived with, and thought through. Those are usually my guiding principles.

Residents of 181 Fremont are arguably moving into a work of art, full of luxurious materials and shaped by the singular aesthetic vision of Orlando Diaz-Azcuy. Residents can also work closely with Jessica Silverman to find the works of art that will transform their luxury condo into their uniquely artistic new home.

Residents of 181 Fremont’s San Francisco luxury condos will live at the intersection of vibrant city life and pure tranquility. The building’s perch in the heart of San Francisco’s SoMa neighborhood affords easy access to attractions like the Yerba Buena Gardens, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and top-rated restaurants like Ozumo. SoMa is also home to many of the city’s hottest companies, including Pinterest, Trulia, Salesforce, and Airbnb, to name just a few. For professionals who work in SoMa, 181 Fremont offers the best of both worlds: by day, San Francisco beckons for work and play, and by night, quiet evenings at home provide the ultimate luxury. Inside, 181 Fremont’s spacious condominiums float above it all, inviting residents to take in spectacular city views from up high.

A weekend in SoMa can start with an invigorating jog along the Embarcadero with its Bay Bridge views and opportunities for people-watching. After the morning rituals, 181 Fremont residents can choose one of many outstanding local options for a well-earned brunch. Chef Michael Mina’s refined bistro RN74 on Mission Street offers savory mid-day fare like Grilled Mary’s Chicken Paillard, which comes with a sunny-side egg, tasso-fried rice, and corn sabayon. The Garden Court at the Palace Hotel on New Montgomery Street serves meals (and afternoon tea) in a spectacular glass-domed atrium that was built in 1909. Their à la carte City Brunch menu offers fresh takes on hearty classics, like the Mission Benedict with kalua pork and tomatillo, and the Sea for Two platter, which features lobster, shrimp, and oysters served with yuzu kosho remoulade and red wine mignonette.

Art and culture are part of the fabric of life in SoMa, which is home to a number of the city’s most renowned and exciting arts organizations. But it’s not only the museums that have helped SoMa garner this reputation: just ten minutes from 181 Fremont on foot, the Yerba Buena Gardens (YBG) provide some of the most exquisite landscaping and public art in the city. The YBG comprise two blocks between Third and Fourth, and Mission and Folsom Streets, including the grounds of the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, the Children’s Creativity Museum, and the Children’s Garden for little botanists. From May through October each year, YBG hosts the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, which features live outdoor jazz, dance performances, classical recitals, and programs for families.

Not far from YBG, the San Francisco’s Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)—the city’s cultural crown jewel—offers a slate of world-class exhibitions and programs year-round. In its newly reopened space, following a massive, three-year renovation process and a new design by the Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta, the museum now covers 170,000 square feet, which makes it one of the largest American museums in terms of exhibition space. Jackson Pollack had his very first museum show at SFMOMA, and visitors can still take in many classic highlights from the permanent collection, including work by Henri Matisse, Paul Klee, Andy Warhol, and the photographer Ansel Adams. SFMOMA also recently acquired the collection of Doris and Donald Fisher, founders of The Gap, which includes works by Alexander Calder, Willem de Kooning, Chuck Close, Richard Serra, and scores of other key American artists.

Not far from 181 Fremont, Mourad Restaurant on New Montgomery Street offers sophisticated Moroccan fare in an exquisite space that’s both lively and intimate. Their nine-course tasting menu is a lovely way to become acquainted with chef Mourad Lahlou’s talents. For home cooks, an evening indoors at 181 Fremont following a day of downtown exploration can be as much fun as dining out, particularly if the ingredients themselves are the inspiring results of SoMa shopping expeditions. The nearby Ferry Plaza Farmers Market on the Embarcadero offers much more than just fresh produce. Shoppers can find chic tableware and tiles by Heath Ceramics in every imaginable color, or browse Le Creuset cookware at Sur la Table. The well-stocked Book Passage features an array of food-related titles, as well as great gift ideas in the form of photography and travel books about the Bay Area.

Up in the kitchen at one of 181 Fremont’s luxury condos, home chefs armed with seasonal produce and a classic cookbook or two will have plenty of workspace and top-of-the-line appliances to concoct a cozy dinner for two or a big meal for a group of friends. The floor-to-ceiling windows and spacious, open floor plans mean that the kitchens at 181 Fremont feel connected to the rest of home. Valcucine glass cabinets hand-crafted in Italy offer elegant storage, and some kitchens can be partially hidden behind graceful oak sliding panels, as needed. From early morning to the wee hours, the experience of living at 181 Fremont is a balanced blend of adventure-filled city life and the private comforts of home.

