Originally constructed in 1995 as an artist work/live studio building, the Mecca has been home to tons of painters, musicians and sculptors. One of the owners recently confirmed that Sarah McLachlan was one of the original owners.

This modern double height loft apartment designed by Victoreric, known for their elegant and timeless designs. Take a look, this is a fine example of what everyone thinks when you say ‘loft’

The team at Sadie Snelson Architects envisioned an open-plan living room to accentuate the full potential of the warehouse’s space. Dividing walls were removed and parts of the floor were taken away to create double-height areas that maximise light. A new mezzanine floor was added with a steel balustrade and folded steel staircase.

Materials used throughout the property are intended to complement its industrial nature. Walls are left unpainted to expose the plaster finish, and structural I-beams are left exposed. The architects designed the concrete kitchen that the client cast himself. 

Architect:  Sadie Architects
Photos:  Rory Gardiner

The architects accepted the challenge and soon discovered the hidden beauty of the sloped ceilings, converting them into a row of skylights for the seamless flow of natural light into the three-decade-old living space that opens into a balcony terrace. Using their creativity, the architectural team found out a way to reveal the spectacular yet concealed view of the city that once lay hidden behind the slopped ceiling.

Deliberately choosing to create a space that provided a home-like ambience in a hotel setting, the G Architects Studio team exposed the unique character of the bare concrete apartment and added an oomph factor by introducing typical hotel features and achieving harmony between the old and the new. The marriage of raw industrial finishes with modern day amenities has helped make it a more welcoming space for people who seek home comforts in an apartment rental, exposing guests to the “real culture of Tokyo.” The magnificently decked bare concrete space now boasts an inviting bar area and a cozy freestanding bathtub.

Making the best use of the industrial attic interior, the architects used soft painting techniques on the raw concrete walls to create a panoramic effect of the traditional Japanese Washi paper, uniquely lifting the aesthetics and adding to the beauty of the interiors. The astounding effect of spray painting A4 sheets of resin and then removing them is clearly imminent in the form of a spiral-like texture, beautifully blending the old and the new walls and adding to the overall appeal of the setting.

Other forms of aesthetically beautiful introduction to the otherwise boring bare concrete space are the wooden floorboards and the exposed plumbing features and electrical wires in dark orange hues, designed to perfection to enhance the industrial look.

As the first model for similar projects involving bare concrete loft, the G Architects Studio project offers architectural hope for rejuvenating other disused “pencil buildings” in Tokyo. Built in the 1980s during Japan’s economic growth, these uniquely constructed buildings stand tall on a land disproportionate to their altitude.

The expansive main living area boasts 25-foot ceilings truly making a grand statement. In this room, they kept a neutral, cohesive palette helping to unify each of the designated spaces.

The kitchen is pretty minimalist as not to compete with the historic glass it’s centered around.

White oak floors keep the mostly white space from feeling too cold and stark.

The fireplace is clad in quartz that goes straight to the ceiling.

The living room fireplace is back-to-back with a smaller version in the media room.

Domespace International designs and builds dome-shaped, eco-friendly homes. According to the company, the dome shape is designed to be more in harmony with nature, takes advantage of solar radiation, and is less susceptible to seismic and cyclonic forces than traditional, angular designs. On some models, the exterior of the home actually rotates, following the sun in winter to take advantage of its warming rays, and the shade in summer for cooling.

This house is in New Paltz, USA, some 90 miles from New York.

The house can also be rotated as the foundation is set on steel ball bearings on a circular rail. Rotations can be set between one to four inches every second to ensure during cold months more sun comes in and less during summers. (unfortunately, it cannot fly, however)

Did I mention it’s for sale? Take a look at it on Estately.

“The architecture is so beautiful; I loved everything about it,” she says. “High ceilings were a must, and this building has those and everything else — lots of character and history.” Camilotti’s main challenge was to fill the generous space of the church conversion without having her furniture get lost in it.

It was such an amazing project. I had no limitations,

she says.

The converted church, a National Heritage List property dating to 1890, seduced her with its arching ceilings and timber beams. “When it came to a base color, I decided to keep it neutral in order to accentuate the original beams,” she says.

“I needed lots of courage when it came to decorating,” she says.

The living area is a huge, open space, and a normal-sized sofa would have disappeared, so I supersized!

She has always had a passion for oversize furniture, and the generous proportions of her new home allowed her to indulge her whim for extravagance. “The upholsterer thought I was crazy when I gave him the measurements for the sofa,” she says with a laugh.

She was drawn to a monochrome palette and is happy the colors worked to the building’s advantage. “I just couldn’t imagine this place in another palette — I think it works perfectly,” she says. The gleaming surface of the glossy white Koishi coffee table reflects light from the large windows.

