The Art Factory is comprised of dozens of interconnected buildings -most of them made of brick - characteristic feature of industrail interiors. It's worth taking a closer look at the bricks, since they've always been a representative element of the URBAN buildings.
Those exposed bricks and heavy wooden timbers give a certain raw, industrial look that our creative professionals love. The artists love the warm, minimalist feel as they produce pieces in their studios or common areas. The movie and photography professionals love the brick texture as backdrops in their shots and scenes. Visitors to the Art Factory (urban modern location) love the historic feel and interesting character of the bricks. Everyone loves exposed bricks!
Loft-style interiors with exposed brick walls and heavy wood beams provide a certain look and feel that is very popular these days. The first loft spaces appeared in the 19th century in Paris and London, usually on the top floor of apartment buildings. High ceilings with large windows were their defining characteristics. But true loft mania began in New York in the mid-twentieth century. Factories that produced fabric, glass and porcelain in SoHo were left vacant and inexpensive to rent as industries moved out of the city. Their enormous, liberating spaces attracted the attention of artists and avant-garde designers, such as Andy Warhol, who not only lived, worked and exhibited in these spaces, but also threw huge gatherings which became famous in 1970's NYC.
Today, the post-industrial loft style has become a prestigious mark in the urban landscape. Large, open spaces with high windows, exposed brick walls and hardwood floors provide the perfect backdrop to showcase more modern designs. A successful loft will balance the contrast between old and new, raw and refined in a minimalist recipe that energizes the soul. We love to see how our artists design their studio spaces to take advantage of the historic fabric of the Art Factory.
Jill Hittleman-Gotthelf, AIA + FAPT, is a principal in the architecture firm, Modern Ruins. She has identified most of the bricks in the Art Factory complex as Hackensack Brick Co., which was connected to the Hudson Pressed Brick Company of Haverstraw, NY. Haverstraw was located at the widest point on the Hudson river, where the best clay and a skilled local workforce came together to create "the Brickmaking Capital of the World". Here is more history on the Hackensack Brick Co.: http://brickcollecting.com/collection.htm
