What a difference a wall makes. Some say lofts are apartments that builders did not bother to finish, but lofts have a distinct appeal to certain buyers and renters. Apartment living appeals to those who seek separation and privacy in defined rooms. Real estate agents might label tiny studio apartments as lofts instead, putting a positive spin on the lack of defined bedrooms or living spaces in the hopes of attracting buyers and renters.

History Lofts originally were cheap places for impoverished artists to live and work. The decaying and abandoned infrastructure of industrial New York provided basic shelter for artists after World War II. According to the book "Loft Living: Culture and Capital in Urban Change," painter Robert Rauschenberg moved into the large attic space of an industrial building that featured 20-foot ceilings but no heat or running water. Despite the shortcomings, the area attracted fellow artists, mainly because the rents were cheap. As more artists moved in, word got out about the lively atmosphere, and wealthy, adventurous New Yorkers checked out the scene. By the beginning of the 1960s, many lofts were finished living spaces rather than substandard art hovels. Apartment living in the United States can be traced to the Industrial Revolution. Jobs increased populations in cities, luring single men and women from rural farms. Inexpensive rental apartments filled a need. Apartment houses in New York, for example, teemed with workers and immigrant families at the turn of the 20th century.

Function People who enjoy city life choose apartment living in order to be close to cultural attractions or work. Many apartment-dwellers rent, but some people own apartments or apartment buildings. Lofts usually function as both work and living space, although zoning prohibits some artists’ lofts for residential use. Traditionally, lofts reuse and adapt otherwise derelict and abandoned spaces, often in blighted urban areas. Sculptors and painters who seek large well-lit spaces get priced out of affordable lofts when gentrification follows them.

Features Typical apartments feature dedicated rooms for specific functions. Apartments usually are in medium to large buildings that have multiple residences on each floor. Finishes vary, but most ducting and wiring hide behind drywall. Lofts might occupy the entire floor, and usually have no partitions that divide the space. Mechanical systems and plumbing remain exposed in many lofts, either to save money or as a nod to the humble industrial roots of the space. Floor-to-ceiling windows, which provided adequate light to seamstresses and machine operators in previous years, brighten the living space.

Benefits Apartments work well for families who need privacy and defined spaces. Apartment living means less maintenance than single-family home ownership. Lofts benefit people who crave open space, or who need one place in which to live and work. Flexibility in arranging the living space is a key benefit of a wide-open loft.

Considerations Lofts are not necessarily what they used to be. Developers label newly built suburban living spaces as lofts, though they have more in common with traditional apartments than lofts. Loft living is different than open-concept design, but happy dwellers do not seem to mind. People who decide to move back to the city from the suburbs, lured by loft living, might find marginal neighborhoods outside their comfort zones.

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