City as Loft

A desire for urbanity, identity and identification has been a major factor during the last thirty years in stimulating the preservation and conservation of der­elict structures dating from the industrial era. Buildings like this have their own specific features and a relationship to history and context, while at the same time being open to current and future needs. The buildings attract involvement by local people and stand out with their qualities of stability and openness. ­The world ‘loft’ is used to describe these urban qualities: adaptable, flexible and at the same time powerful and authentic spaces in which people can live ­and work. 

In their book “City as Loft – Adaptive Reuse as a Resource for Sustainable Urban Development“ Martina Baum and Kees Christiaanse portray 30 converted industrial sites and have experts in theory and practice report on their experience and knowledge.