What is a Loft in New York City?

Hi, I’m new to NYC and recently went to the open house for a really reasonably priced loft. When I got there, it was a regular studio with a sort of mezzanine that the guy had built himself. Am I crazy? I thought that lofts were like old warehouse space.

There are two types of lofts in New York. One, the classic loft, is either a converted industrial space (factory, warehouse, retail space) or a new space that has been built to mimic a converted industrial space. Generally the new builds have the ceiling height, over-sized windows, and open floor plan of a classic loft. These types of apartments are some of the most expensive and sought after in the City.

The other type of loft in New York City is a “loft bed.” Some loft beds are simply adult versions of bunk beds, others are created by creating a mezzanine. The object, of course is to provide more living space in small apartments. On the plus side, a well designed loft bed can double living space and provide both a living area and a sleeping area. On the negative side, if the loft bed is poorly made, it can be really dangerous. You also have to be aware of the ceiling height. If you can’t sit up in bed without hitting your head, having a loft bed can be claustrophobic. It can also be detrimental to your social life.

originally posted September 23, 2006