This adaptive reuse project transforms a San Francisco warehouse into a light and fluid residential and commercial space. The three story building was divided between a two story residence and a ground floor office. To counteract the material weight of the concrete building, the design focuses on floating planes to lighten the space and minimizing structural exposure. A custom-fabricated steel staircase hovers on the west wall of the building. In a twist of irony, the austerity of the industrial materials creates a sense of serene minimalism. The steel lattice fence that houses the open stairwell evokes both the robust character of an industrial warehouse and the clean orthogonal lines of the gridded city. In its remodeled form, the bare interior begs the viewer to experience the integrity of the material. The history of the building is thus preserved as it frames the character of a new form of metropolitan living.