What is SOHO? What is LOFT

The definition of LOFT in the Oxford Dictionary is "an attic under the roof where things are stored." But now the so-called LOFT refers to those "high open spaces transformed from old factories or old warehouses with few interior wall partitions." This meaning was born in the SOHO district of New York. The connotation of LOFT is a tall and open space with characteristics such as fluidity, development, transparency, and artistry! After the 1990s, LOFT became an art fashion sweeping the world. If we say that the birth of LOFT originated from impoverished artists turning waste into treasure, then today LOFT as a lifestyle or fashion trend has completely evolved into a kind of conspicuous consumption.

2. Origin

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In the 1940s, the LOFT lifestyle first appeared in New York, United States.

At that time, artists and designers used abandoned industrial factories to separate various spaces for living, working, socializing, entertainment, and collecting. In the vast factories, they constructed various lifestyles. Create performance art or hold a work exhibition, which is refreshing and satisfying. And these factories later became the most unique, avant-garde, and most popular places among young people.

In the late 20th century, LOFT, an art that perfectly collided with industrialization and postmodernism, gradually evolved into a fashionable way of living and working, and was widely spread around the world.

3. Elements

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The defining elements of Loft mainly include: tall and open space, upper and lower double-storey duplex structure, Stairs and beams that resemble a dramatic stage effect; mobility, barrier-free within the unit; transparency, reducing privacy; openness, all-round combinations between units; artistry, usually the owner decides all styles and patterns on his own.

4. Living style

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The space of LOFT is very flexible, and people can create their dream home as they wish. , the dream life will not be restricted by existing institutions or components at all. People can make the space completely open or divide it, so that it contains personalized aesthetic taste. Since then, the rough column walls, gray cement floors, and exposed steel structures have become synonymous with old warehouses. A new breath is surging in each of the old factory buildings. This is LOFT life.

LOFT symbolizes the life and creation of avant-garde art and artists. It challenges traditional living concepts such as garden houses, and challenges the concepts of work and living zoning in modern cities. Work and living do not need to be separated. It can happen in the same large space, with some overlap between factory buildings and residences. The LOFT lifestyle allows residents to still feel the uninhibited freedom of being in the countryside even in a bustling city.

5. Classic LOFT

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(SOHO area) are all old buildings, and the architectural styles are almost the same : Large square geometry, red brick exterior walls, old fire escapes, dark and old water towers... This used to be a warehouse area where textiles were stored, so these buildings were not designed for aesthetics at all, the only feeling they gave people It means tall, spacious and strong. The usual approach (for poor artists) is to design large bays or hollow parts of the building as work areas, and then build a loft in a certain part of the space for living. This is the prototype of LOFT. The furniture may have been picked up, so the damaged areas had to be covered with floral cloth. The floral cloth was homemade in the workshop next door, so it looked very unique; the walls in the room were very thick and strong, and the area was too large. Some cabinets had to be nailed You can put things on the board; there is really no need to smooth all the walls with cement, just paint them... Because at the beginning of the design of these buildings, the issue of lighting was not considered at all, and even if there are huge windows, there are no windows outside. There is no view to speak of, so the walls are painted in brilliant colors and the huge, exaggeratedly bright industrial lighting fixtures are adapted and used. In order to make a living, artists transformed the first-floor rooms facing the street in these buildings into shops to sell their works.

They had no extra money to decorate such a huge room, so the characteristics of the industrial building itself were fully exposed, creating a huge visual contrast with the display windows and merchandise. This visual contradiction created a curious Effect. ”

6. Loft explained again

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LOFT literally means warehouse or attic, but this word was used in the 20th century When it later became fashionable and evolved into a fashionable living and lifestyle, its connotation has far exceeded the original meaning of the word.

Origin: In the 1940s, LOFT was a living lifestyle. The method first appeared in New York, USA.

At that time, artists and designers used abandoned industrial factories to separate various spaces for living, working, socializing, entertainment, and collection. They created various lifestyles, created performance art, or held art exhibitions, enjoying their lives happily. These factories later became the most unique, avant-garde, and most popular places for young people.

< p> In the late 20th century, LOFT, an art that perfectly collided with industrialization and postmodernism, gradually evolved into a fashionable way of living and working, and was widely spread around the world. Today, LOFT is always associated with artists, avant-garde, and Pioneer, 798 and other words are compared together.

Comment: The performance of loft in architectural style is described by the famous conceptual artist and conceptual photographer Qiu Zhijie: "Respect for the established space and the boldness of the space within economic limits." Cutting and reconstruction are combined; the exquisite quality of life requirements are combined with cheap decoration, and cheap decoration often requires more precise design. This kind of strange established restrictions and specific purpose tasks often lead to amazing ingenuity in design. ”

“In terms of details, loft buildings in various places use a large number of glass and steel frame overhang structures, resulting in the mutual penetration of internal and external landscapes. In addition to pragmatic lighting design, it also includes the consideration of similar surrounding environments. The attitude of identification also marks the non-private color of the living conditions of the people living in it. ”

“On the other hand, such buildings are often willing to be exposed, and even deliberately show off the existing concrete beam and column structures, or aestheticize various industrial residues, which just proves the importance of reusing these industrial buildings. The residents themselves have a sense of distance from industrial civilization. Machines, concrete, and pipes no longer mean tension and depression, monotony and indifference to them, but the individuality and coolness that they are looking for through hard work through iron shoes. ”

Living style: LOFT space has great flexibility. People can create their dream home and dream life as they wish without being restricted by existing institutions or components. People can make the space completely open or divide it, so that it contains personalized aesthetic taste. Since then, the rough column walls, gray concrete floors, and exposed steel structures have become synonymous with the old warehouse. A new breath is surging in the unprepossessing old factory building. This is LOFT life.

LOFT symbolizes the life and creation of avant-garde art and artists. It challenges the traditional concept of living in a garden house. , challenging the concepts of work and living zoning in modern cities. Work and living do not have to be separated, and can occur in the same large space. There is a partial overlap between factories and residences, allowing residents to live in bustling cities.

7.LOFTER——LOFT lover

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LOFTER, the term for LOFT enthusiasts, refers to ordinary LOFT enthusiasts. Such people are usually interested in LOFT-style architecture, especially homes, out of curiosity or other reasons. They like this new lifestyle and are willing to try it. . LOFTER is usually a group of young people who pursue fashion. They experience the unique charm of LOFT and look for the heartbreaking utopia they long for.