In 2014, Sanders Pace Architecture was commissioned by Wild Love Bakehouse to design their bakery’s interiors, and to advise on exterior circulation and layout. The interior of the existing building had a raw and industrial character and consisted of two distinct spaces with different structural systems. Using these unique characteristics as an advantage, a strategy was developed to locate the bakery production kitchen in the older concrete deck and steel beam building and the customer area in the newer metal deck and bar joist building. This strategy allowed the spaces to develop as a series of layers that both related to the existing building and the interior program of the bakery. Secondary spaces such as restrooms and the dish room were grouped together towards the center of the production kitchen to form an efficient service core. A new glass wall was inserted to provide views into the kitchen prep area. A restrained material palette of wood, handmade tiles, and painted surfaces was selected to contrast the existing industrial character of the space and relate to the owners’ love for midcentury modern design. Custom wood display shelving defines the service bar in the customer area and provides a backdrop to the baristas at work. On the weekend, Wild Love Bakehouse is a city-wide destination, known for its warm yet sophisticated atmosphere that is unique in Knoxville.
