Our Story in the Funk Zone
Strolling through the Funk Zone in 2021, it may be difficult to imagine Santa Barbara without this vibrant neighborhood. Packed within a few blocks near State Street and Cabrillo Boulevard, the Funk Zone is an aptly named artistic and eclectic corner of the city. Overflowing with restaurants, wine tasting rooms, art galleries, and boutiques, the area buzzes with visitors and locals alike. Previously a manufacturing hub and industrial district, it wasn’t until the early 2000s when realtors noticed its potential and new architectural projects began transforming the region into what it is today.
At DMHA, we are passionate about creating inspired architecture that provides innovative solutions, beautifies the world we share, and fosters communal connection. As Santa Barbara locals, we are honored to play a role in the story of the Funk Zone. Whether adaptive mixed-use, commercial, or residential projects, architecture is an avenue for intentionality, and our work in the Funk Zone is a testament to this.
Channel Islands Surfboards At The Heart Of The Funk
Mention Al Merrick and Channel Islands Surfboards and anyone who knows remembers the old CI Shaping Rooms in the heart of the Funk Zone before it was famous. When Al and Terry decided to relocate their flagship Channel Islands Surfshop off State Street, they contacted Michael Holliday to design their new authentic CI surfshop and offices to highlight the boards and the surfers who ride them. Almost twenty years later the Channel Islands shop is at the epicenter of the Funk Zone revival and remains an icon of Santa Barbara surfing history featuring World Title Surfboards from Kelly Slater, Tom Curren and countless other CI team riders.
A Catalytic Origin At Yanonali Lofts
As the concept of the Funk Zone was newly emerging in the early 2000s, we had the privilege of designing a mixed-use development on Yanonali Street. Aside from Metropulos Fine Foods, this block was a sleepy and quiet section of the city, relatively unnoticed by locals.
Carefully incorporating modern concepts while echoing the industrial origins of the area, this project originated at Ryan and Ed’s prior firm, TCMC, and was completed in partnership with Gerhard Mayer as Architect of Record (AOR). A hub for local business, Yanonali Lofts became a gathering place and a catalytic project that initiated the transformation of the Funk Zone. With Pali Wines, the Valley Project, boutiques, and private offices, the building remains an attraction for visitors and locals alike.
An Enlivened Waterfront on Cabrillo Boulevard
A few years after completing Yanonali Lofts, DMHA was given the opportunity to redevelop the 29 East Cabrillo block of the famed waterfront. Diving into the work, DMHA found an architectural puzzle left by the remains of previous buildings. Our team carefully repurposed the block while enhancing the traditional Spanish architecture and incorporating new amenities, such as rooftop patios with views of the harbor. By introducing restaurants, such as Oku and Flor De Maiz, to the corner of Cabrillo and State Street, this project enlivened and charmed the oceanside perimeter of the Funk Zone.
Slow Down And Enjoy The Funk
Wrapping around the corner from Cabrillo Boulevard, DMHA’s Funk Zone story continues along Anacapa Street. We had the pleasure of working with Henry Lenny Design Studio on the Biergarten, a lively German bar and restaurant that recently opened this year. Echoing the eclectic nature of the district, this project integrates industrial designs and a rustic color palette to create a popular weekend spot that blends into its surroundings.
Buzzing with art galleries, surfboard shapers, and converted warehouses, the Anacapa block embodies the original “funkiness” of the area. With proposed projects underway, DMHA’s work in the Funk Zone has just begun. Whether you’re new to Santa Barbara or a long-time local, this ever-evolving artistic neighborhood is a spot to visit again and again.