Loft Densification
Reconfiguring a Modern Loft
Berlin Friedrichshain
Private Client
Completion: 2024
Full project // approx. 180 m²
Photography: Natalie Toczek
A modern loft is transformed to create two new children's bedrooms for the family's growing children. The existing apartment features a classic spatial layout, with a living and dining area at the front and a sleeping area at the rear, separated by a central core. The apartment's southern orientation is emphasized by an approximately 22-metre-long glazed façade that runs continuously along the entire length of the apartment, terminating in two glass corners.
The first children's bedroom is created by dividing the spacious living room, while the second emerges from converting the former children's bedroom at the rear. To preserve the loft's character, glazed openings with integrated indirect lighting are introduced. A horizontal skylight creates a bright atmosphere in the entrance area, while a vertical skylight between the two children's bedrooms at the rear ensures that the impressive glazed façade remains visually connected despite the new spatial arrangement.
Both new children's bedrooms feature loft beds suspended from the reinforced concrete ceiling. This construction makes optimal use of the space below, whether for wardrobes, as access to a reading nook, or as a new passageway leading to the more secluded children's bedroom.
The design of the loft beds draws on the existing architecture and uses just two materials: untreated raw steel and multiplex plywood panels. This simplifies construction while ensuring a contemporary aesthetic that complements the loft's character. The straightforward construction also helped keep the project within budget.
Each children's bedroom features an individual colour accent expressed through the staircase structure. The structural elements are designed efficiently, incorporating details such as a diagonal brace extending towards the light fixture and a protective frame integrated with the pull-up bar. The stair treads are also designed to be removable, allowing them to double as bookshelves.
This renovation combines functionality and aesthetics to create a child-friendly environment within an elegant loft.