Every view in San Francisco is captivating: while strolling down Waverly Place, you may see incense smoke rising over the street from the Tin How Temple, or when biking across the Golden Gate Bridge, you may glimpse the Palace of Fine Arts from behind the firetruck-red steel webbing or admire the sun setting over the bay from the top of Coit Tower. But there’s no spot better for catching San Francisco’s quintessential sights than the 181 Fremont luxury condos. These SoMa condos for sale boast interiors by world-renowned designer and architect Orlando Diaz-Azcuy and floor-to-ceiling windows that frame unobstructed views unlike any other in the city.

Height is the operative word in what Forbes calls “the most luxurious new residential high-rise building on the West Coast.” Nestled on the top 17 floors of this 800-foot-tall building are 55 exclusive residences that provide a private and secluded perch with spectacular Bay and City views. And there’s no luxury condo in San Francisco like the full-floor, 7,000-square-foot penthouse on the 70th floor, with its soaring 18-foot ceilings, eight terraces, curved glass wall, private roof deck access, and unobstructed views of the Bay Bridge.

On the 52nd floor, which is the amenity level of 181 Fremont, all residents can enjoy a panoply of luxuries—including a fitness center with yoga studio, library, conference room, and two lounges—topped off by the panoramic views from the wraparound observation terrace, breathtaking day or night. While the sun is shining, you can watch cars and trucks traverse the Bay Bridge as they pierce through Yerba Buena and Treasure Island, then steadily make their way to Oakland. To the north, Alcatraz cuts a striking silhouette in the noonday sun with Angel Island behind it. In the evening, you can watch sailboats skim over San Francisco Bay as you cozy up with a glass of spicy cabernet sauvignon from nearby Napa. When night falls, the lights of SOMA twinkle beneath you, and the city stretches out, with the Transamerica Pyramid on the horizon.

Please contact our Presentation Suite today to schedule a private appointment: info@181Residences.com / 415.282.0888 

Construction of the massive new Transbay Transit Center is almost finished; the six-billion-dollar station is set for completion next year, and one of the premier features of the anticipated complex is City Park, a 5.4-acre, elevated rooftop park that will be one of the most fascinating and functional green spaces in the city. Following in the footsteps of celebrated elevated parks like Paris’s Promenade Plantée and New York’s High Line, City Park is set to bring some organic rooftop splendor to SOMA. Residents of the 181 Fremont luxury condos will have access to Transbay and City Park through a sky bridge, placing them only a few steps from one of the most vibrant transit epicenters on the West Coast and its stunning and dynamic rooftop park.

San Francisco takes pride in being known for its environmental conservation, and City Park project is no exception. The space actually pulls double duty: it will be a fully functioning public park as well as a green roof that can help insulate the interior of the station and provide shade for the ground beneath it. The roof will also help regulate and cool the local climate and improve overall air quality by absorbing heat and chemicals. According to the architects behind the design of Transbay, the entire structure’s energy usage is “projected to be up to 25 percent lower than the 2008 Title 24 Energy Efficiency Standards.”

At a quarter mile in length, the park will provide a wealth of spaces for relaxation, in addition to sections dedicated to culinary, entertainment, and family-friendly options. There will be children’s play areas, lush gardens, walking and jogging trails, and an amphitheater that will host concerts and performances.

Given its (literally) elevated status, and the abundance of scenery at hand, City Park is primed to be a popular running and walking destination. The public green spaces will be designated “active” and “quiet;” that way, if relaxing with a book is the goal, you’ll know the appropriate area for minimal disturbance. The children’s play areas will be highly interactive and will encourage exploration of nature. And nature will certainly be thoroughly represented: there will be myriad varieties of plants and floral species, as well as a diverse assortment of trees and vegetation scattered throughout the space—and a wetland marsh. The park will be accessible from ten different entry points and will include a restaurant, a cafe, and a huge space for bike storage. The 1,000-person, open-air amphitheater will anchor the western end of the park and will play a vital role in many of the park’s hosted events, from fairs to concerts, speeches, and performances.

