Ada's Technical Books & Cafe occuppies a remodeled home in the Capital Hill neighborhood of Seattle. The impetus for the project was to create the "book retailer of the future." Achieving this vision required an adaptive reuse design, an addition and a pioneering approach to the neighborhood bookstore. The challenge would be to convert a dilapidated single-story Craftsman into a refurbished mixed-use project. The owners were dedicated to creating a balance of history and modern sustainability, so architect Jeff Pelletier imagined the building like an aged book cover with crisp, clean pages on the inside. In order to connect the space with the street-scape, Pelletier added a raised front porch for cafe seating.

All existing framing lumber was salvaged and used to accent the bookshelves, product display shelves, cafe bar, point of sale, bakery case and overhead storage. The warm wood pops against the cafe's crisp white walls.

The first decision was to choose to remodel the existing structure rather than tear it down. It was important to preserve the character and focus on the sustainable opportunities and inherent embodied energy. As much lumber as possible was salvaged and used throughout the space, such as here at the barista bar.

The bookstore and cafe are divided by a wide front-to-back hallway, keeping the spaces distinct but cohesive. The high ceiling, skylights and playful mobile draw your eyes around the space. The clean white backdrop complements the salvaged elements in the design.