For some, a former manufacturing plant may not seem like the first choice to create an intimate, approachable community hub. But to Oakland’s Medium Plenty, the cold unyielding environment was an opportunity for experimentation. The firm was commissioned by Kapor Capital to turn the vacant warehouse into co-working suites for underserved communities and start-ups with limited resources, thereby establishing an accessible, functional and friendly neighbourhood nexus.

A movable triangular counter by Pseudo Studio offers peak versatility: It can double (or triple) as a reception desk, a bar or even a DJ booth.

Many of its efforts were focused on the kitchen, the “heart of the space,” intended to host a variety of events, from food workshops to pop-ups and catering. As such, versatility was key. “The clients wanted total flexibility — everything is on casters and movable,” says Gretchen Krebs, the firm’s co-founder. The design team opted for basic Ikea pieces for the lower storage units to cut costs, then built around them. Upper cabinets by local woodworking studio Lambert Holmes Design are made from native Douglas fir, while basil-green cement tiles by Clé tile on the backsplash introduce a little texture.

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1Oakland-based Lambert Holmes Design (a studio whose workshop resides in the same complex of buildings) fabricated the upper cabinets out of Douglas fir to complement and warm up the crisp big-box lower ones. They also provide a striking counterpoint to the existing concrete floors.

2Pull-down outlets were added above the kitchen’s communal table to make use of the building’s exposed electrical system. Arranged in symmetrical rows, opal glass pendants provide a balanced rhythm and help illuminate the large room.

3A fixed screen of wooden slats offers just enough privacy and separation from the main space to those using the kitchen. The industrial-style wood and steel table by Pseudo Studio is mounted on wheels and can be moved outside of the kitchen for larger events.

And if the building’s original clerestories provide abundant natural light during the day, integrated LED strips and simple dropped pendants illuminate the space for evening use. A custom wooden slat screen by Assembly Builders buffers entry into the kitchen. “We wanted it to feel warm, almost residential — like a box inserted into this raw atmosphere,” says Krebs. As we return to in-person work, Medium Plenty hopes to finally see its design put to good use — and perhaps to add to it in the future: “It might need another layer.”