Studio tour: A venture capital firm’s disco-inspired office in San Francisco

Latching onto the enduring spirit of Disco from the ‘70s—when the celebration of life was unapologetic and diversity was embraced, Studio Plow transformed the ordinary spaces in the office into extraordinary realms of inspiration.

“Our inspiration and concepts were derived from different moments in Disco—whether it was the genesis of Disco, and those outfits and colours used in the nightclubs, or it was moments in Disco, such as the French Disco movement,” the architect and interior designer elaborates.

The design team settled for “old-school expressions—a more muddy version” of the era rather than the more well-known bright, neon versions, playing off the brick walls of the existing space, already prominent upon entry into the office. 

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Here, the spacious lounge area greets with an eclectic mix of new and vintage furnishing, as vintage Westnofa Siesta and Mies Van Der Rohe lounge chairs harmonise with Scandinavian-style slit accent tables by Hay.

Amidst soft materials and playful textures juxtaposing with the existing orange shell and retained cold, hard floorings, the public-oriented ground level can be subdivided into smaller and more casual working spaces.

Meanwhile, the conference room and mustard yellow phone booths can host more private meetings or work calls.

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Beyond the multifunctional entry lounge, which can also convert into entertainment spaces for social events, the Listening Lounge is decorated with reupholstered bistro-type seating and checkerboard patterned flooring, as shelves filled with vinyl records line the walls next to a record player and a piano.

The relaxing leisure space flows into a small speakeasy bar, where a revamped garage-turned-dance floor offers concealed escapism for employees to cut loose.

Besides that, the black-and-white walls in the lower-level bathrooms create an optical illusion tailored to resonate with the web3/crypto clientele.

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The daily grind takes place on the second floor, where a series of meeting rooms divide the office space between private and public zones. 

A nod to the persisting counterculture vibe, each conference room is colour-blocked, featuring floors, walls and upholstery in brick red, sunshine yellow, grass green or blue mirror.

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Meanwhile, the monochromatic boardroom is decked with custom tables, as the lounge meeting space cultivates casual gatherings.

Tucked behind is an open workspace with 32 desks and ample light coming through the skylights above.

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Equally light-filled is the adjacent dining area with a plethora of vintage Cesca-style cantilever chairs upholstered in mixed velvet; and the communal kitchen with giant disco balls that helps make the space larger.

A meditation enclave is on the hidden mezzanine level, where plush carpet extends onto the walls and low-slung lounge seating create a tranquil cocoon to unwind and reset.

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“There is truly nothing stereotypical about the space and the furniture within,” concludes Epperson. “At each phase of the design process, we were balancing functionality with an embrace of non-tradition, [resulting in a workplace] that is playful, whimsical, and at times, otherworldly.”

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