Battery Bridge

1 Bush St San Francisco, CA 94104

Originally closed to vehicles during the pandemic, the Battery Bridge plaza is now a vibrant passageway featuring a 1,900-square-foot mural, “Estero en Movimeiento,” that brings the natural beauty of Drake’s Bay to downtown’s urban core.

In June 2022, DSFP partnered with Tishman Speyer to bring Battery Bridge, the newly created pedestrian plaza in downtown SF, to life. To beautify the space, the 1,900 square feet mural was painted by Mission district artist Claudio Talavera-Ballón. The design was inspired by the natural beauty of Drakes Estero in the Point Reyes National Seashore.

The varying shades used in the piece invoke the stunning landscape colors and forms found in the Pacific Ocean, forests, farmlands, marshes, and shrublands that make up the estuary along the Point Reyes National Seashore.

About the Artist

Talavera-Ballón

Talavera-Ballón is a Peruvian-born painter based in San Francisco, CA. A disciple of acclaimed artist Luis Palao Berastain, he skillfully captures the essence of ordinary people’s lives and their surroundings across diverse regions and cultures of the Americas. He explores themes that highlight important social and cultural aspects of the people and places he has encountered. His work is also a tribute to immigrants like himself who left their home countries in search of new horizons.

Project Elements and Impact

Bands on Battery Bridge:
This lively pop-up lunchtime concert series encourages downtown workers t come outside and experience an array of music that highlights LGBTQ+ and artists of color organized by People in Plazas.
DSFP puts out movable lounge chairs and bistro sets, inviting pedestrians to find a place to sit, eat, and soak up the atmosphere of this iconic streetscape nestled below One Bush Street.
Planter Maintenance:

Greening a non-traditional public space and creating an inviting new pedestrian plaza increased foot traffic.

Overall Impact
The creation of a newly activated and beautified public plaza has led to public use and enjoyment. Approximately 400 people attended the live music concerts during their lunch hour during summer and fall of 2022.