Stories On Design // Luscious Lofts.

I think it’s fair to say that most of us would’ve fantasised about living in a Loft at some stage. I certainly have, plenty of times, and occasionally still do (even though I’m not quite sure lofts lend themselves to living with kids, but that’s a story for another day). Regardless of your fantasies and personal preferences, there’s is so much to love about Luscious Lofts – they feel luxurious by virtue of being open and spacious, often full of amazing character which creates the perfect canvas for any interior.

Brick walls, large volumes, skylights, steel windows, exposed ceilings, interesting columns, cool-town stairs and mezzanine levels are just some of the characteristics that come to mind when thinking of a typical loft. Although – as always – today’s curation serves as a reminder that lofts really do come in all shapes and sizes, and don’t always look as “typical” as they might in your minds eye. In today’s roundup, some lofts are epic and larger-than-life, others are bijou and make most of very small spaces; some are airy and full of light, while others are moody and dark but sill manage to feel incredibly comfortable and liveable; some are slick and super modern, others incredibly raw and robust.

So without further ado, I hope you enjoy this Story, and thank you for indulging me in another personal fantasy – Luscious Loft Living. Mmmmm… YUM!

See More ‘Stories on Design’ Curated by Yellowtrace.

Images courtesy of Enter The Loft.

The Loft by Enter The Loft // Located in the heart of Amsterdam, The Loft is a periodically recurring conceptual pop-up store organised by Enter The Loft (previously know as The Playing Circle). The creative team love bringing spaces to life by decorating them with their our favourite finds in the field of furniture, arts, accessories and curiosities. Wowzer.

Photography by Claus Brechenmacher.

Loft Apartment in Berlin by Annabell Kutucu // This loft apartment was designed by Berlin-based interior designer and stylist Annabell Kutucu for a musician, including a fully functioning mucis studio. The timeless elegance of timber parquetry floor, lushness of silk rugs and a sophisticated collection of pedigree furniture sits in beautiful contrast with the robust interior shell consisting of painted brick walls and exposed concrete ceilings. Seriously – what’s not to love?

Images © Sadie Snelson Architects. Photography by Rory Gardiner.

Clapton Warehouse Conversion By Sadie Snelson Architects // This living and working space designed by Sadie Snelson is sophisticated, laid back and simply stunning. The architects have used a refined material palette of steel, timber, concrete and pale lime washed walls. Steel is used throughout to differentiate space. Huge existing steel columns break up the large open plan while steel panels encase the mezzanine level above. Steel doors and windows allow light to stream in and are also used internally to accommodate the quieter areas such as the study, bedrooms and bathrooms. I would live here in a heartbeat!

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Images © Luc Roymans Photography.

Loft M By Graux & Baeyens Architects in Kortrijk, Belgium // A former factory on the outskirts of Kortrijk in Belgium was the setting for the new residential brief given to Graux & Baeyens Architects. Today, the site consists of a single vast loft filled with two interlocking curving structures that are stacked on top of one another. The unique nature of this interior can be attributed to it’s complex geometry, the variations of concave and convex lines, cantilevers and double-height ceilings. The original features of the factory building, such as the brick-arched ceiling and the beautiful steel beams and columns aren’t too horrible to look at either. Ten points from me!

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Image courtesy of Oscar Properties.

Lyceum: An Old School Building Converted Into Apartments By Oscar Properties // Oscar Properties, Stockholm-based premium residential developer specialising in heritage buildings, has converted an old school into a series of sensational loft apartments mixing classical elements with minimalist Nordic style. This conversion consists of two separate buildings, previously serving as laboratories and classrooms, now forming LYCEUM as a single entity. P.S. How excellent are these renderings?

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Photography by François Halard, courtesy of t-magazine.

Sam Shahid’s Minimalist Home In Greenwich Village, New York City // Similarly to his celebrated body of work, Sam Shahid’s three-storey home is a triumph in simplicity. High ceilings, abundance of natural light and absence of colour set the scene for his impressive art and photography collection from the likes of Walker Evans and Larry Clark, Lee Friedlander and Warhol. Iconic furniture by Danish designer Poul Kjærholm act as both a functional object and mid-century sculpture, while stacks of prints and books speak of the creative’s 30 years spent in fashion and branding.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Photography by Francesco Jodice.

Loft onuk Via Savona by Roberto Murgia // This 800 sqm loft designed by Roberto Murgia features a simple but striking black & white aesthetic with deliberate accents of acid green and bold red. I distrinctly recall coming across these images quite some time ago, which gave me the original idea for this post. You could say it’s this loft’s fault you’re having to enjoy the rest of the roundup today.

