Interstice: a term defined as the space between. At the scale of the body, it is a dwelling: the space between the walls that shelter us—our private realm.  At an urban scale, it is the open spaces between buildings—the civic and public realm. It is also defined as an interval of time: the duration between ideation and completion. We also define it as the overlapping territory between landscape and architecture. 

INTERSTICE Architects’ works diligently see the world through the overlaps in territory—between disciplines, between desires, between infrastructures, between roles. IA believes that designers take action at the nexus of program, client desires, mediation of varied scales; the now and the future, resiliency and resources.  The range and typology of the firm’s design work underscores this commitment to elevating material culture in the creation of places, dedicated to designing sustainable environments which engage and delight.

INTERSTICE helps clients make places that create value and reflect our client’s values, from commercial buildings and private residences to public and civic spaces, with a focus on the broadest possible interpretation of the designed realm. IA is inspired by research into materials, with a scientific approach to program, and a deep commitment to understanding our clients. The firm is focused on unique conditions—those idiosyncratic social, historical, and ecological aspects that make each project distinctive. 

INTERSTICE works in a collaborative spirit donning the role of designers, educators, and activists acting on a core belief that sustainability is integral to lasting and relevant design. We strive to establish simple and sustainable solutions that improve quality of life: from working on small, community-oriented urban furniture installations to the re-envisioning of acres of coastal frontage as an ecological response to the challenges of sea level rise and bayside habitat degradation. Our architecture and landscapes are both experiential and respond to broader issues and opportunities: the use of repurposed waste stream materials, reversing the loss of bird and insect habitats, the stewardship of ancient trees, or creating minimalist solutions to complicated programs.  Diversity is a hallmark of INTERSTICE’s projects, clients, and collaborations. The designs that result are highly varied, yet specific, with a common objective of creating a place in the world better than when we came to it.

INTERSTICE Architects acknowledges that it is located on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ramaytush Ohlone peoples, and recognizes that, as the original stewards of what is now the San Francisco Peninsula, the Ramaytush Ohlone understood the interconnectedness of all things and maintained harmony with nature for millennia, and honors the Ramaytush Ohlone peoples for their enduring commitment to Mother Earth.

As Guests, we recognize that we benefit from living and working on their traditional homeland. We wish to pay our respects by acknowledging the Ancestors and Relatives of the Ramaytush community and by affirming their sovereign rights as First Peoples. We also acknowledge the trauma and injustices inflicted upon the Ohlone peoples through colonization and the continued struggles they face.

This acknowledgement demonstrates our commitment as a company to learning about the indigenous history, culture, and current issues in this area. We also commit to beginning to work to dismantle ongoing legacies of settler colonialism, and to recognize the hundreds of Indigenous Nations who continue to resist, live, and uphold their sacred relations across their lands. 

Please join us in recognizing and honoring their ancestors, descendants, and all other members of their communities.