 |
|
|
|
|
|
The Boston Loft market is the new emerging market in the city, therefore
we developed a special website devoted to the loft market.
Visit our
Boston Loft web site |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Loft History
In order to establish this we have to look at the economic and social
factors that shaped this movement and go back to the turn of the century
when in the great cities of Europe and America there was a heavy
concentration of cast ironed framed buildings being erected. These
properties, designed for light industrial use had large open floor
plates, benefited from powerful expanses of wall to ceiling glass
frontages and were a forerunner to the architectural concepts of the
modernist movement. All housed huge workforces crowded together in
sweatshop conditions or stored exotic foods and spices.
In the 1950's American culture was rich with the beat generation of
Kerouc and Cassidy and the age of Warhol was dawning at the same time as
these properties became no longer suitable for the requirements of
industries modernising for the times. Landlords were forced to look
towards the artists who were prepared to take advantage of the space and
economy and in particular, SoHo (the area south of Houston, in New York
formerly nick named "hells one hundred acres") saw dramatic change as it
became gentrified by the influx of a creative community.
Between 1957 to 1967 the area became vibrant and hip as the likes of
artists such as Janis Joplin's Texan alumni Robert Rauschenberg and
Jasper Johns moved in as described in Marcus Fields excellent book Lofts
(published by Lawrence King Publishing). The community was further
boosted and the range of artistic activity expanded by Co-operatives
such as the leading art project "Fluxhouse no 2" and works being
performed by artists as diverse as Bertold Brecht and Yoko Ono.
The course of art did not run easy and these pioneer loft dwellers did
not have an easy time. Planning regulations, being what they still are
today, tend to obstruct the natural forces of community evolvement and
many occupiers were forced into a strategy of subterfuge to hide their
domestic use of commercial studios. Within minutes of a surprise visit
by the fire officer, apartments would be turned into workspace by the
use of pulleys and false walls to conceal living and sleeping
arrangements. At all times, litter carefully concealed the remnants of
domestic goods, which could betray the real use of the premises.
A pivotal moment in the movement of the SoHo loft came about as numerous
plans were submitted for SoHo's development amongst which were designs
to demolish entire blocks for an expressway. Enter one Professor Chester
Rankin. Employed by the city to undertake a social, economic and
physical study of the district, his resultant Rapkin Report of 1963
identified significant economic activity, a regeneration of the area and
highlighted the importance of conservation. This last issue was picked
up by other pressure groups in other cities, such as Berlin and London,
who campaigned for the protection of similar loft buildings.
As the use these spaces became legitimate and widespread, the images of
Warhol partying with the Velvet Underground became etched on to the
consciousness of an international audience and the Loft became
synonymous with cool.
In Boston, the loft boom started just several years ago and is still
booming. Industrial areas as East Boston, South Washington Street,
Seaport District and the theatre district are being rezoning to
residential loft areas. Boston developers recognize the world wide trend
and converting old factories and warehouses into spacious luxury lofts
as Lafayette lofts and Channel Center. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
