L.A. Lofts

by Barbara Thornburg

In New York, London, and even Rio de Janeiro, lofts are synonymous with minimalism. But in Los Angeles, the world's dream factory, lofts are as colorful and creative as the city itself. L.A. Lofts... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0811851729
• ISBN13: 9780811851725
• Release Date: March 2006
• Publisher: Chronicle Books
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 3.43 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 10.3" x 12.3"

Customer Reviews

creativity in bleak streets

A loft, in the context of this book, means a space within an industrial or commercial building, that has been changed to living quarters. In the last 10 years, there has been a trend of these conversions in Los Angeles. Thornburg persuaded occupants of several local lofts to have their places photographed, as well as furnishing reasons why they moved in. Thus the book has many wonderful, large photos of very individualistic places. The owners tend to be creative, artistic types. Who often expressed this creativity in decorating their lofts. Several of the lofts are in downtown LA. Around Alameda street, and SCIARC, for instance. I've walked through many of the neighbourhoods described here. The streets are often still quite bleak and gritty. A vast contrast to the vibrancy of the interiors. The book presents a very different view of urban LA. Nice of Thornburg to share this with the world.

wonderful overview

this book gives readers a wonderful overview of the best that the los angeles loft scene has to offer. the author explores twenty different lofts with 8 - 10 pages of first rate photography dedicated to each location. some of the chapters titles are "country home in the city", "north african colonial meets camargue gypsy", "urban oasis" and "industrial zen" - which should give you a pretty good idea of the eclectic range of styles that the authors explores. i was especially pleased to see how beautifully some of the lofts were able to mix cool industrial with warm and organic. this book is a testimony to the power of imagination and personal vision to transfer something old and forgotten into something vibrant and very much alive.