Lofts are the remains of old residential buildings which were previously tucked under the roof as dusty warehouses or bedrooms, mostly accessed by ladders or a steep set of stairs. However, as time passed by people felt the need to preserve these structures which led to the transformation of these lofts into art and design studios, music studios, gyms, home offices, stores, cafes, etc. Today, we’re going to look at some of the most beautiful transformations of loft spaces into design studios:
The Loft by Studio PKA:
A 100-year-old Victorian-era warehouse lay hidden in one of India’s leading art districts, South Bombay. Studio PKA stumbled upon this opportunity to replace the abandoned loft with a studio they envisioned would hold numerous collaborations and workshops. The space was redesigned based on the idea of gaining the maximum amount of natural light and ventilation through the use of arched windows. The pitched roof was supported by wooden trusses braced with metal. The studio consists of various zones like a library, meeting room, pantry, cafeteria, offices, print room, client zone, community table, store, mezzanine, den, and Thinkers’ corner. Brick is used for both the interiors and the façade to let the building age beautifully.
Studio 877 by Khusru Irani Design Studio:
It so happened that the design firm located an old building tucked into a corner of a Pune cantonment area, a settlement belonging to colonial India. They saw potential in the loft of the building to serve as a design studio. The loft is connected to the floor below that is also a part of the studio which opens up into a wrap-around verandah. A series of spaces like the lounge, the library nook, the model-making space, the pantry, and the conference area lend the studio a collaborative environment where professionals work and learn together. The use of rubber wood with a pastel palette gives the space a quasi-old aesthetic look.
Unicorns Exist by Hufeza Rangwala & Jasem Pirani
The loft is a part of MuseLab’s new studio designed by architects Hufeza Rangwala and Jasem Pirani. The name comes from the use of a bright color palette along with light hues of grey and brown against white-washed walls, in other words, matching the colors of a unicorn! The studio is located on the second floor of an industrial estate that was previously used by an advertising agency, in Prabhadevi. Since the building is located in one of the oldest towns, MuseLab wanted to turn the clients’ arrival into a cultural walk through the city. The studio was given the character of craftsmanship showcasing the originality of the firm through a unique set of furniture pieces and installations, like the resting chair and the teak wood used for table-tops. Existing partitions were removed and parts of the walls were given a matte finish of dark hues in contrast with the white background.
Writer’s Block by CHA: Collective
The Writer’s Block is a studio designed for a writer and game designer couple who wanted certain fluidity between their workspaces. Thus, a playful workspace evolved in place of an old historical loft situated in Los Angeles which gave a different edge to the project. The design was inspired by the Escher-like geometry of a video game called Monument Valley where 2D graphics turned into 3D spaces. Like the game, the furniture and built elements along with the color palette create a spatial shift between different zones. This enables the couple to think and move creatively.
Seven Pillars Design Studio, Koramangala:
This beautiful studio was designed by the architect siblings, Garima and Akshay Kumar who have a passion for collecting local handicrafts. Since they wanted to bring their expensive artifacts and skills for interior styling under the same spotlight, they decided to style up this loft which continues down into the main hall for the boutique. The boutique gleams in different shades of gold displaying a wide range of furniture pieces and items like decorative rugs, carpets, sculptures, art pieces, and accent lights. The architects also help their clients to style retail spaces, cafes, homes, restaurants, and many other spaces. Sometimes they hold workshops and exhibitions to create an engaging interaction with their clients and customers.
AGENC CoLab – A coworking Studio
This membership-based co-working studio sits in the loft of the Dhan Mills complex, a business center located in South Delhi. The workspace has an informal setup to provide a creative head space for professionals belonging to all design fields, artists, and sales executives to brainstorm together. The studio consists of flexible spaces which help individuals to communicate better. The studio has an ideation lounge, photo studios, meeting rooms, and a slow coffee bar. They focus on conducting professional development programs related to music and design along with other immersive experiences. The idea of CoLab is to form better connections through networking.
De Fabriek van Delfshaven by Jvantspijker urbanism architecture:
This office is located in an old building situated in front of a waterfront factory in Rotterdam. The building houses numerous offices like design studios, software companies, and small businesses. De Fabriek van Delfshaven is a design studio located in the loft that consists of an atrium. A central glass meeting room stands at the center of the loft with a set of wooden stairs leading to the roof garden. A pantry is built into one of the wooden sidewalls which encounter the steps. The meeting space is a hybrid structure of glass and grainy wood which makes it seem like the rooftop garden floats mid-air.
Kichimu for Priyanka Shah’s Studio: SHED
‘Sustainability is not only about the materials that are used to build a place, but also the positive energy that we sustain in it for a lifetime’-quoted Priyanka Shah, a talented furniture designer and the mastermind behind studio SHED. Growing up with a bunch of trees that aged with her, made a deep connection with her that made the designer want to retain her mini-forest, as a part of her workspace. Priyanka’s love for the constant use of wood in all of her furniture pieces is what inspired her to work with Studio ii architects, Mitul Desai and Priyank Parmar to transform her loft into a design studio for SHED. Yellow teak was used along with terrazzo flooring to create a beautiful niche of artistic clutter. The studio includes spaces like a client interaction room, embroidery room, tailoring room, woodworking workstations, storage, display sections, event spaces, and her private office which rests in the loft above.
My New Office Loft Space by Mary Ann Pickett:
Mary Ann Pickett, the founder of Classic Casual Homes is an interior decorator who decided to turn her loft into a creative corner. The space initially had a half wall jutting into an empty area with a single window. A full-length wall was then constructed to convert the space into a home office where a large desk leans against the window sill. A large chair with a cushioned floral backrest gives the office a feminine touch. The office spills into a balcony which serves as a relaxation nook.
Beautiful Studio Loft of a Swedish Artist:
Artist Carouschka Streijffert redesigned her loft in Stockholm which is a contrasting combination of linear and organic forms of the furniture and walls. A series of skylights flows from the ceiling to the walls, allowing natural light to wash over the large tables. Minimalistic furniture of white tones has been used to allow her artwork to stand out in the room. Bookcases act as a backdrop for the studio. The loft is a proportionate composition of white with small pops of colors from the artwork the designer has created.
Reference Links:
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(Accessed October 1st 2022)
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(Accessed October 1st 2022)
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(Accessed October 2nd 2022)
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Available at: https://www.agenccolab.in/
(Accessed October 1st)
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Available at: https://lbb.in/delhi/co-working-studio-nothing-like-an-office/
(Accessed October 2nd 2022)
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Available at: https://www.architecturaldigest.in/story/designer-priyanka-shahs-surat-studio-embraces-old-trees-and-slow-sustainable-design/
(Accessed October 1st 2022)
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