Design and the city - Manhattan loft buildings
IE School of Architecture and Design professor Cem Kayatekin explores how subdivision, diversity and flexibility - how well a building responds to changing tenant needs and economic conditions - had an impact on Manhattan loft buildings constructed in the Midtown Garment District of New York City in the 20th century (1930–1980).
Kayatekin's research, published in the academic journal Buildings & Cities, examines how the built environment is not simply a neutral backdrop for the material fabric of New York; there is a reciprocal relationship between the physical and the economic layers of the city.
Why this research matters: More than ever, we need buildings that can respond to whatever the future brings. Considering how the construction of buildings from the past has managed various challenges can offer insights and examples for thinking around future urban design.
Access the journal article in full here.
Citation: Kayatekin, C. S. (2021). Architectural form: flexibility, subdivision and diversity in Manhattan loft buildings. Buildings and Cities, 2(1), 888–906.