Savannah has always been on the cutting-edge of architectural trends. Our working port has happily coexisted with the tourist trade on River Street for decades, leading the way for cities as varied as San Antonio and Portland, Maine as they merge their commercial and retail districts. Savannah's downtown supermarkets often reflect Savannah's rich history, taking their cue from the old City Market. The award-winning Jepson Center for the Arts, built in 2006, is a triumph of both contemporary design and civic cooperation. Even a formerly ignored building such as the Drayton Tower, an impressive example of International style architecture now being restored to its former glory, is now hailed as a masterpiece of mid-20th century design. It also faces the DeRenne Building, a beautiful example of the late Beaux Arts style.

Innovative residential architecture and design has always been Savannah's forte. From the pedestrian- and child-friendly squares and stately mansions to modest single family homes and multi-unit apartment buildings, Savannah's downtown is one of the most architecturally diverse in the country.

So it's no wonder that Savannah is now embracing lofts, one of the most significant cultural movements in contemporary architecture. Savannah offers a remarkable selection of spaces that have been cleverly and creatively converted from the industrial to the residential. These former factories and workshops, sought after for their generous dimensions and adaptability to open-plan layouts, add a stunning collection of loft, penthouse and studio dwellings to Savannah's collection of classic homes.

Most of Savannah's lofts have been personally designed by their owner artists/architects. These visionaries have successfully combined the spirit of the original construction and materials with the modern and the artistic. Brick and concrete blend beautifully with stainless steel and glass to create the ideal environment in which to live and work. High ceilings under pitched roofs, translucent room dividers, spacious and sunny roof terraces, polished concrete floors, undulating PVC panels and many other innovative materials and design features have been utilized with great creative flair.

One of the most attractive features of lofts is the amount of raw customizable space they offer the discerning homeowner. When you purchase space in one of these buildings, it's as if you have purchased raw land and can now design the home of your dreams. Want a more traditional layout, with private bedrooms and floor-to-ceiling walls? No problem. Prefer a more fluid floorplan, in which living and sleeping quarters flow seamlessly into one another? Absolutely. Savannah's lofts allow you the freedom to innovate and create your ideal space, while enjoying all the pleasures of life in America's most beautiful city.

So take some time to explore Savannah's many lofts. As eclectic, exciting, varied and inviting as the city herself, they are a welcome addition to Savannah's downtown landscape.
Written by Katherine Oxnard for SavannahLoftsandCondos.com
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