The luxury condos at 181 Fremont—offering not just a beautiful building with dozens of amenities, but also direct access to the Transbay Transit Center and City Park—are set to make their mark on SOMA and all of San Francisco.

Since the mid-1970s, Orlando Diaz-Azcuy has been a bright, unshakable force in the design world. Born in Cuba in 1940, he fled to the United States in the early 1960s, eventually settling in Washington, DC, and later migrating to California to attend graduate school at Berkeley. It didn’t take long for Diaz-Azcuy to make his mark: at only 36 years of age, he became vice-president of the extremely successful architecture and design firm Gensler, where he was quickly promoted to the role of design principal. This was in 1976, only two years after he became a US citizen, and it was the first major step in Diaz-Azcuy’s meteoric rise.

Several prestigious awards and widespread acclaim over the next few years prompted Diaz-Azcuy to open his own firm, ODADA (Orlando Diaz-Azcuy Design Associates) in 1987. ODADA’s initial focus was on furniture design, but the scope of the company soon broadened beyond furniture to overall interior design. In the subsequent years, ODADA grew into one of the region’s premier design studios, and Diaz-Azcuy solidified a reputation as a master of modern minimalism.

In an interview last year, Diaz-Azcuy defined his style as being “inspired by simplicity and honesty.” Since the early days, he’s had a remarkable ability to craft refined and sophisticated spaces that do more with less. It takes a deft hand to knowwhen to show restraint and when to let things fly, and Diaz-Azcuy always seems to know when to apply the perfect strategy. His work is striking, bold, and truly one of a kind; he creates deep, subtle color palettes that feed off each other to inspire a feeling of cohesion throughout a space. This phenomenal skill and artistry have helped him grow into one of the most prolific interior designers working today.

Diaz-Azcuy’s latest venture is the skyline-defining 181 Fremont luxury condos in SOMA, San Francisco. Diaz-Azcuy designed the amenities floor, as well as the sales office and the magnificent lobby. When speaking about this project, he understandably gets poetic: “To enter the lobby of this building is like walking into a living sculpture.” At a height of 25 feet, punctuated by a luminous gold dome and sheltered by shimmering glass, the lobby may be the most breathtaking space in a building filled to the brim with breathtaking spaces.

Diaz-Azcuy has been beautifying the Bay Area and beyond for over four decades, and 181 Fremont will serve as his final masterpiece before heading into retirement. A career of relentless trendsetting defined by a subtle hand, and a one-of-a-kind aesthetic aptitude has reached its culmination. 181 Fremont is bound to be the new pinnacle of luxury condos in San Francisco, and it seems all but destined to cement Diaz-Azcuy’s legacy as an artist of unparalleled talent.

181 Fremont is currently reaching to meet the Bay Area sky and is primed to redefine luxury condos in San Francisco. The stunning 70-story high-rise will provide views that stretch for miles; expansive, modern residences; and direct access—via an extraordinary sky bridge—to the highly anticipated Transbay Transit Center.

The original Transbay Terminal opened its doors in 1939 and served over 25 million people annually. In the late 1950s, however, changes to the Bay Bridge resulted in the iconic structure transforming into a bus-only station. As San Francisco continued to grow and evolve, a massive plan to rebuild and revitalize the once-proud transit hub was set into motion.

The new $6 billion Transbay Transit project will turn the vibrant SOMA neighborhood into one of the premier transportation hubs in the Bay Area. Referred to as the “Grand Central Station of the West,” the enormous project will include a complete replacement and modernization of the existing terminal, drastically expanding local transportation options. The station will now consist of 11 transit lines that connect at Transbay, including BART, AC Transit, Amtrak, Caltrain, Golden Gate Transit, Greyhound, Muni, SamTrans, WestCAT Lynx, and Paratransit, as well as connections for high-speed trains to Los Angeles and Anaheim. When completed, Transbay will serve over 100,000 passengers every day. Residents of the 181 Fremont luxury condos will be only a short stroll away from one of the most robust transit centers on the West Coast.

The goal of the new Transbay Transit Center is to unite the Bay Area more efficiently by connecting and unifying the region’s entire transit system. Designed by the renowned Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, the Transit Center—and its 5.4-acre, elevated green space, City Park—will exist as a logical extension of the surrounding city. The Center’s Grand Hall will be flooded with natural light through the remarkable Light Column at its center, while City Park will be a one-of-a-kind space featuring children’s play areas, gardens and other green spaces, an amphitheater, a restaurant, and a cafe. Moreover, the building’s facade will be as luminous as its interior.