Images courtesy of The Saint Martins Lofts & Press Office.

19 Greek Street for The Saint Martins Lofts in London // London’s much awaited residential re-development of the iconic Saint Martins School of Art in Charing Cross, announced a unique collaboration with Soho-based design hub 19 Greek Street for the realisation of a display apartment. In keeping with the creative heritage of the building, developers Aquila House Holdings and Noved Property Group commissioned Marc Péridis, director of 19 Greek Street and an alumnus of Central Saint Martins, to style the interiors of one of the apartments, as a showcase for the new residential incarnation of the building.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Photography by Filip Dujardin.

Loft FOR By Adn Architectures in Brussels, Belgium // Ahhh goodness. The slickness of the folded steel stair is verging on implausible. That thin and that crisp? Really? Alas, you’ll be pleased to know that this loft is real, it’s just been subject to the wizardry of adn Architectures in Brussels. (I know, I know. I thought it was in Japan too.) Dig a little deeper and you realise that the intelligence behind this loft conversion extends beyond an uber-impressive staircase…

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Photography by Fraser Marsden.

Deliciously Curvalicious West Melbourne Loft Apartment By Adrian Amore // This Deliciously Curvalicious West Melbourne loft apartment by Adrian Amore is a knockout. Emphasised by a monochrome white on white palette, the twisting, bending walls take centre-stage. Initially a much more square and conventional space – a former butter factory – the interior took on a dynamic tone when the steel truss that cut through the space was removed. With much more room to play with, Mr Amore embraced the opportunity to create something more curvy and flexible.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Images courtesy of LINEOFFICE Architecture.

San Francisco Loft By LINEOFFICE Architecture // This converted warehouse space was remodelled by San Francisco based practice LINEOFFICE Architecture. The weightiness of the post and beam structure and the tactile grain of the Douglas Fir were at once seductive for both the client and the architect. With such an exquisitely crafted timber structure, LINEOFFICE were keen to honour the original bones of the space.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Images via Lissoni Associati. Photography by Joachim Wichmann.

Loft By Lissoni Associati in Monza, Italy // Converted warehouses are a dime a dozen these days, but how’s this for a fascinating case of repurposing? Lissoni Associati have taken an old private theatre and transformed it into a home. The alterations are strictly minimal, allowing the original bones of the theatre to sing with it’s own clear voice. Long slender lines and crisp shadow lines are assembled such that fixings and functions are relentlessly concealed. These new additions travel gracefully though the ornamental arches of the existing structure.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Images courtesy of Ricardo Bofill. Photography by Richard Powers.

Ricardo Bofill’s Epic Home Within an Old Cement Factory in Spain // There are houses, and then there’s Ricardo Bofill’s house – an abandoned cement factory of epic proportions on the outskirts of Barcelona, Spain. A grandiose monument to industrial architecture in the Catalonian town of Sant Just Desvern, La Fabrica is a poetic and personal space that redefines the notion of the conventional home.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Images courtesy of David Kohn Architects.

Carrer Avinyo Barcelona Apartment by David Kohn Architects // Carrer Avinyó apartment is situated at a major crossroads in Barcelona. Like the Flatiron Building in New York, where Broadway meets the city’s orthogonal grid, the triangular plan of the apartment’s interior registers a similar moment in Barcelona’s historic quarter – Plaça George Orwell. The architects’ first intervention was to strip back the internal partitions to reveal the junction and reconnect living in the apartment to the streets beyond.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Photography by Manolo Yllera.

Delfin-Postigo House in Madrid // Oh my, I think I’m in love! Would you please just have a look at this house in Madrid? It belongs to David Delfin (fashion designer) and Gorka Posigo (architect turned photographer). There’s no denying that this place and the owners’ art selection is not for the faint hearted. Not to mention the rope hanging above the bed… Ummm, I wander what that’s for? And whether you perceive it as offensive or not, it is quite clear that the owners are really comfortable with who they are and how they like to live, and they make no apologies for it. I applaud them.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Andrea Falkner Campi’s Home in Italy by Paola Navone // There is so much to love about this beautiful home. It is warm, inviting, uncomplicated, relaxed and full of character. It will come as no surprise that this place was designed by the one and only, my personal design hero Paola Navone, for hotelier Andrea Falkner Campi. In true Navone fashion, this interior oozes style and sophistication, without taking itself too seriously – the overall vibe is playful, natural and vibrant, boasting a monochromatic palette which embraces rustic textures of the original heritage fabric.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Photography by Joe Fletcher.

