For those who are looking for an original and avant-garde home, the latest trend is to convert an industrial area into an industrial loft. That’s right, from factory or warehouse to open-plan flat!
We hear more and more frequently about lofts and open space, modern dwellings that leave room for the imagination of those who love spacious and unique rooms. Among other things, lofts are also widely used by professional studios that take advantage of the large space to create common workspaces in which they can easily collaborate.
It is precisely the enormous availability of floor space that allows you to design different solutions, both living and working, letting your imagination suggest the layout of rooms according to your needs. Customised and absolutely original spaces that can be easily modified whenever you feel it is necessary or you feel like changing the arrangement of the furniture.
Conversion from an industrial area to a home or studio, however, requires certain attentions to be followed. The most important thing is to obtain the necessary information from your municipality. In addition to the structural rules and lighting ratios to be carefully followed, there are also costs involved in changing the use of the warehouse to be converted into a dwelling.
This is why, before embarking on the more creative and involving aspects, such as furnishing the loft, it is a good idea to find out about the land registry situation, study the condominium regulations if there are any related to the room to be modified, and make sure that there are no impediments to the conversion of the structure’s use.
What are the advantages of industrial conversion
The convenience on buying a loft is based on a few factors such as for example the intended use and the investment you are willing to make in order to obtain a housing solution that suits your needs.
But what exactly is a loft?
The term loft comes from the German luft or the Norwegian lopt and can be translated simply as air. This term is well applicable to large warehouses where there are no internal partitions; therefore, a very large and airy common space is achieved.
Another key element is great brightness. The large square footage and large windows and French windows and doors contribute to a very light-filled environment.
In case it is an old warehouse, it is assumed to be designed to provide light inside so that work can be done easily. As a result, there will be sufficient windows to provide natural light at every point in the room.
Let us now turn to some useful tips on how to furnish a loft/open space.
How to subdivide a loft
Once the warehouse is decommissioned, the structure can be salvaged by making a suitable room to house a dwelling or a large office or technical office.
The project should be carried out following personal needs. In the case of living quarters, large loft heights can be used to create lofts to be used as sleeping areas. Alternatively, you can create a study or a kind of library with bookshelves and a comfortable sofa where you can read and rest in peace.
The large surface area allows you to play with open space furnishings by subdividing spaces in different ways. If desired, partitions can be created using open bookcases in which to store objects, plants, books but without closing them completely to keep air light in the rooms.
Otherwise, sheetrock walls can be created where you want to create a separate room for privacy or choice of taste.
A few ideas for separating rooms in open-plan furniture
In order not to lose brightness, you can choose to subdivide rooms using glass-brick; alternatively, you can create wide walls on which to place an aquarium that grows in height.
If the choice falls to glass-brick, neutral colors can be chosen or colors that match the decor chosen for the rooms being divided.
In the case of the aquarium, the choice is really wide and depends a bit on the available budget as requiring custom aquarium construction and setup could be quite expensive. However, the final effect would be, unique and original as well as offering a relaxing space and elegant decor.
The partition with the aquarium is recommended either between the kitchen and the hall or between the latter and the bedroom. The last solution seems to be the best as both the room and the hall would enjoy the relaxation offered by the movement of the water and the tranquility of the fish, as well as softlighting that diffuses into the room.
The spaces inside the loft
Large square footage offers airiness but sometimes there is a need to create more private and intimate spaces even within large areas. A number of ploys can be used to solve this problem.
In addition to those suggested above, namely the use of bookshelves or plasterboard and glass-brick walls, rooms dedicated to music and thus acoustically insulated can be created. Using special insulating structures by which a music room or cinema can be made.
In this place you can play your favorite musical instrument or listen to music even loudly and in the middle of the night without disturbing people who are resting. The cinema room can be equipped with comfortable armchairs or chaise longues and a dolby sorround system as well as a big screen in which to watch their movies comfortably. The same movie and TV room can be used as a game room by attaching one or more consoles to the monitor.
Plant engineering and habitability
The opportunities for setting up and furnishing a loft are truly endless. However, it is also essential to be concerned about verifying and obtaining certificates of habitability for the structure.
In addition, theelectrical system needs to be converted, making it suitable for living or study use as needed.
Thewater system will also need to be adjusted by setting up one or more bathrooms of greater or lesser size with bathtub, shower, whirlpool and sauna, according to one’s taste. All appropriate for the chosen use.
Heating in a loft with very large spaces and different heights from a normal dwelling requires extensive study. So as not to waste energy unnecessarily and considering that heat always rises to the top.
Energy leakage in a loft is one of the issues that could arise but can be easily solved with the help of professionals in the field and with careful study and distribution of space and energy sources.
Conclusion
Once realized, the loft in living or professional office form offers a modern and original structure that will give new light and energy to both home and work life.