For the exterior of the station, the architects worked hand-in-hand with famed mathematical physicist Roger Penrose, who has collaborated with both Stephen Hawking and M.C. Escher, and in 1974 discovered a complex mathematical pattern, now known as Penrose rhombus tiling, that never repeats itself. The resulting wave-like, white-metal exterior that curves around the building allows light and air to permeate to the interior in a striking and harmonious manner.

$4.75 million has been invested in artwork for the project, which will include permanent public art displays fully integrated into the interior design of the space. A stunning terrazzo floor designed by local artist Julie Chang will welcome travelers to the Grand Hall, while a dynamic LED fixture created by Jenny Holzer will perch above the hall and scroll through sections of prose written by some of the Bay Area’s esteemed wordsmiths. Acclaimed light-wielder James Carpenter designed and crafted a massive expanse of glass pavers that will line the ceiling of Shaw Alley, and sculptor Ned Kahn has designed a fountain for the rooftop park that will be nearly 1,000 feet in length and correspond to the movement of the busses below. Every inch of the space has a logical flow, and each section feeds off another.

Transbay will also bolster the local economy by adding an estimated 27,000 jobs—and help one of the greenest cities on the planet become even greener. Not only will many commuters be able to ditch their vehicles and take public transit to work, but the Transbay structure itself is being constructed with sustainable design features and is on track to be certified LEED Gold by the US Green Building Council.

Upon completion of theTransbay Transit Center, the already highly desirable region south of Market Street will become an even more attractive destination—and 181 Fremont residents will find themselves living in an ultrasophisticated Bay Area landmark with transit lines that beautifully extend in all directions.

While the San Francisco condos at 181 Fremont are firmly rooted in the culture and aesthetic of San Francisco, they exude worldliness and luxury in every detail of their construction and decor. From the polished Italian Calacatta Carrara marble frames in each apartment’s entryway, to the doors encased in a Paldao wood from New Guinea, to the polished brass Parisian handles that grace the front doors, to the French oak floors inside the condominiums, 181 Fremont contains an incredible selection of carefully selected materials and fine finishes from artists and artisans around the world. This series will introduce residents to both the details they can expect to find within their apartments and the artists who created them.

Part I: Opening the Door to a Livable Sculpture

Designer Orlando Diaz-Azcuy describes the gold leaf, domed seating area that he meticulously created for the lobby of the new luxury tower at 181 Fremont as “a living sculpture.” So too is each private residence—a sculpture that embodies the diversity of the geographic locations from which every inch of color and texture has been recreated and reimagined at 181 Fremont in San Francisco.

It’s no wonder that when Diaz-Azcuy went searching for the objects that would become the entry points to his meticulously designed luxury condominiums at 181 Fremont, he looked to Série Rare on Rue Odéon on the Left Bank. This Parisian gallery features doorknobs and handmade bronze fixtures forged in the mind of Daniel Podva, an artist of Russian and Italian descent whose vision combines a mixture of his native cultures and the poetry—literal and metaphorical—of his adopted home of France. Try to imagine a Brâncuși sculpture crossed with a doorknob on a Renaissance building in Florence, or a Louise Bourgeois sculpture streamlined for function; without actually having one of these doorknobs in your hand, it might be hard to fully anticipate its unique weight and line. Each is a work of art in itself.

“I found inspiration in timeless materials, natural luxury,” Diaz-Azcuy told Forbes Magazine. “The care and quality that went into even the smallest details of this building make the greatest impact—it is the ultimate expression of luxury.”

If Diaz-Azcuy had one guiding principle while sourcing the pieces that would form the walls and floors and sconces of the apartments, it was this—where in the world is this particular material’s most exquisite manifestation? The question yielded answers that can now be seen at 181 Fremont, including floors that use fumed French oak wood to emit warmth and depth, and doors encased in Paldao wood from New Guinea. And, in the case of the Italian Calacatta Carrara marble which Diaz-Azcuy had specially cut against the grain to create an almost topographical, “veining” effect for the frames of each apartment’s entryway, he went to the true source. Diaz-Azcuy and his associates handpicked each slab of marble from the Italian quarry in a seaside cliff. Diaz-Azcuy knows how deeply ingrained in particular slabs are the force of that sea and the wind of that cliff.