Massive Soho Loft Sectioned into Cozy Rooms Using Freestanding Prefab System

Open plan lofts are dream living spaces for most people, but sometimes all that roominess can be a bit daunting. New York architect <a href="http://alitayar.com/" target="_blank">Ali Tayar</a> was able to achieve a cozy feeling when renovating this <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/photos-explore-4-envy-inducing-lofts-penthouses-and-townhomes-from-dwells-city-modern-home-tour/" target="_blank">Soho loft</a> thanks to a modular system based on a Swiss plan from the 1960s. Using freestanding boxes made from prefab aluminum panels, Tayar successfully broke up the space into <a href="http://inhabitat.com/coodo-modular-units-are-a-smart-slick-prefab-home-system-in-slovenia/" target="_blank">sectioned off living areas</a>, all without major construction.

The <a href="http://inhabitat.com/zip-kit-homes-are-efficient-streamlined-prefab-houses-out-of-utah/" target="_blank">modular architecture</a> was based off of the late Swiss architect <a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&amp;sl=de&amp;u=http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritz_Haller_(Architekt)&amp;prev=/search%3Fq%3Dfritz%2Bhaller%2Bwiki%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den" target="_blank">Fritz Haller</a>’s geometric models of furniture.

The modular pieces enable the loft’s interior to be completely free of the building shell, which also make them movable should the resident choose to rearrange or remodel in the future.

The modular pieces were flat packed, and can be disassembled and flat packed again, at the resident’s whim.

The bedroom container was given access to natural light thanks to porthole style windows, which appear to glow at night when the bedroom lights are illuminated. Patterned larch wood prefabricated panels were used for the ceiling of the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/2-chelsea-lofts-combined-into-1-gorgeous-eco-apartment-for-a-growing-family/" target="_blank">sprawling loft</a>, to emulate the natural wood columns that appeared in the raw space. The kitchen units and storage partitions also echo this larch finish.

A wooden staircase was constructed to lead to the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/buy-this-180-sq-ft-manhattan-penthouse-for-just-125k/" target="_blank">penthouse</a>, which is encased with glazed glass curtains, giving not only a stellar view of New York, but also blocking solar gain. The staircase also acts as a sky light, filling the loft floor with sunshine.

The project cut costs and construction waste by using prefabricated pods, which also allows the loft’s owner to remodel easily in the future.