Restore 49 was a testament to how architecture can serve communities and act as a point of rescue in moments of collective pain. It reminded us that with hope and resilience, community architecture has the power to uplift a society in distress. Born out of the COVID-19 shelter-in-place ordinance, the initiative grew in importance as uncertainty surrounded the Bay Area’s path back to “normal.”
This bold effort merged architecture, art, and community. Amidst the scourge of the pandemic, small businesses and large retailers alike shuttered, adhering to state mandates to protect employees and consumers while facing an uncertain economic future. Within weeks, storefronts were boarded up to prevent looting and theft. With over 120,000 small businesses in San Francisco, the urban landscape changed overnight. An unclear timeline for reopening left entire neighborhoods shuttered for months, risking decay and blight.
Restore 49 sought to counter this erosion of public life. Its mission was to rejuvenate the urban terrain, reactivate closed storefronts, and restore community spirit through creative expression. By partnering shuttered businesses with local artists, the program transformed blank plywood into canvases of hope—murals that evoked joy, safety, and resilience for residents navigating an anxious time.
The project’s name drew on layers of San Francisco identity: the city’s 49 square miles, the Gold Rush that once defined its promise, and the enduring symbol of the 49ers. In March 2020, Demirchelie LLC conceived the initiative in partnership with Project Artivism, and mapped closed businesses and linked them to artists and companies across the city.
The effort quickly gained momentum, supported by funding and donations from organizations including the San Francisco Foundation, Walgreens, and many others. In just months, more than 60 murals were painted across city blocks, each one a distinct creation by established artists, emerging talents, students, and community members. Through these vibrant works, the city rediscovered its spirit.
What began as a response to crisis became a broader demonstration of the role art and architecture can play in sustaining communities. Restore 49 was about turning loss into beauty, and about proving that collective creativity can hold together a city in pain.
