Most lofts still offer a bit of the feeling of living on the edge due to their original use as factories or warehouses located in industrial neighborhoods. But in many cases, the latest examples have all the trappings of the most elegant downtown apartments, including walls, fancy floors and ceilings, shared lobbies, enclosed garages, and even balconies and roofdecks.
Instead of the original occupants, including struggling artists, architects, and other professionals who had to work from their homes for economic reasons, the newest crop of owners are successful executives, physicians, lawyers, television and film actors, product managers, writers, and others who have come to see the charm and wisdom of such large scaled units in interesting neighborhoods.
Residents are also no longer restricted to living in lofts just in downtown Sydney, where the genre first developed in the large cast iron manufacturing and printing buildings of the Paddington district. Over time, the loft concept has spread to more of Sydney and on to other towns in Australia and around the globe.
Rather than share a geographic commonality, the tie that binds most lofts is a building that makes economic and aesthetic sense to save and remodel as the back to the city movement continues to grow. More and more people want to avoid commuting, traffic, and McMansions. And they want to take advantage of all the benefits of inner city life.
With greater acceptance among the mainstream, the interior architecture of lofts has also changed. The loft has evolved from the original “hard” design, so termed because of its hard surfaces, to a “softer” style. The original wood or concrete floors are sometimes covered; the brick or concrete walls are sometimes drywalled; the ceiling ducts, sprinkler systems and timber beams are often concealed; and the walls and halfwalls used to partition off bathrooms sometimes shield bedrooms from the public living spaces as well.
Whether these changes are favorable or too far removed from the original form is argued among purists, but many observers of the changes applaud the quieter, more energy efficient and human oriented lofts that often result.
The way lofts are furnished has also undergone a marked change through the decades. The first generation of lofts tended to be decorated in Vincent de Paul chic and recycled, secondhand or hand me down objects and lacked any thought out design.
Loft interiors have evolved through the decades, revealing a much wider range of furnishings and styles from the sleekly modern Italian mode, where less still remains more, to the traditional international mix with English or French antiques, American quilts, and Oriental accessories and holland blinds.
The finished design does not look overmanipulated or untouchable, but is relaxed and easy to live in. The most favored look, however, remains a highly edited leanness of whatever period, so that the open feeling associated with this style of apartment comes through strongly. Some call this an undesign where the unalterable can serve as inspiration.
Two surprising twists in recent loft development are also noteworthy and bode well for future occupants who desire a choice. Brand new lofts are now built to mimic the original buildings, but these modern architectural versions are made with a combination of both old fashioned attention to the art of the structure and new amenities.
In addition, the boundaries of acceptable areas in which to live in a loft have been expanded to the suburbs and ex-urban areas, so now more can enjoy the form. The primary goal of the loft, however, remains the same: an abundance of space, light, and air and an eclectic exuberance in the choice of furnishings and accessories.
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