# Contemporary Urban Workspaces The VARA Workspace Takes History into Account By Vasiliki Marapas | Published 2014-08-21 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vara References: [contemporist](http://www.contemporist.com/2014/08/21/vara-by-studio-oa/) & [o-plus-a](http://www.o-plus-a.com/) Studio O+A designed VARA, a housing development for urban professionals located in San Francisco, California. The architects sought to achieve a balance between the contemporary living practices of these professionals, and the [historical context of the Mission District](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/casa-sofia). Even the name 'Vara,' which was formerly a numerical unit equivalent to 33 inches, is a historical reference from when California was under Spanish rule. Formerly, the building [housed a print shop](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/xstudio) famous for its work on fruit and vegetable labels. The architects considered this, along with California's rich agricultural history, when designing the rustic spaces, including a lobby, bar, gym and courtyard. Some of the original building's wood was salvaged and re-purposed to further accentuate the public spaces. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.1/10 - Popularity: 67% | Activity: 47% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Historical Design:** Integrating historical references and design elements into contemporary spaces for a unique and immersive experience. - **Repurposing Materials:** Salvaging and reusing materials from existing structures to add character and sustainability to new architectural designs. - **Local Context:** Creating spaces that reflect and celebrate the cultural heritage and history of the surrounding area. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Architecture:** Architects can explore opportunities to merge historical and contemporary design elements in their projects. - **Real Estate Development:** Developers can consider incorporating historical references and repurposed materials to create unique and marketable urban living spaces. - **Hospitality:** Hotels, bars, and gyms can embrace historical themes and repurposed materials to create distinct and memorable experiences for their guests. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Soothing Live-Work Units](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/livework-unit.md) - [Californian Modern Office Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/day-job.md) - [Rerfeshed Historic Workspaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cloisters-interiors.md) - [Cohesive Modern Workspace Studios](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/unorthodox-designs.md) - [Modern Heritage Workspaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/norton-folgate-offices.md) - [Farm-Inspired Office Spaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/black-barn-1.md) - [Music Industry Creative Offices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/22re.md) - [Self-Designed Tranquil Workspaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/studio-saransh.md) - [Valley-Inspired Offices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kitaoka-group-office.md)