Amazon.com Review
Loft Living looks at the modern dwelling phenomenon that is "the ultimate in cool contemporary living." Peggy Vance considers 15 loft apartments that vary in style from "urban apartments in converted industrial buildings to a rural idyll in a former barn" in this attractive coffee-table book. Vance begins with the history of loft apartments, from Andy Warhol's New York, where starving artists were forced to sleep in their studios to save money, to modern, architect-designed warehouses worth millions. She goes on to showcase lofts, including a derelict New York power station turned family home, a minimalist converted school in South London, and an Italian former factory that now has a sumptuous antiques-filled interior.
The book covers styles from baroque to ultramodern and investigates features such as a cinema kitchen, a colorful shower pod, and a glass mezzanine. The tales of these conversions are all the more appealing for their human element. Vance comments on what each space is like to live in and why its owners have chosen particular features. For example, the style of New York architect William Chatham's home had to change when he needed to include children in his metropolitan loft.
Interestingly, the book includes a historical perspective on each area and building included, and Vance points out architectural features that make particular buildings suitable for loft conversion. For example, a former printworks in London's Clerkenwell, which was in such a state of disrepair that it was almost demolished, was saved by its concrete frame structure and huge metal-framed windows, which made it an ideal candidate for renovation. Accompanied by high-quality photographs that give the book a glossy feel, Loft Living is an inspiration for anyone who is thinking of, or just dreaming about, open-plan living. --Karen Homer
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
Loft living began as an inexpensive way to gain large spaces in centrally located urban or industrial areas and eventually became an acceptable, even chic, living arrangement. Both of these books show the high end of loft living: large spaces that have been gutted of their original walls and fixtures and professionally planned by architects and interior designers. Molnar's book concentrates on New York lofts (although the latter part of the book shows lofts from around the United States and the world). The styles illustrated are modern and minimalistic. Vance's book concentrates on English lofts that almost resemble traditional homes in their design and arrangement. Both of these beautifully illustrated books will be excellent additions to professional and school collections and could be useful in urban public libraries where this style of living is available.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
