One Square Meter

Why warehouse conversions are sweeping the globe

by Selena Randhawa, CNN
5 minute read
Updated 10:33 PM EDT, Thu October 26, 2017
This former Lucky Strike warehouse and auto repair shop in San Francisco was converted into a home by designer Stanley Saitowitz and architecture firm Natoma Architects.
Lucky Strike, San Francisco —
This former Lucky Strike warehouse and auto repair shop in San Francisco was converted into a home by designer Stanley Saitowitz and architecture firm Natoma Architects.
Rien van Rijthoven
The designers used gray-stained materials and paint to camouflage some parts of the building.
Lucky Strike, San Francisco —
The designers used gray-stained materials and paint to camouflage some parts of the building.
Rien van Rijthoven
New Lab was an abandoned warehouse in Brooklyn's Navy Yard before being converted into a multipurpose workspace by Macro Sea.
New Lab, Brooklyn —
New Lab was an abandoned warehouse in Brooklyn's Navy Yard before being converted into a multipurpose workspace by Macro Sea.
Spencer Lowell
Having been open for a year, it is now home to over 100 late-stage start-ups working in robotics, AI, nanotechnology, urban farming, connected devices, and more.
New Lab, Brooklyn —
Having been open for a year, it is now home to over 100 late-stage start-ups working in robotics, AI, nanotechnology, urban farming, connected devices, and more.
Spencer Lowell
A former warehouse on the grounds of a monastery in Lisbon was transformed into a beautiful chapel by Site Specific Arquitectura. The chapel is located in the center of the monastery.
Warehouse, Lisbon —
A former warehouse on the grounds of a monastery in Lisbon was transformed into a beautiful chapel by Site Specific Arquitectura. The chapel is located in the center of the monastery.
do mal o menos/Eduardo Nascimento / João Fôja
The interior was designed to create a simple place of worship and features simple wooden furniture and minimal decor.
Warehouse, Lisbon —
The interior was designed to create a simple place of worship and features simple wooden furniture and minimal decor.
Do mal o menos/ Eduardo Nascimento / João Fôja
This former spice warehouse on the Singapore River was transformed into a luxury hotel by Zarch Architects. The Warehouse Hotel still boasts elements of the old building, which used to be a hub in the spice trade.
Warehouse Hotel, Singapore —
This former spice warehouse on the Singapore River was transformed into a luxury hotel by Zarch Architects. The Warehouse Hotel still boasts elements of the old building, which used to be a hub in the spice trade.
Darren Soh
The interior of the Warehouse Hotel was designed by Asylum design firm, who took care to preserve the building's history.
Warehouse Hotel, Singapore —
The interior of the Warehouse Hotel was designed by Asylum design firm, who took care to preserve the building's history.
The Warehouse Hotel
London studio Emry's Architect converted two warehouses into six luxury flats in Covent Garden.
Flat conversion, Covent Garden —
London studio Emry's Architect converted two warehouses into six luxury flats in Covent Garden.
Alan Williams.
The suites still feature the original pitched roof and exposed bricks of the warehouse -- Emry's studios was careful to retain as much of the original design of the building as possible.
Flat conversion, Covent Garden —
The suites still feature the original pitched roof and exposed bricks of the warehouse -- Emry's studios was careful to retain as much of the original design of the building as possible.
Alan Williams
Formerly owned by the São Paulo Tramway, this old distribution factory was turned into a workspace for artists and creatives by Triptyque. It is now known as the The Cultural Center of the Red Bull Station.
The Cultural Center of the Red Bull Station, São Paulo —
Formerly owned by the São Paulo Tramway, this old distribution factory was turned into a workspace for artists and creatives by Triptyque. It is now known as the The Cultural Center of the Red Bull Station.
Pedro Kok
The Red Bull Station, which is located in the heart of Brazil's most populous city, is a five-story building home to a music studio, an art gallery, a roof terrace and working spaces for artists and musicians alike.
The Red Bull Station, São Paulo —
The Red Bull Station, which is located in the heart of Brazil's most populous city, is a five-story building home to a music studio, an art gallery, a roof terrace and working spaces for artists and musicians alike.
Pedro Kok
Blue Bottle Coffee's former Japanese head office was a derelict warehouse before Schemata Architects converted it into a versatile workspace.
Blue Bottle Coffee HQ, Tokyo —
Blue Bottle Coffee's former Japanese head office was a derelict warehouse before Schemata Architects converted it into a versatile workspace.
Takumi Ota
Located in Tokyo, the space also hosts a cafe, a roastery, a barista training room and a pastry factory.
Blue Bottle Coffee HQ, Japan —
Located in Tokyo, the space also hosts a cafe, a roastery, a barista training room and a pastry factory.
Takumi Ota
Originally a 1930s waterworks warehouse, this building was converted into a center for homeless youth in Toronto by LGA Architectural Partners.
Former waterworks, Toronto —
Originally a 1930s waterworks warehouse, this building was converted into a center for homeless youth in Toronto by LGA Architectural Partners.
Ben Rahn/ A-Frame/LGA Architects
Eva, the nonprofit that runs the building, provides shelter and education for homeless youth in the Toronto area.
Former waterworks, Toronto —
Eva, the nonprofit that runs the building, provides shelter and education for homeless youth in the Toronto area.
Ben Rahn/ A-Frame/LGA Architects
This 125-year-old disused windmill in Suffolk UK was transformed into a luxury guest house by Beech Architects.
Disused windmill, Suffolk —
This 125-year-old disused windmill in Suffolk UK was transformed into a luxury guest house by Beech Architects.
Metsawoods/Steven Roberts
The windmill, which was a derelict stump for decades, contains two bedrooms, a large kitchen and a viewing pad that offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
Disused windmill, Suffolk —
The windmill, which was a derelict stump for decades, contains two bedrooms, a large kitchen and a viewing pad that offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
Metsawoods/Steven Roberts
Why warehouse conversions are sweeping the globe