Lofts (Architecture & Design)
by Ivor Richards
Category: Architecture

This book presents a critical survey of the Manhattan loft, revealing a definitive architectural typology whose central discipline lies in the mutation of pure space and materiality as realised in the architectural landscape of the interior, the common theme of which is openness. Assembling this work not only brings together some of the finest examples of loft architecture from over more than a decade, but also defines the distinguished output of ten New York architects, who collectively evidence the nature of a developing modernity in their projects. All the architects included are also engaged in the teaching of architecture or in the exhibition of their work, thereby extending the influence of their thought and conceptual process. The extensive illustrations include original concept drawings, renderings and plans, some prepared specifically for this publication. The photographs are selected to reveal more than just impressions of the interior, conveying and encapsulating the dual sense of both space and materiality, and the presence of fine detail. Overall, what is established is a deep sense of rooted settlement and the restorative values of ordered space and light within the structure of a personal retreat - a peaceful sanctuary withdrawn from the external life of the city. The ten New York architects and architectural teams included in this collection are: Thomas Hanrahan & Victoria Meyers; Frank Lupo & Daniel Rowen; Bernard Tschumi; Richard Gluckman; Henry Smith Miller & Laurie Hawkinson; Tod Williams & Billie Tsien; Gisue & Mojgan Hariri; Scott Marble & Karen Fairbanks; Sulan Kolatan and William MacDonald; and George Ranalli.