Luxury Studio Apartment by Rick Joy in Chelsea, USA // This studio apartment by architect Rick Joy may not be generous in size, but it is certainly not short of grandeur. What the apartment lacks in volume, it makes up for in lush materials, clever detailing and a staunch commitment to good design.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Photography by Djan Chu.

AP 1211 by Alan Chu // A jumble of wooden boxes provide a compact storage solution in this São Paulo micro apartment by Brazilian architect Alan Chu. “The idea is to use a single element to organise the space of the small apartment with an area of 36 square metres, distributed over two floors,” said Chu.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Photography by Helenio Barbetta.

Between Time by Gisbert Poeppler // This interior is an elaborate showcase of luxurious fine furnishings, modern and antique design, art and decoration, curated by Gisbert Pöppler and vintage furniture dealer, Erik Hofstetter. Providing exclusive exposure to a hand-picked selection of artists, vintage design pieces and home furnishing producers, Pöppler & Hofstetter transformed the grand showroom of Berlin’s elusive Wallstr. Here design treasures from many eras were brought together across space and time, amid the gorgeously decayed splendour of a 19th century architectural ruin. Dirty Chic Interiors. Love!

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Photography © Martin Tessler.

46 Water Street Heritage Building by Omer Arbel // Located in Vancouver’s historic Gastown district, this loft was created during a complete upgrade and restoration of a heritage building by architect Omer Arbel. The interior loft project is organised around a new courtyard open to above, inserted into the fabric of the space, allowing for an abundance of light into the centre of the very deep plan. All other interior elements are rendered using machined elements, conceived to stand in strong contrast to the rough original framework of the existing shell.

Photography by Jonathan Maloney.

Art Loft Chai Wan by Mass Operations // “The Art Loft” in Chai Wan is Mass Operations’s 2nd loft in Hong Kong. The loft is driven by an intention to generate better spaces than those available in the city’s residential neighborhoods. The owner of the Chai Wan Loft is an art collector; as such his wish was to be able to display his art and book collection while also being able to entertain guests, in a spacious and comfortable setting, with views of the city. A pragmatic layout plan uses a concrete dividing wall to separate the Living and Sleeping areas – the wall is left short of the ceiling allowing for ventilation and light to be shared between the spaces while maintaining privacy.

Photo © Adolf Bereuter.

Haus am Moor by Bernardo Bader Architects, Austria // To rural Austria, where outside the town of Krumbach, Architekt di Bernardo Bader (Bernardo Bader Architects) have put together the arresting timbered ‘Haus Am Moor’. I bet this place smells just delicious – timber walls, timber ceilings, timber everything. A perfect ‘Woodman’s Hall’. Inside, the form of the house-shaped extruded exterior is legible in the living spaces and upstairs bedrooms. Upstairs, the pale timber wraps relentlessly around everything. The design is elemental and pure, and as above I kind of yearn to see a bit of mess in these photos to take it from sylvan prism to beautiful home.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Image courtesy of AD Spain. Photography by Montse Garriga.

Timber & Glass Modernist Cabin In San Francisco By Don Emmons // Perched on the hillside in Mill Valley, just north of San Francisco is this gorgeous house by mid-century architect Don Emmons. Draped in cedar and expanses of glass, the demure cabin is bursting with character and unpretentious charm. Sized at only 112 square meters, the house was built for Emmons and his family and demonstrates an efficient use of space. A ship’s ladder, rather than a conventional staircase connects the floors. The second level is lofted and allows for a double-height ceiling that creates an open and airy quality.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Images courtesy of The Modern House.

Ilse Crawford’s Victorian Warehouse Home In London // Ilse Crawford’s one bedroom home in London‘s Borough district went on the market, offering a rare opportunity to see inside the designer’s private sanctuary so completely. The space is ‘library-like’ in structure, with open floor-to-ceiling shelving lining most of the walls of the open-plan space, piled with books and worldly trinkets. The shelving also acts as a room divider, separating the bedroom from the rest of the open home and simultaneously acting as a backdrop to the bed.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Images courtesy of Naturalbuild.

