Market Street Windows: International Interior Design Association Dresses Up Vacant Storefronts For Charity (PHOTOS)

Until April, the walk down Market Street may be a bit more interesting.

That's because the International Interior Design Association has taken over vacant storefronts on our city thoroughfare between Fifth and Eighth Streets for The Windows project -- a city beautification project benefiting the Raphael House, a local shelter for homeless families.

All windows were inspired by art and personal stories from the children at the shelter. Titles include "Staying at Home, Playing with my Family," "My Mom is Making Pancakes on Friday for the Family" and "Family Sitting Under a Rainbow."

On Thursday, the IIDA unveiled windows designed by SFMOMA, Pritchard Peck Lighting, Studios Architecture, Destination Art and others at a lavish party with 20 percent of the ticket proceeds benefiting Raphael House.

Check out a few of the windows in our slideshow below:

Comments

[ZeFoussa]

06:29 PM on 02/15/2012

Very Cool.

Much better than seeing all those empty store fronts. There has been more and more business disappearing, leaving Downtown SF a little... nude.

[davesf]

05:11 PM on 02/15/2012

Man, it's that block on the south side between 6th and 5th...it's just...gruesome...

[westcoastprog]

11:15 AM on 02/15/2012

Market street in San Francisco is the Avenue of the Maimed.
The downward spiral of the unfortunate.
Each of us threatened by the vortex
of its dead-end inertia,
we fight hard
to stay on
Powell.