Inspired by the loft conversions of TriBeCa, a pair of former New Yorkers were keen on an industrial-chic aesthetic when they purchased an 8,000-square-foot warehouse to serve as their new home in Southeast Portland. To bring their adaptive-reuse abode to life, the couple tapped local studio Emerick Architects, which had completed similar renovations, such as the nearby rehabbed Ford Model-T Factory.

“The clients wanted a dwelling inspired by the authenticity and rawness of commercial buildings, combined with the warmth and beauty of an elegantly crafted, custom home,” say the architects, who also directed the interior design.

A key to the redesign was the addition of an airy, contemporary penthouse that’s articulated from the outside as a cream-colored block above a “fortress-like” charcoal-painted base. The light-filled penthouse houses the main living spaces, as well as the master suite.

Working together with local artisans, the architects mixed design elements from early 20th-century warehouses, such as the penthouse’s period-appropriate 12-foot-tall insulated-glass windows, with contemporary touches that imbue warmth into the 10,883-square-foot residence.

“Marrying practicality with craftsmanship, almost everything for the project was handmade locally by Portland artisans including cabinetry, steel work, railings, doors, stairs, light fixtures, and plaster,” adds the firm.

Sustainability was also an important guiding principle, from the materials selected to energy considerations. In addition to the building’s past and present history of adaptive reuse, the home is fitted with salvaged and found fixtures—from the ceilings made of reclaimed decking to a vintage plumbing fixture that the couple purchased and repurposed into a bathroom sink.

Meanwhile, a 2,000-square-foot solar array mounted to the roof produces more electricity than the homeowners need. In fact, the couple receives money back from the electricity company every month.

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Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Emerick Architects/Melody Emerick / @emerickarchitects

Builder/General Contractor: Right Angle Co.

Structural Engineer: SCE Structural Engineering

Landscape Design Company: Samuel H. Williamson Associates

Interior Design: Emerick Architects

Cabinetry Design/Installation: Custom Metal Fab

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A 1920s Portland Warehouse Is Rehabbed Into an Industrial-Chic Home