Goodwater Capital has the mission to empower and nurture entrepreneurs who would change the world. They operate with values of integrity, transparency, and humility, reinforced at multiple scales of design -- from logo, business card, infographics, presentation templates, to custom furniture, signage, interior design, and architecture -- all addressed holistically by a single design firm. As a next-generation VC firm, Goodwater asked for an office that neither looked like a financial firm nor a startup, hinting to elements of a residence, cafe, and library, departing from the neutral palette and compartmentalization of typical VC firms.

The core tenets of service and accessibility were reinforced through the floor plan. Instead of entering a conventional reception area, the visitor enters into a Coffee Bar and Library, providing a welcoming reception. Blurring boundaries of typologies to innovate spaces achieved seemingly contradictory goals. This 6000-sf office possessed the gravitas appropriate to a financial firm while achieving the intimacy of a home, the focus of a library, and the unique character of a cafe. The transparent Founders Offices located next to common spaces also provided privacy for confidential meetings via switchglass technology. The Library functioned as a quiet work area while also serving as an meeting space.

The constraints of a small footprint requiring many use cases necessitated multifunctional spaces, never to compromise an elevated aesthetic or functionality in the name of flexibility. Hidden storage was skillfully integrated into a living Library wall, while integrating a monitor for meetings. The entry coffee bar space functions as a cafe, an event staging space, and an everyday kitchenette for the employees. The architect collaborated iteratively with the client to test the success of such hybrid spaces. During the design process, scenarios were setup in the temporary office and employees surveyed on preferences.

Photography: Alicia Cho