For our latest lookbook, we've selected 10 warehouse conversions that have transformed industrial buildings into welcoming homes with charm and character.
Built for storing large amounts of manufactured goods, warehouses have practical designs characterised by exposed structures and unfinished surfaces, including exposed brickwork, revealed joists, concrete floors, steel window frames and uncovered pipework.
Their interiors are often considered cold and uninviting, but their high ceilings and large open-plan layouts make warehouses ideal for family homes and hybrid work and living spaces.
Below, Dezeen has rounded up 10 examples of converted warehouse interiors that celebrate industrial details and introduce elements that turn the space into a warm and inviting home.
This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen's archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring bedrooms with cleverly disguised wardrobes, neutral living rooms with warm tones that create a sense of cosiness and Victorian and Georgian homes with contemporary living rooms.
Earthrise Studio, UK, by Studio McW
Architecture practice Studio McW aimed to enhance the building's original features when converting this 1924 warehouse in London into a home office and living space.
Industrial elements such as steel windows, brickwork and exposed concrete beams were contrasted with softer textures introduced to the space, including timber floorboards and clay wall finishes.
Find out more about Earthrise Studio ›
10AM Lofts, Greece, by Studio Andrew Trotter, Gavalas Ioannidou Architecture and Eva Papadaki
This former warehouse in Athens was transformed into a penthouse and multi-purpose event space by Spanish design practiceStudio Andrew Trotterand local studios Gavalas Ioannidou Architecture and Eva Papadaki.
The 1970s building was stripped back to reveal its concrete structure. The addition of new windows and white-painted walls lightened the interior, and vintage furnishings were used to soften the project's industrial appearance.
Find out more about 10AM Lofts ›
Redfern Warehouse, Australia, by Ian Moore Architects
For this warehouse conversion in Sydney, local firm Ian Moore Architects stripped back the original structure and extended the building with contemporary elements indicative of its industrial past.
In the large open-plan kitchen and dining area, glass louvres and windows in metal frames extend to the roof's ridge and overlook an internal courtyard.
Find out more about Redfern Warehouse ›
Defoe Road, UK, by James Davies
James Davies, founder of London architecture studioPaper House Project, was informed by the Albert Docks in Liverpool and theTate Modern gallery's Turbine Hall when transforming this Hackney warehouse into his own two-bedroom home.
Windows and skylights were added to flood double-height living spaces with natural light. Davies worked closely with an engineer to minimise the amount of visible structure in the open-plan interior, achieving a clean, minimalist design.
Find out more about Defoe Road ›
St John Street, UK, by Emil Eve Architects
Oak joinery, glazed tiles and terrazzo flooring add warmth and colour to this converted warehouseapartment in London, designed by architecture studio Emil Eve Architects.
Original concrete columns were used to zone the open-plan lounge space, dining area and kitchen, while partition walls with built-in storage were introduced to separate the other rooms in the long, narrow apartment.
Find out more about St John Street ›
Dirk and the Chocolate Factory, Spain, by Anna and Eugeni Bach
Architecture studioAnna and Eugeni Bach designed exposed green-painted metal beams to support the original structure of this former chocolate factory and warehouse.
The studio converted the 19th-century warehouse into a family home and studio apartment that showcases the building's natural materials and distinctive construction, including Catalan brick vaults and wooden framework ceilings.
Find out more about Dirk and the Chocolate Factory ›
Canal House, the Netherlands, by Thomas Geerlings
Thomas Geerlings, creative director of design studioFramework, transformed a disused 19th-century warehouse into a family home with oak floorboards and walls rendered in concrete stucco.
Although most of the interior of the Dutch house had to be stripped away, Geerlings retained a structural partition on the first floor, which now divides two seating areas used for dining and as a workspace.
Find out more about the Canal House ›
Avenue Road Warehouse, Ireland, by Clancy Moore Architects
Local practice Clancy Moore Architects converted this Dublin warehouse into a home and studio by organising intimate, cosy spaces around a double-height atrium.
Flashes of colour add warmth and character to the otherwise stark white interior, including green doors and black kitchen cabinets.
Find out more about Avenue Road Warehouse ›
Residence HM, China, by Lim + Lu
Sliding steel partitions and bright red pipes distinguish this loft apartment in Hong Kong, which was converted from a former printing press by design studioLim + Lu.
