The design celebrates the site’s industrial heritage by exposing the original wood structure and brickwork. Reused materials, added skylights, and new steel windows bring in natural light. Custom-designed and locally sourced elements appear throughout, including handmade and vintage tiles, upcycled lighting fixtures, and local metal and woodwork. Biophilic design elements including foliage and natural wood finishes support indoor air quality, while low-VOC materials and acoustically thoughtful furniture create a comfortable, health-conscious environment.

The spatial plan centers on a fluid layout that guides guests through the open floor plan toward a monumental live-fire hearth. This focal point creates warmth, visual drama, and shared energy, encouraging discovery and guest interaction.

Colors and materials subtly shift to reflect each vendor’s identity, with surprise and delight at every turn. Warm sandy pinks and orange tiles on the market’s outside patio evoke a warm, inviting atmosphere that transitions into jade greens and earthen grays inside the market, bringing cool Southeast-Asian sensibility to one stall. Across the market, woven seats and a light green tiled counter direct the gaze upward to wicker pendant lights. At Maydan Market’s Zapotec vendor, yellows, oranges, and adobe dominate, evoking the colors and tastes of Oaxaca, and at the market’s residency stall, purple, mauve, and green chevron-patterned tiles invite guests to sit at the sleek counter. Finally, Maydan restaurant is grounded by the sparkling bronze hearth, complemented by soft green, sandy white seating, and floral snake benches.

Bespoke elements include two grand Moroccan-style doors and two murals: one inspired by Georgian winery Chateau Mukhrani and another made by local artist Ernesto Yerena. Suspended foliage cascades from the vaulted ceiling, and pendant lights hang from the rafters, including pieces by Fortuny and crochet lamps from Hamimi, a Moroccan women’s collective. Support of neighborhood craftsmanship includes tile tabletops, wood furniture, vintage Malibu tile, and Middle Eastern furniture from Burbank’s Badia.

NCA Studio collaborated closely with Previte over an extended timeline, balancing her artisan-focused vision with structural and operational realities. The result is a resilient, inclusive neighborhood hub that bridges income levels and cultural traditions through the shared experience of fire and food.