Oriental Warehouse

Oriental Warehouse, sometimes referred to as Oriental Lofts, boasts loft-style homes and an industrial, cool, sleek aesthetic. It holds 66 units and resides in the historical South Beach neighborhood. Originally built in 1867 and converted to work/living lofts in 1996, the Oriental Warehouse stands as a historical landmark that represents a part of San Francisco’s history with Asian immigration. 

The warehouse was first used as an embarkment point for those immigrating into San Francisco, who were most commonly from East Asia. Back then Eastern Asia (really Asia as a continent) was called “the Orient,” a term rooted in the word “oriens,” a Latin word for “east.” This was common up until the mid-to-late 1900s. During this time, there were no sanitary facilities made available to men and women living in the structure. Upon inspection in 1892 by the Commissioner of Immigration, the space was regarded as horrible for living and became a springboard for construction of a new immigration facility on Angel Island in 1910. 

In 1996, the structure was renovated and converted into a proper place of work or living. Many of the original walls were torn down, and the subterranean level of the property’s masonry was reinforced and a sublevel concrete parking garage was built. 

Now, the property provides an industrial aesthetic and urban experience with exposed brick, large windows that capitalize on natural lighting, and tall wooden and exposed ceilings that only add to the capacious atmosphere.