Waimatou Co-Working Loft By Naturalbuild Architects in Shanghai, China // This co-working space belongs to Naturalbuild, a multi-disciplinary architecture studio based in Shanghai (and also New York) founded in 2011. The practice focuses on “changing the dilemma between globalisation and cultural continuity” through the use of analytical and constructive building techniques. The warehouse in which their office is now housed was previously owned by Huang Jinrong, once a tycoon of Shanghai’s notorious Green Gang. Righto then. The building was exposed to the natural elements over a long period of time, rendering it with a charming patina and a strong sense of special character.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Images courtesy of Jvantspijker urbanism architecture. Photography © René de Wit.

Loft Office In Rotterdam By Jvantspijker Architecture // Jvantspijker urbanism architecture has redesigned the main space of an old steam factory in the Delfshaven neighborhood of Rotterdam into an open loft office. A central glass meeting room, with a pantry and stairs leading to the plant-filled roof organises the large warehouse space in a single sweeping gesture, transforming it into a generous and optimistic working space.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Image courtesy of NU Architectuuratelier. Photography by Stijn Bollaert.

Bomastraat House By NU Architectuuratelier // In a unique location in the inner city of Ghent, a single family house is constructed within the walls of an old industrial building. The former forge and carpentry became the scene for a new home. Some of the existing shed roofs are teared down, some parts remain. Similarly, part of the concrete flooring is kept and part demolished.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Images © David Foessel.

Glass & Walnut Loft In Paris By Cut Architectures // Glass & Walnut Loft is an apartment in Paris that combines clean lines with a natural touch, designed by CUT Architectures. The apartment spreads over two floors, with the wider ground floor enjoying plenty of natural light from both the street and the courtyard. The interior was conceived to fit the intense social life of it’s owners, offering a large living space that combines living, kitchen, dining room and a showroom/ study in a separate enclosure.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Images courtesy of The Line.

Crazy Beautiful Shop-Able Luxury Apartment By The Line in New York City // Holy ***bleeeeep***! What a space! This crazy-beautiful apartment, situated in a classic Soho loft in NYC, epitomises stylish living. Despite looking like the home of someone extremely cool and annoyingly glamorous, The Apartment is in fact a shop-able boutique. The project was brought to life by fashion stylists Vanessa Traina and Morgan Wendelborn as an extension of their online store The Line.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Images courtesy of Grégoire De Lafforest.

Paris Loft Apartment On Rue Voltaire By Grégoire De Lafforest // French interior architect Grégoire De Lafforest is the man to blame for this beautiful Paris loft. What I really love about this home are the countless elements of surprise and a one-off aesthetic that is so unique to this loft. From the glass house that accommodates the kitchen, the pine tree in the living room (rumour has it the tree branches were cut and dried, and plastic needles were later attached), sublime colour palette, and a collection of finishes and furniture that effortlessly mixes the high with the low. Every corner of every room is bursting with visual interest and personality, yet the overall feel is calm, natural and unforced. And exquisitely beautiful.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

James Jebbia’s Greenwich Village Loft in New York // We venture into the Greenwich Village loft of James Jebbia, the owner of streetwear label Supreme, which he shares with his young family. The loft aesthetic is quite the departure from his label’s aesthetic – the interior is minimal, delicate and paired back. Perhaps the natural light pouring through those mighty steel windows made him turn to whites and neutrals. Or perhaps his wife intervened – the styling has clearly had a feminine touch. Whatever it was – it’s totally working! With luscious wide board oak floors, simple furniture and the use of a singular decorative pendant to punctuate the space, the home is calm, unpretentious and easy on the eyes.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Photography © Peter Čintalan.

Open loft in Bratislava by gutgut // This contemporary and multifunctional ‘space for art,’ situated in central Bratislava, has been reconfigured from a four-room apartment into an open loft by the architectural practice gutgut. Located in a building designed by Clement Silinger in 1928, the spaces are vast and clear, featuring minimalist furnishings contrasted with intriguing materials, textures and construction elements. The loft accommodates many functions including a living quarter, an art exhibiting space, a studio occupied by several craftsmen and artist – all of whom required different space arrangement and functions.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Images courtesy of UXUS.

Amsterdam Loft by UXUS // Amsterdam Loft by UXUS is a private residence located in a historical building on one of the city’s famous canals. The 250sqm 18th Century warehouse space has panoramic views over the city and original open-plan. To separate the space, UXUS created a series of dramatic curtain walls that open and close off areas when needed.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Photography by Ionna Roufpoulou.

