MANUAL LABOR IS AN ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN, AND FURNITURE STUDIO BASED IN CA.

MANUAL LABOR IS AN <a href="/work/architecture">ARCHITECTURE,</a> <a href="/work/design">DESIGN,</a> AND <a href="/work/fabrication">FURNITURE</a> STUDIO BASED IN CA.

The owners of Bartavelle contacted us mid-pandemic. They had down-sized their cafe and part-time wine bar (Bar Sardine) into a to-go window, in what had been their prep space. Now they were looking for a place they could expand, serving their coffee, food, and natural wines inside again. Somewhere warm and welcoming. Two doors down from their cafe they found a great opportunity and took over a retail space that had never been a cafe/restaurant. It required a big investment in the utilities needed to make it function as a cafe, but the location was perfect.
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We designed a cafe and bar that we hope is an inviting space reminiscent of old California, a little darker and warmer than its local contemporaries. We exposed the ceiling framing and tucked sound dampening material in between the joists. The drywall was stripped from the old wood structure and the steel earthquake moment frame, leaving their original installed marks and finishes as intact as possible. Where we could we used new materials that age gracefully, developing patinas that start to create a new history. The long table-height zinc bar is the prime spot to drink a cortado in the morning or a gamay in the evening. We used alder throughout the space for its warmth and quiet grain structure, which contrasts nicely with the original brick wall and the new green tiled kitchen wall.
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The curved zinc bar was formed by Paco Prieto &amp; Christopher Fisher of Pacassa Studios. The tile on the bar and kitchen walls are cement tiles from clé. Ryan &amp; Sons fabricated custom stainless steel counter supports and shelving behind the bar and in the kitchen. Joe Rice developed the audio system. Eco Logical Builders was the general contractor for the build out. Manual Labor fabricated all the solid wood pieces throughout the space with the exception of the oak chairs, which were fabricated by a CCA Furniture class, lead by Katherine Lam. All the photos above with people in them, and the side image of the wine shelving, are used with permission from Laura Kiernan. All others are by Manual Labor.

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The remodel of this home in the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland started small. The owners are adventurous, however, and a simple kitchen remodel turned into a full house redesign with major structural upgrades. Nothing was left untouched, although the remodel preserved the best aspects of the original home. Both owners have a strong design eye and were active partners in every design decision.
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We opened up the kitchen and made the connection to the backyard a focus. We stripped off a poorly built flat-roofed extension and rebuilt it with a vaulted roof that looks original. The central stairs were redesigned completely with a large skylight to bring light deep into the entryway, once the darkest area of the house. Twelve inch wide solid Douglas Fir flooring was used throughout the home. We added only 11 sf to the home, but the new light-filled layout feels much larger than before.
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<a href="https://www.axelsonbuilders.com/">Axelson Builders</a> did amazing work &#8211; while dealing with very specific design details. The structural design was done by <a href="https://www.mosswoodengineering.com/">Mosswood Engineering</a>. All of the millwork was custom made by <a href="https://munsonfurniture.com/">Munson Furniture</a>, and the attention to the small moments is fantastic. Manual Labor designed and made the custom fireplace seating. We also designed and produced custom lighting with help from <a href="http://kineticelectricsf.com/">Kinetic Electric</a>. Photos by <a href="https://cw-photography.com/">Christopher Woodcock</a> and Manual Labor.

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Manual Labor worked closely with the owners to design this substantial addition and remodel of a small cottage in Venice. 
<div>Located within a beautiful historic neighborhood, this design converts a 600 sf one-bedroom 1920s cottage into a 2,100 sf four-bedroom two-story family home. Despite the substantial increase in size, the resulting home maintains the residential feel of the original cottage. We retained a number of quirky original details, while adding a number of contemporary craftsman touches. The interior is modern, yet reflects the history of the home. </div>
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<div>Manual Labor successfully led the project through a contentious permit process with many stakeholders, including the City of Los Angeles LADBS, Venice Coastal Planning, Office of Historic Resources, Venice Neighborhood Council and the California Coastal Commission. The project was ultimately sold before construction. We continue to work with the same owners on a number of projects.</div>

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Superba E Plan

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<a href="http://www.sizlstudio.com/" target="_blank">SIZL Studio</a> designed a home for a growing family in Alameda and came to us with a design for some built-in storage and details. We worked together to fabricate solid walnut floating shelves that taper towards the front and have a kerf pattern, designed by SIZL Studio, which is reflected in the solid walnut drawer fronts of the built-in bench below. We also made a beautiful walnut mantle with kerfs that carry the lines of the tile through the walnut.

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We worked with chef Anthony Strong, previously of Le Bernardin, Delfina and Locanda, to design and open his first restaurant. <a href="http://prairiesf.com/">Prairie</a> is in the heart of San Francisco&#8217;s Mission District and serves lively &#8220;new-school Italian&#8221; fare. To complement the menu, we partnered with our close friends at <a href="https://holdenarchitecture.com/">Holden Architecture</a> to quickly transform a dim, masculine whiskey bar into a bright but intimate restaurant space. 
Every inch of the existing ash tables and bar top were stripped, reused and resurfaced to make the tables, benches and dividers. Manual Labor&#8217;s fabrication shop made the three part benches. We recommend you grab a comfortable seat at the end of the bench with the dog leg and order a tasty Highball or an Italian Greyhound before tucking into your meal.

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The Donut Rack is gentle on clothing with rounded over solid walnut “hooks” and blackened steel hardware.
ML collaborated with <a href="http://www.chothompson.com/">Atelier Cho Thompson</a> on two pieces for the <a href="https://diffa.org/">Design Industries Foundation Fighting Aids</a> benefit auction. This coat rack was our design contribution.

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Constructed of Red Elm and custom veneered panels with large compound-angle facets, this case was produced to house shoes for a family of four.

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Manual Labor worked with Mr. Izumi Motai of <a href="https://www.takarasake.com/verify?destination=node/56" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Takara Sake</a> to produce a half-circle shaped bar with a 2.5” thick solid VG Douglas Fir top. The bar separates into two quarter circle sections as needed for their Berkeley, CA tasting room.