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Aloft is a building's upperstorey or elevated area in a room directly under theroof (American usage), or just anattic: a storage space under the roof usually accessed by a ladder (primarily British usage). Aloft apartment refers to large adaptable open space, oftenconverted for residential use (aconverted loft) from some other use, often light industrial. Adding to the confusion, some converted lofts themselves include upper open loft areas.
In US usage, a loft is an upper room orstorey in abuilding, mainly in a barn, directly under theroof, used for storage (as in most private houses). In this sense it is roughly synonymous withattic, the major difference being that an attic typically constitutes an entire floor of the building, while a loft covers only a few rooms, leaving one or more sides open to the lower floor.
In British usage, lofts are usually just a roof space accessed via a hatch and loft ladder, while attics tend to be rooms immediately under the roof accessed via a staircase. Lofts may have a specific purpose, e.g. anorgan loft in achurch, or to sleep in (sleeping loft). In barns a hayloft is often larger than the ground floor, since it would store a year's worth of hay.
An attic or loft can often be converted to form a functional living accommodation (seeLoft conversions in the United Kingdom).
In modernNorwegian and in English, "loft" is used for the upper room or the space just under the roof in larger buildings. The word originates fromOld Norselopt, loft which also could mean air or being elevated (as in the related wordløfte, English "to lift").[1][2] In older Scandinavian usage,loft referred to a two-storey unheated building used for storage and bedroom, in contrast to dwelling buildings that were one-storey with a fireplace.[3][4][5]
Loft apartments are apartments that are generally built from formerindustrial buildings. When industrial developments are developed intocondominiums instead of apartments, they may be calledloft condominiums. The general termwarehouse-to-loft conversions may sometimes be used for development ofindustrial buildings into apartments and condominiums. "Loft-style" may also refer simply to developments where a street-level business occupies the first floor while apartment "lofts" are placedabove the first floor.[citation needed]
Sometimes, loft apartments are one component of municipalurban renewal initiatives that also include renovation of industrial buildings intoart galleries andstudio space as well as promotion of a new part of the city as an "arts district".
Originally popular withartists, they are now highly sought-after by otherbohemians and hipsters, and thegentrification of the former manufacturing sectors of medium to large cities is now a familiar pattern.[6] One such sector isManhattan'sMeatpacking District. The adoption of the Adaptive Reuse Ordinance (2001) in the City ofLos Angeles (primarily theArts District) is another example of such legislation to encourage the conversion of no longer economically viable industrial and commercial buildings to residential loft communities.
Such is the demand for these spaces thatreal estate developers have taken to creating ready-made "lofts" in urban areas that are gentrifying or that seem primed to do so. While some of these units are created by developers during the renovation of old buildings, a number of them are included in the floor plans of brand new developments. Both types of pre-fab loft offer buyers or renters proximity to urban amenities afforded by traditional lofts, but without perceived safety risks of living in economically depressed formerly industrial areas.
Real estate industry distinguishes between two kinds of lofts. "Hard lofts" are former industrial buildings converted to residential or live/work use. Many of these conversions retain open ceilings with exposed beams, electrical wiring, and HVAC ducts, instead of covering them with modernsuspended ceilings orsheetrock ceilings.
"Soft lofts" are loft-style residential buildings built entirely anew. They are open-concept spaces with high ceilings, large windows, brickwork, and cement ceilings. Soft lofts can look more residential and have modern finishes, but lack the character and history of hard lofts.[7]
A commercial loft refers to upper storey space, usually in a commercial or industrial building with higher ceilings; a second storey area for storage or offices above may be added within the original space used by a previous business occupant, effectively becoming amezzanine area within the commercial loft space. Such adaptation of loft space, can result in better operating efficiencies for ongoing light industrial, commercial and work/live use.
A Live/work loft is a residential unit located in a commercially zoned building that has either been issued a certificate of residential occupancy or meets specific criteria making it eligible for the protection of loft laws, which vary state by state.
For example, in New York State a live/work loft must meet the following criteria:[citation needed]
Loft Law was designed to protect artists and other entrepreneurs that areremote workers. To qualify for the Loft Law protection, the unit must be primarily residential with the commercial purpose being clearly incidental to the residential use; utilising no more than 49% of the total space; with no more than 3 employees; and be carried on by the actual occupant of the unit.[citation needed]
Historically, loft residents consisted of artists and other artisans taking advantage of cheap rents, large spaces and load-bearing floors. Loft residences were illegal and loft dwellers resided under commercial leases, forgoing basic residential rights such asdomestic hot water andsanitation. To relieve their uncertain status, many state legislatures enacted loft laws.
A long building at ashipyard with a considerable floor area on which the lines produced by anaval architect can be laid off in their full dimensions. After that the full-size drawings can be copied with the aid of wooden moulds to which, in turn, the steel frames or, in the case of wooden vessels, the hull moulds, are fashioned (seelofting).
An elevated area orgallery in ashipyard where workers stand while fittingrigging.
A large, open, high ceilinged space where parachute riggers re-pack parachutes into parachute containers.
A large open space used bysailmakers to makesails. The floor has to be big enough to lay out the sail as the canvas is marked and cut ready for sewing.
Some churches have achoir loft, where thesingers stand or sit during services. Sometimes thechurch organ is located in an organ loft, which may or may not have space for musicians apart from the organist. Churches may also containtriforiums with projecting watching-lofts.
It is fairly common toconvert all or part of a home into a loft to create an extra room in order to prevent needing to move to a new house. The most common additions are an extra bedroom or study. The attic area of a building tends to be unused, but when converted can add a large amount of floor space.[8]
Housing fordomestic pigeons is often called a pigeon loft.[9] Pigeon lofts consist of a large cage oraviary and sometimes anest box. They were a traditional amenity, now usually abandoned or repurposed, in the palaces of nobility and commercial buildings that predate telegraphy.
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