Lands End Lookout

Lands End Lookout is a collaborative effort of the National Park Service and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. EHDD was proud to engage with these organizations in this special conservation effort to preserve the natural resources of this historic place, including the stories of the Ohlone, Sutro’s baths and park, Playland, and Merrie Way.

Perched at the edge of the continent overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Lands End Lookout draws its inspiration from the ruins of Sutro Baths nestled in the cove below. The ruins uniquely embody the building’s main theme–the intersection of nature and culture. Rising out of a coastal dune landscape, the Lookout’s concrete walls frame views and pay homage to the tension between the natural and cultural forces that have shaped the site.

Designed to withstand the harsh coastal environment, the building creates a sun-filled, sheltered courtyard that provides a welcome respite from the wind and fog along the rich network of trails. Historic relics from Sutro Heights gaze out over magnificent views of the Pacific, adding an element of whimsy to the concrete, wood and glass structure. The building invites people in, offering them a lens through which to explore the surrounding park.

As a LEED Platinum certified building, Lands End Lookout harnesses daylight, prevailing winds, and the topography to create an innovative passive design that conserves energy, water and embodied carbon.