635 Mateo

This project transforms a former industrial building into a contemporary market food hall, preserving the historic structure’s integrity while adapting it to meet modern social needs. The design embraces the site’s industrial legacy with its rhythm, scale, and material presence and builds upon it. New additions echo the building’s original character through complementary brick-laying techniques, compatible modular materials, and subtle reinterpretations of its ornamental details. The design maintains the site’s industrial legacy by using the existing framework, material rhythm, and structural bays to shape vendor spaces and circulation.

The adjacent pavilion becomes an active outdoor extension of the food hall. Slightly set back from the street, it offers a semi-sheltered environment for downtown workers and visitors. Together, the indoor and outdoor spaces create a dynamic, flexible environment that encourages gathering, cultural exchange, and day-to-day activity.

Programmatically, the existing structure supports a diverse range of vendors, from small local artisans to larger culinary operations with dedicated seating. By blending historic preservation with thoughtful adaptation, the project creates a vibrant social hub that celebrates heritage while supporting the evolving identity and economic life of the downtown district.