Example of lofts
Example of lofts

Lofts

A young and fresh type of home, very popular in recent years. The loft is a living space obtained from a former industrial complex, while the open space is "simply" an open space located in a traditional home. In the macro-field of housing design, the two types sometimes get confused because very often the loft is organized as an open space due to its construction characteristics.

Lofts are generally residential units found in former industrial buildings, with an airy and spacious design that sets them apart from more traditional units. They have become a popular housing type in recent years, especially for young people, due to their open structure and cooler industrial environment.

Lofts are usually regarded as a reimagined version of “old factory life”: many of them retain the original structure of industrial buildings, including architectural elements such as steel beams or exposed brick. Most of the time they also have a high and spacious ceiling. The atmosphere is that of a modern, bright and comfortable environment that easily adapts to the needs of contemporary life.

They can range from simple studios to very large multiple bedroom apartments. A common feature is the openness of the space - the walls are not necessarily divided into separate rooms; rather they tend to act as "partition walls" defining the living area and other key areas within the habilitation. The flexibility offered by lofts makes it possible to furnish them with furniture of different sizes and formats, creating intimate areas but also generous open spaces where you can share moments of socializing.

Another benefit of loft design is the presence of large windows, which allow the occupants to benefit from naturally illuminating the interior space with natural sunlight.

Lofts have become a growing trend in big cities, where renters can enjoy urban charm while appreciating the modernist comfort afforded by the industrial architecture of the buildings. Thanks to its modernist and exclusive versatility, Lofts will continue to be considered an excellent housing alternative for those who want something different from more traditional apartments.

House-art showcase in the former Zamenhof Clinic in Tel Aviv: a Bauhaus-style loft
House-art showcase in the former Zamenhof Clinic in Tel Aviv: a Bauhaus-style loft

A Bauhaus-style loft located in the iconic Zamenhof Clinic building in Tel Aviv, whose form has been preserved in the building's 21st-century transformation into a luxury residential complex

Loft with oak floors and cast iron details
Industrial loft for a photographer in New York. Oak floor and cast iron details

Desai Chia Architecture renovates a New York loft for a photographer looking for a stimulating work environment. A space that would serve both as a gallery for her photographs and as a living space in which she can enjoy her privacy

Nil Dos House, from a construction warehouse to an urban loft in the centre of Barcelona
Nil Dos House, from a construction warehouse to an urban loft in the centre of Barcelona

In the heart of the Gràcia district, a warehouse belonging to a small construction company defies the darkness and the bizarre internal fragmentation and is turned into Nil Dos House: a luminous dwelling, an oasis of peace and vegetation

loft paris wall divider wood and pastel blue glass
Loft in Paris. Furnishings and pastel colours create a backdrop to separate the space

Charlotte Fequet uses full tone pastel colours to divide the Loft into functional areas. The custom-made furniture completes the space, defines it and in some cases interconnects it, making the most of every surface area of the house.

The gymnasium. A gymnasium transformed into a bright and intimate loft with an industrial style
The gymnasium. A gymnasium transformed into a bright and intimate loft with an industrial style

Picture the possibility of building a new home in a former gymnasium, a space that everyone knows and many architects have fantasized about. In The gymnasium project, 10 skylights and a glazed facade let light flood the building with its large trusses. A combination of new and recycled materials made it possible for architect Robbert De Goede to create a new use

Loft with brick walls
Recovery of a Loft in Catalonia. Combining character and uniqueness of the building

An old workshop in Poble Sec Barcelona pushed the FFWD Arquitectos studio to accept the main challenge of adapting the space for new residential use while preserving all the construction elements that give it character and uniqueness.

Lofts in Montreal. Black, white oak and colour accents for a young, urban interior design
Lofts in Montreal. Black, white oak and colour accents for a young, urban interior design

The Griffintown Penthouse is located in a new residential complex adjacent to the Lachine Canal, offering a sublime view of Montreal's natural and urban landscape. The precise organisation of the pieces and the subtlety of the interior design have made it possible to create a bright, bold sanctuary that is in keeping with the beauty of the site

loft offices loft glass wood brickwork
Loft in the center of Rotterdam. The old masonry is the backdrop for new material structures

Firm Architects gives life to an old warehouse in the center of Rotterdam whose main problem was to reopen old windows to give light to the loft. Inside, brick walls form the backdrop to new structural levels of wood, glass and metal

Wooden and brick lofts
Modern loft made of brick and wood. Small touches improve living comfort

York Loft is a modern living attic in wood and brick, designed by the American firm Todd Davis Architecture who are based and located in San Francisco, it is equipped with a number of design gimmicks that significantly improve the quality of living

The open space space separated from the glass wall
Renovation of a former industrial building in Spain. From old warehouses to apartment

Egue Y Seta Architectural and Design Studio renovates an apartment in Barcelona, reorganizing the interior spaces of the former Poble Nou warehouses which are now habitable