In recent years, loft apartments have become flexible with the use of space, industrial elements, and aesthetically pleasing structure, but also enjoying the convenient space and complete facilities that are accessible. Seoul loft apartments for rent long term are usually marketed more to younger people.
Ziptoss agents have met many clients who are looking for loft units. So, what is the structure of a loft in Korea and how much is it? What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in a loft?
WHAT IS A LOFT?
The original meaning of the word Loft in the dictionary is “An upper floor where things are stored” or “upper chambers”. When it was first adapted in a residential space in New York, USA, a loft can now also mean “A tall and open space with fluidity, spaciousness, and artistry”, and this definition was also spread to the world. Loft apartments in Korea belong to the category of Duplexes, because there are also duplex rooms of about 100 square meters, and have two floors. Loft apartments are smaller apartments with a floor height of about 4-6 meters, with an area ranging from 13-50 square meters.
Since space is divided into two floors, the actual use area becomes larger. The lower floor is designed as a living room, kitchen, and bathroom, and the upper floor is used as a bedroom and study.
Advantages of living in Loft
- Spacious structure.
The upper and lower floors can be decorated according to your preferences to form various sub-spaces with different functions and styles, and there is more storage space.
- Floor height.
Within the same price range of an apartment, the actual usable area of the loft is larger, and the area is cost-effective. Although the overall construction area is not large, the general space can be purposeful, which wouldn’t make you feel bored.
- Good lighting.
- Loft windows are usually large, floor-to-ceiling windows or upper and lower split windows, so natural light can enter the house well, which is also helpful when drying clothes and reducing humidity (in Korea, people generally dry clothes indoors).
- The surrounding facilities are complete.
Lofts in South Korea are usually found near commercial buildings, some lofts are also used as officetels. Such commercial buildings are close to the subway and bus station. The buildings are equipped with convenience stores, parking lots, security rooms, elevators, etc., and there are also supermarkets nearby.
Disadvantages Of Living In A Loft
- Too cold in winter and too hot in summer.
The upper floor of the loft usually does not have floor heating or air conditioning. When resting upstairs, electric blankets are used in winter, and electric fans are used in summer. While living in a loft, you might have some temperature-related problems because of the weather. However, newer lofts now install air conditioners upstairs, and some high-end apartment buildings near Cheongdam-dong will also have lofts with floor heating upstairs, but the monthly rent would be more expensive.
- The management fee is higher.
The management fee for an apartment unit is between 20,000KRW and 50,000KRW, but Korean loft apartments are usually found in commercial buildings, so the management fee would be 3-4 times higher(between 60,000KRW and 150,000KRW).
Some loft stairs do not have guardrails, so be careful when going up and down the stairs. It is more dangerous when drunk or getting up in a daze. The upper floor is relatively short, most people cannot stand up straight, and you may bump your head if you are not careful.
For cleaning the lower floor of the loft, it is the same as a normal room. But for cleaning stairs and upper floors, each corner must be cleaned, which may be more laborious since you have to go up the stairs more often and the top floor has a smaller headspace.
