Old Brooklyn factory gets new life as a vibrant co-working space for creatives

Forget the coffee shop—Brooklyn’s hippest new <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/co-working-space" target="_blank">co-working space</a> is where you’ll find the next wave of freelancers and creatives. New York-based <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/tag/leeser-architect" target="_blank">Leeser Architecture</a> transformed an old Brooklyn factory into the Coworkrs, a vibrant and industrial-chic co-working space in an up-and-coming neighborhood near the Gowanus canal. The converted warehouse retains its raw edge with fresh and contemporary new decor that’s cozy, quirky, and inspiring all-around.

Formerly a printing press, the 47,000-square-foot industrial building was thoroughly revamped, but still maintains its raw and rough charm.

The architects left as much of the original appearance intact, including the exposed joists and brickwork, but created a sense of unity and modern aesthetic by adding a brightly colored, origami-like staircase that connects three floors.

Finished in Yves Klein blue on the outside and teal on the inside, the staircase offers a beautiful contrast to the factory’s muted color palette.

The angular staircase also morphs into a multifunctional structure: the sharp walls frame common spaces on every floor and even turn into a communal table in one instance.

Coworkrs’ setup is a mix between the open-office layout and the more traditional private office setup.

Carefully chosen furniture and recessed bands of lighting delineate the shared workspaces.

The kitchen also features angular lines similar to the staircase.

“The final result maintains the building's original 'rawness' while creating distinct focal areas and spaces for the next generation of startups,” write the architects.