Informed by New York-style lofts and industrial buildings in the surrounding area, Lim + Lu emphasised the warehouse aesthetic with industrial-style furniture, black kitchen cabinets and concrete tiles in the bathrooms.
Find out more about Residence HM ›
Located within an old grain store, London studio Feix & Merlin renovated this warehouse apartment by lowering the floor level and opening up the ceiling to create and double-height kitchen space and mezzanine level.
The studio designed industrial-style detailing in keeping with the warehouse's history, including steel and glass balustrades and a concrete breakfast bar.
Find out more about Hope Wharf ›
This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen's archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring bedrooms with cleverly disguised wardrobes, neutral living rooms with warm tones that create a sense of cosiness and Victorian and Georgian homes with contemporary living rooms.
Read more:
- Warehouses
- Residential conversions
- Interiors
- Lookbooks
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
About Me: I'm an enthusiast and expert in the field of architecture and interior design, with a deep understanding of warehouse conversions and industrial-style living spaces. I have extensively studied and followed the transformation of industrial buildings into welcoming homes with charm and character. My expertise includes analyzing the practical designs of warehouses, the utilization of exposed structures, and the incorporation of industrial elements into warm and inviting living spaces.
Warehouse Conversions:
Practical Designs of Warehouses
- Warehouses are built for storing large amounts of manufactured goods and are characterized by exposed structures and unfinished surfaces, including exposed brickwork, revealed joists, concrete floors, steel window frames, and uncovered pipework.
- The high ceilings and large open-plan layouts of warehouses make them ideal for family homes and hybrid work and living spaces.
Examples of Converted Warehouse Interiors
- Earthrise Studio, UK, by Studio McW: The 1924 warehouse in London was transformed into a home office and living space, enhancing the building's original features with industrial elements such as steel windows, brickwork, and exposed concrete beams, contrasted with softer textures like timber floorboards and clay wall finishes.
- 10AM Lofts, Greece, by Studio Andrew Trotter, Gavalas Ioannidou Architecture, and Eva Papadaki: A former warehouse in Athens was transformed into a penthouse and multi-purpose event space, with the addition of new windows and white-painted walls to lighten the interior, along with vintage furnishings to soften the industrial appearance.
- Redfern Warehouse, Australia, by Ian Moore Architects: This warehouse conversion in Sydney involved stripping back the original structure and extending the building with contemporary elements indicative of its industrial past, including glass louvres and windows in metal frames extending to the roof's ridge.
- Defoe Road, UK, by James Davies: The Hackney warehouse was transformed into a two-bedroom home, with added windows and skylights to flood double-height living spaces with natural light, achieving a clean, minimalist design.
- St John Street, UK, by Emil Eve Architects: This converted warehouse apartment in London used original concrete columns to zone the open-plan lounge space, dining area, and kitchen, while introducing partition walls with built-in storage to separate other rooms in the long, narrow apartment.
Additional Examples and Details
- Dirk and the Chocolate Factory, Spain, by Anna and Eugeni Bach: The former chocolate factory and warehouse was converted into a family home and studio apartment, showcasing the building's natural materials and distinctive construction, including Catalan brick vaults and wooden framework ceilings.
- Canal House, the Netherlands, by Thomas Geerlings: A disused 19th-century warehouse was transformed into a family home with oak floorboards and walls rendered in concrete stucco, retaining a structural partition on the first floor to divide two seating areas used for dining and as a workspace.
- Avenue Road Warehouse, Ireland, by Clancy Moore Architects: This Dublin warehouse was converted into a home and studio, organizing intimate, cosy spaces around a double-height atrium, with flashes of color adding warmth and character to the otherwise stark white interior.
- Residence HM, China, by Lim + Lu: The loft apartment in Hong Kong, converted from a former printing press, features sliding steel partitions and bright red pipes, emphasizing the warehouse aesthetic with industrial-style furniture, black kitchen cabinets, and concrete tiles in the bathrooms.
- Hope Wharf, UK, by Feix & Merlin: Located within an old grain store, this warehouse apartment was renovated by lowering the floor level and opening up the ceiling to create a double-height kitchen space and mezzanine level, with industrial-style detailing in keeping with the warehouse's history.
This information provides a comprehensive overview of the concepts and examples related to warehouse conversions and industrial-style living spaces. If you have any specific questions or need further details, feel free to ask!