Burlap Lofts

The Burlap Lofts project is a renovation of the buildings located at 501-505 1st Ave NE in the Northeast neighborhood of Minneapolis. The buildings sit on the corner of 1st Ave NE and 5th St NE, a bustling intersection near popular destinations like Harmony Coffee (in 501’s building), The Herbivorous Butcher, and Conga Latin Bistro. The buildings used to be burlap manufacturing warehouses, a history that lends itself to the new name of Burlap Lofts.

These existing buildings have strong brick walls, heavy timber structural columns and beams, and charming windows, all of which the design team wanted to maintain and emphasize. Between 501 and 505 will be 503, a re-envisioned building connection. This space will go beyond the height of the two existing buildings creating street presence and a modern edge to the industrial essence. 503 connects the two existing buildings along the alleyway at the back of the site, allowing space for an intimate courtyard setting for tenants and guests between 501 and 505. The interior space of 503 is host to a new elevator to serve the existing buildings, as well as multiple common areas for tenants to utilize. A roof deck on level 3 is situated atop the building link.

The interior design intent is to be a well curated space that has eye-grabbing materials, sculptural furniture, and perfect proportions to create a piece of art in of itself. The artful interior of 501-505 will complement the existing Northeast Minneapolis structure with a modern yet collected essence using found objects that feel perfectly curated as if they were made for the space and collected over a lifetime. The furniture pieces will be defined by contemporary oversized forms, with lux materials, tying the NE neighborhoods’ charmed character with a new story in the community.

After passing through the enchanting patio, the lobby welcomes all tenants and guests to a cozy and captivating space. The unique vintage chandelier provides a warm soft light that cascades over the curved forms of the furniture. A bold, large scale floral wallcovering wraps the elevator, a design element that is repeated on all floors, so you always know where the elevator is located.

The second floor boasts the amenity spaces that are available for all tenants’ use. The program was developed to allow tenants to have space outside of their office to entertain, take a private phone call, or grab a cup of coffee with a coworker. Upon exiting the elevator, you are welcomed by an expansive coffee bar. Varied rattan pendants, quartz countertop, detailed millwork, and soft olive-colored cabinets stand out against the existing brick. Around the back corner is the coworking space, complete with different types of seating and a call booth for everyone’s working style needs.

Finally, on the other side of the coffee bar is the lounge. This rentable space is perfect for celebrating, entertaining, or taking a break. A movable custom bar allows flexibility of use. The large section and soft seating allow for casual mingling, while the ping pong table with ottomans and built-in bench can convert from conference to conversational seamlessly. The lounge space overlooks the entrance patio below, with the large window allowing lots of sunlight into the space. The patterned wallcovering on the ceiling creates a hint of whimsy, that can be seen from the patio below, furthering the goal to create a curated space from the outside in.