Are Lofts Becoming 'Uncool'?

Do 'factory-like' subdivisions spell the end of the loft as a meaningul cultural symbol?

1 minute read

May 13, 2004, 7:00 AM PDT

"Several months ago I found myself in Frederick, Colorado, one of those featureless expanses of dust that fills with tract houses simply because --traffic permitting -- it's a 30-minute drive to Denver. There I came face to face with the demise of the loft as a meaningful cultural icon... Drawn there by an ad I saw in a glossy real estate advertising magazine called Homes and Land of Boulder County. The developer, Cornerstone Homes, had several pages promoting Ironworks Lofts, a community of 'stand-alone' loft homes, single-family subdivision houses tricked out in industrial brick and steel with names like the Firehouse and the Cannery."

Thanks to The Practice of New Urbanism

FULL STORY: I Am the Uncool Hunter

Wednesday, May 12, 2004 in MetropolisMag.com

Architecture United States

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.