Faliro Loft by ése Studio in Athens // The existing bones of the warehouse provide a richly textured and sculptural ceiling. The architects added to that a Japanese shoji screen, patterned flooring, rendered walls, steel and sandblasted glass partitions, a mosaic island bench and a range of vertical screens in varying colours and geometric patterns. Despite every surface being different, the materials sit together cohesively and the diverse palette is expressed with a surprising degree of subtlety.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Crusch Alba Loft by Gus Wustemann // Ummm…wow. This loft in Barcelona belongs to a Swiss architect Gus Wüstemann and his young family. Existing building dates back to 1860, which Wüstemann stripped, patched then varnished to maintain the weathered look. The new insertion was literally superimposed over the existing shell creating a clear distinction between the old and the new. And what a beautiful union it is – super slick, minimalist and modern is layered with beautiful patina and carefully preserved character of the original building. Extreme love to the power of 10.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Photography by Emily Andrews.

Loft Apartment in London by William Tozer // Situated in a former London factory, this loft apartment was designed by New Zealand-born, London-based architect William Tozer. I am quite intrigued with the choice of finishes in this apartment – exposed raw concrete ceiling celebrates the building’s industrial past, while the rich dark timber used on walls and floors clearly distinguishes the new from the old. I find the two materials to be quite an unusual pairing and rather unexpected. In my mind, a rich timber such as this calls for a pristine treatment of all adjoining surfaces. I would usually expect to see a slightly less “posh” shade of timber against the rough concrete. Having said that, I find these spaces to be nothing short of dramatic and very beautiful.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Photography by Elizabeth Felicella.

7th Street Residence in New York by Pulltab Design // The owners of this duplex apartment in East Village, engaged Pulltab Design to create a unique living environment for a young family of four. Materials such as stained concrete, American black walnut, bronze and steel were selected along with modernist finishes, including hand applied active patinas, true pigment paints and high gloss lacquer surfaces. The heart of the apartment centers around the living/dining areas. As part of the architectural construction, a new cantilevered dining ‘pod’, extending from the 5th floor slab, was added to increase the size of the kitchen.

Ronald Olthof & Sofie Suiker’s Home // Located in a town of 700 people in eastern Holland, the 1928 building was eligible for a government subsidy, provided that its new owners maintained its historic exterior. Architect Ronald Olthof and his partner, Sofie Suiker, a photo stylist and designer, accepted the challenge. Repurposing the building to be their private residence, they gave it the imprint of their own inventive and lighthearted personalities, while allowing its original devotional nature to shine through.

Photography by Peter Cook.

Bavaria Road Studio by West Architecture // The Bavaria Road Studio, designed by West Architecture, is a complete refurbishment of a former Methodist Chapel in North London. The double-height space now serves as an office and studio apartment and the dual-function space is now lofted. The property measures approximately 988 sqm, including an entrance hall, a bathroom, a huge reception room with open-plan kitchen, and a sleeping area on the mezzanine. The plywood structure supports the mezzanine and increases the sense of privacy by concealing the sleeping area.

Photography by Herman van Heusden.

Canal House by Witteveen Architects // Located in one of the famous canals of Amsterdam, Canal House is a private home recently renovated based on a project by the study Witteveen Architects. The loft is characterised by the spaciousness of its rooms, the feeling of freedom and movement and luminosity, resulting from the whiteness of its walls with large windows and white acrylic stone.

Photography by Fabrizio Cicconi.

Raffaele Stella Brienza’s Loft in Florence, Italy // Fashion designer Raffaele Stella Brienza’s airy open plan apartment, located in Florence, Italy, actually used to be a labyrinth of rooms poky rooms. With the help of architects Fred & Juul, walls were replaced with glass partitions and floors were raised to create different levels between the rooms and to take full advantage of the views over the city.

Photography by Marcel van der Burg.

House Like Village by Marc Koehler Architects // In the north of Amsterdam, Dutch architecture studio Marc Koehler Architects has recently completed the House like village project, a private house for a young couple. The building’s vast space is divided in a settlement-like manner, emulating a group of small houses inside the main dwelling. Small “streets” emerge as multifunctional living spaces for activities such as playing, partying, washing and working.

Photography by Albert Večerka/Esto.

Tribeca Loft by Andrew Franz Architect // Architect Andrew Franz has transformed the top floor and roof of a former 19th century soap factory into an eclectic contemporary loft. The residence is transformed by a relocated mezzanine where a sunken interior court with a retractable glass roof connects to the planted green roof garden above. This gesture of subtracting volume from the interior brings the outdoors into the primary living zones. Embracing the building’s industrial past, a visual discourse between new and old is devised through insertions of modern materials along with restored or reclaimed materials.