Worldwide directory of residential lofts

The Loft Directory

Welcome to the most comprehensive directory of residential lofts available on the Web!
 

We've partnered with real estate agents around the country to compile a directory of residential loft buildings, from historic warehouse lofts in Chicago to high-rise modern lofts in Las Vegas.  Our goal was to bring you the most comprehensive guide to loft living available.  Please help us with that goal by contacting us and letting us know if we've missed a building in your city. 

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So, what exactly is a loft?

The term loft varies widely these days depending on whom you ask.  Originally it meant an upstairs space (like an attic) located just below the roof in a house or barn that was typically used for storage.  As families grew people began converting these spaces into more functional living quarters and started calling them loft conversions.  This original meaning of the term is still seen in some "loft-style" apartments where the primary living space is on the first floor and the sleeping space is on a smaller second floor that is open to the living space below.  However now the term loft has grown beyond that and includes many different types of Loft-style condominiums.

Types of Lofts

Warehouse Lofts

Warehouse LoftsWarehouse Lofts are what most people think of when they think of residential lofts. These types of lofts have become increasingly popular of the last 20 years as more and more unused warehouses are converted over to residential living spaces. These homes are typically large, open, irregular spaces that are created when the original warehouse is divided up.  With this type of loft you will most likely have no fixed walls to designate where the rooms are, just a large open space that you can divide however you see fit.  This is popular with creative people, artists and people who run their business from their homes as they can divide the space as they need it and not have to make their spaces fit into a pre-built floor plan.  Warehouse lofts often have authentic elements in them like brick walls, exposed ductwork, high ceilings and wood or concrete floors.

Live/Work Lofts

Live/Work Lofts are typically used for exactly what their name implies:  a work space and a residential space.  Typically the first floor of these lofts is reserved for the business and the living quarters are located upstairs.  In some cities like San Francisco, buildings have to meet strict requirements to be zoned as live/work lofts.  In other cities the term is used more freely by developers.

Modern Lofts Modern Loft

The popularity of warehouse lofts has led many developers to create new buildings that mimic the loft style.  These buildings are typcially newer and have set floorplans, but they incorporate certain loft elements into the design like exposed ductwork, big windows and tall ceilings.  These have become increasingly popular in urban areas and are commonly referred to as Modern Lofts, Soft Lofts or Loft-style Condominiums.

Timber Lofts

Timber lofts are a sub-type of warehouse loft found in some areas, like the West Loop of Chicago.  These lofts are typically historic warehouse lofts with heavy timber beams and columns in the units. 

Condo and Loft Realtors

These real estate agents know their local condo and loft market well, and have built websites to help you get to know their market.  We have listed them here because of the quality of their online presence and because of their commitment to help buyers make an informed choice about condo and loft living.