As South San Francisco continues to emerge as a biotech and life science hub, the 50-acre redevelopment project Oyster Point debuts to meet growing demand. The new campus comprises offices and lab buildings oriented along a sprawling natural landscape accented with amenity buildings. Locally based designer Rapt Studio oversaw interiors for Oyster Point’s flagship food hall, meeting center, fitness and wellness spaces, building lobbies, and furnishings across the complex. “The spaces work to bridge the campus architecture with the vibrant landscape design, offering a dynamic and purposeful collection of gathering spaces that have become the very heart of the campus,” says Rapt Studio CEO David Galullo.
Drawing inspiration from nearby shoreline and marinas, ecological and maritime motifs abound throughout amenity spaces. Housed inside a large triangular atrium rich with verdant vegetation and sunlight, a layered palette of oak, handcut tiles, and concrete is contrasted in the food hall with vibrant upholstery, figured viola marble, tumbled driftwood, and punchy artwork. Linked to the atrium is a web of dining, lounge, and event areas designed with flexibility for a range of gatherings. Patina brass and marble adorn an upper level bar, accented by a double-height hanging sculpture composed of halyards and ship rope. In addition to a catwalk and outdoor terrace, a cozy lounge and reading space is punctuated by custom wood shelving and a lozenge-shaped floating fireplace.
Downstairs, artwork and blown-glass pendants flank a private eatery ensconced in lush, rugged landscaping. Durable woven textile wallcoverings and sheer drapery visually and acoustically soften interiors lined with striped zellige tiling along the floor. Rounding out the ground floor is a casual coffee bar and grab-and-go space anchored by a cast-iron concrete bar installed below a large skylight.
