Located between Columbia’s Five Points entertainment district and the heart of the University of South Carolina campus is a peculiar two-story, trapezoidal building known simply as Claussen’s Bakery. Originally built in 1928 by George Frederick Claussen, the grandson of German immigrants, it served the needs of Columbia’s starch enthusiasts until it ceased operations in 1963. Its location, shape, and much of the building’s interior architecture prioritize form over function, presenting a number of interesting challenges and opportunities to subsequent developers. After its tenure as a bakery, the building was converted into a boutique hotel. Claussen’s latest revival is in the form of trendy studio and loft apartment spaces developed by The Styx Co. for upwardly mobile young professionals seeking balance between work and play.
Photos by Thomas Hammond for The Styx Co.