Should You Have a Loft?

Lofts are fast becoming a fad in Philippine interior design. They look good and flashy but do we really need them? Is the idea practical in Filipino homes? Does it have a predecessor in our architectural past to have it fit right into our modern local architecture? Well, let's see.

Photo above by Aaron Huber on Unsplash.

Native Philippine houses had spaces underneath for storage that folks called "Silong." Not really a loft concept but it birthed the idea of having extra small space in the house for storage. But aside from that, some farm houses actually had overhead ledges or an upper extra half floor built into them where farmers kept farm implements and some harvest produce saved for a rainy day or an emergency. They preferred this to the silong under the kubo where supplies could be easily stolen by robbers at night, eaten by rodents or damaged by floods.

So they built lofts that looked something like the one below (but not exactly). It may look like an attic but attics are a totally different story. Attics are built right into the ceiling of the roof often occupying the whole roof area while lofts are simply extra half floors (or smaller) inserted between the ground floor and the ceiling. More like a small mezzanine but still different from it. And, like in the picture below, crops or palay stalks are kept in them for easy access right inside the house instead of going out to the barn to get them.

Photo by Skitterphoto: pexels.com

Mezzanines are different. They're often part of the living room (or lobby when talking of buildings) as an added area for extra furnishings and also for receiving guests. Lofts are definitely smaller, often housing only a sleeping quarter or any similar cubicle and usually placed above rooms, like the dining, kitchen or bedroom. And lofts are served by a simple, inclined or upright ladder going up, while mezzanines are served by staircases, not ladders.

So, lofts are not a total stranger to Pinoys, especially farmers. We can safely say that it's been part of Filipino architecture.

Ceiling

We see that in our country, it's practical. But there are certain considerations. Like ceiling height, which is crucial in lofts. It's not practical for houses with flat roofs or low ceilings which is often the case in middle class subdivisions. It's going to be too hot if its too close to the ceiling and standing up won't be comfortable if your head touches the ceiling. Ceiling clearance from ground floor to loft floor level, and loft floor to roof ceiling, should be carefully estimated. There should be enough head clearance. 

My suggestion is a 3-meter clearance in both levels--ground floor to loft and loft to roof ceiling. Or probably 2.80 meters. There should be good ventilation, preferably good air-con system or at least install functional ceiling fans to keep loft temp cool. I'd place good-size windows as an alternative to save on electricity. 

My dream is to have my office cubicle loft (with small area for a bookshelf and desk as study nook) above my sunken living or kitchen. Perhaps go down 4 steps to the ground level so loft height and total ceiling height won't be too high. The loft will increase living room height and afford more free air movement and make the area cooler due to the higher ceiling, something like in the picture below. From the loft it will be easier to see who's just come into the living room.

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash.

Privacy

Often, the concern with lofts is privacy. You're too exposed to guests in the living room or kitchen if you put the loft over it. Don't put your bed on the loft then. This is why I prefer having a mini office on my loft if I were to build one. Not a bedroom. And the fact that it's up the living area gives you enough privacy, but not make you too secluded from the rest of the house. If you were like me, I need to see what's going on in my house while doing my work on my loft. 

And I'd love the smell of good food cooking while reading my books or doing my blogs. Something like the one below. Like in the picture above.

Or place the loft inside your bedroom for an extra space, for your king-size bed and closet for instance, so your main bedroom below would have more room for other furnishings, like a small ref and coffee maker nook, or small bar, and even a large bathroom. You get all the privacy you need plus the convenience of a spacious but space-saving quarters.

Build Your Dream House the Way You Want It

Dream houses are only so if they're built according to how you want them. I've heard a lot of people complain about the contractors they had who built their own version of their clients' "dream" houses. Then I pondered--yeah, why is it that most small contractors today cannot stick to the plans you give them? Instead, they implement their own plans--how they see your "dream house" fit into their agenda.

And that's pretty frustrating for clients.

Imagine spending your hard-earned money only to see your contractors's dream house rise up from the property you bought? It's not your dream house he built--it's his. And this business has got to stop now. Clients should start seeing their very dream houses rise up from their lots. And contractors should be servants to that ideal, not the other way around.

Well, I have met big-time builders who really do what they clients want to the letter. But they're already big-time. If you're planning on having your small dream house built, contracting them is definitely out of the question. They won't take building projects below P50M. I mean, they're big-time. So, what happens to those of us who just want to have our small dream houses come true? Are there any more good contractors around catering to small projects like ours?

Well, I have this architect-friend who has been in the building business for years and have built several good projects and made clients satisfied and happy. He builds dream houses and offices and business places according to his clients' wishes, visions, and purposes. In short, according to the clients' dreams. And that's real service.

Architect Marvin Mijares can help you realize your dream family house. The Aspiras and Zotomayor Residences in the images above are just some of his finished projects for happy clients. The Aspiras is a classic rendition of traditional modern villas or mansions typical for most posh subdivisions. The Zotomayor is a multi-level townhouse type with a Zen character ideal for edifices built within limited spaces but with glamour and elegance.

Make every cent of your hard-earned money count when building your dream house. A key here is to get the best builder to entrust your dream house with and who would understand your needs and wishes.

For inquiries on similar dream house projects to be done for you by Arch. Mijares, simply comment below and we'll get to you as soon as possible. Absolutely no obligation on your part during inquiries.