A self-playing piano tucked under the staircase is a decadent touch and keeps Camilotti and her staff entertained during working hours. “I always wanted to integrate the office and living areas, and I think it works very well. This whole house is very me and reflects my style and personality perfectly,” she says.

An elegant Nur pendant from Artemide pools light on the kitchen island to highlight the black granite surface. The extractor fan is integrated into the ceiling, folding down only when it’s needed. The bar stools introduce a touch of brown, linking with the wooden beams. “The stools are my own design and made in Milan from cowhide and chrome,” Camilotti says.

With so much space at her disposal, Camilotti was able to zone off different areas. This comfortable corner is next to the entrance and her workstation and acts as a waiting area for visitors. The chrome and walnut table is a vintage find.

During the day the grand dining table is filled with brochures and pattern books, but in the evening, it’s transformed into a glamorous dining area for up to 12 people. “I designed the table myself,” Camilotti says. “It’s a sheet of glass resting on two enormous wooden blocks.”

Camilotti’s home is filled with expressions of her personality, such as these lily-print cushions and the Gherkin canvas, both of which she designed herself. “The Gherkin is my creation,” she says. “My degree is in fine art, and I love playing around on Photoshop. It was difficult to find something that fitted this space, so I just created an artwork myself.”

The large master bedroom has an accompanying dressing room, negating the need for bulky wardrobes that would inhibit the view of the arched ceiling. “I decided to put mirrors in the niche here to reflect the beams, which I love,” she says.

Camilotti chose a palette of gold and earthy tones for the guest bedroom, which has a slightly baroque flavor. “I took some baroque images of angels and put them on a black background for the decor in this room,” she explains. “It’s glamorous, but with the white floorboards it still feels very contemporary, which I love.”

“The window here is so beautiful, I didn’t want anything to block it,” Camilotti says. “It has wonderful colors and shapes, and is such a gorgeous composition. It’s lovely to gaze on this from the living room below.”

The master bathroom is relatively compact compared with the rest of the house, so Camilotti wanted to open up the space as much as possible. The rustic brick floor is light, and the mirrored panel around the walls makes the room appear larger.

“I absolutely love the garden,” Camilotti says. The scent from the lemon trees evokes memories of holidays in Sorrento, Italy. Though fairly small, the garden is set up for dining and relaxing. “It’s a wonderful space in which to spend time,” she says. “This and the piano are my favorite parts of the house.”

Perched high in the exclusive Southridge community, with panoramic views of the Coachella Valley, including the city of Palm Springs and the San Jacinto Mountains, the 23,366-square-foot home was designed in 1973 by the California Modernist architect John Lautner. It was built to resemble a volcano, with three visorlike arches and an undulating concrete roof, a hole at its center opening a courtyard to the sky. The roofline has been described as one of the most distinctive works of architecture in the Coachella Valley. The house has also been likened to a giant mushroom. Its original wood frame burned down during construction, in a fire sparked by a welder. Work was finally completed in 1980.

The living space is on the main floor with a fireplace, many windows that let in lots of light, and fully functioning – and fully-sized – kitchen. Beautiful hard wood floors stream throughout. A metal staircase with glass banister contribute to the roomy feeling as well. Upstairs, the bedroom offers spectacular views with the all around windows and delightful upper deck with jacuzzi. The most surprising corner of this houseboat is the bathroom, unusually spacious for a houseboat, especially with the provided luxurious fixtures.

Designed as a house for two or a place for a weekend getaway, the boat floats on a steel pontoon and has all of the comforts any home would ever need.

The open metal staircase and upstairs glass bannister give the space a loft-like feeling

The boat is 1-1/2 floors, with the bottom one housing the living room, kitchen, bathroom, and closet while the upper part contains the enclosed bedroom. There is a deck right off the bedroom with a jacuzzi.

Architect designed and built- this steel structure is tucked into a group of mature hardwood trees. High ceilings and big, clean spaces with tons of natural light.

Modern, radical, custom built lofts- way up in the trees-tall ceilings and big open floor plans make it a huge hotel room or as event space for small gatherings, meetings, retreats.

Clean, bright and beautiful, this building is made of steel, wood, glass and plaster- with no unhealthy adhesives or off gassing materials- for healthier air quality and to prevent mold growth.

Large windows, and giant doors open out onto a 200sq-foot deck surrounded by treetops. The huge balcony off the kitchen has two grilles- gas and charcoal- built into the guardrail.

The stainless kitchen is minimal- a gas cook top, a small oven, a small sink and a mini-fridge and toaster.

Do you like it? You can rent it at Airbnb, where I’ve found it.