Two years ago, the pair, along with their two offspring and a cat, moved into the loft. The space was, at first, the antithesis of the industrial feel they had dreamed it would be. But, as Rowe recalls, “The moment Lucia and I walked into the loft, the potential was undeniable. The view over the city skyline from the large windows drew us in instantly.” For Lang, it was the openness felt it destined to maybe be turned into something.
“The home should feel both inspiring and practical for the family,” she says, noting that the layout was difficult due to its unusual angles and industrial beams. The couple has thus engaged design firm Craft & Form, which is famous for its modern, sculptural approach to interiors. While super successful in their fields, Lang and Rowe admit working with the designers took a bit of learning. “It really was about finding a space reflected our artistic personalities while serving as a retreat for our children,” Rowe explains.
Mixed Bright Colors Infuse an Old Warehouse Loft with Energy and Character”When we moved in, this was basically a big, empty industrial room.” To accomplish that, a number of internal partitioning walls were demolished to form one really large open area for the main living areas, allowing some ideal created space for their creative lives. And the piece of furniture that anchors the living room really is quite an odd one: an entirely curved sofa custom designed to echo the shapes Lang makes in her sculptures. The family spends most of its time there, admiring the city skyline from expose to carefully curated art and furniture.
Certainly, the desire of the couple to include such strong colors in the space was an initial challenge, as Rowe explains, “We wanted the space to be vibrantly alive but had to reckon with the interaction of natural light, more so the colors.” But it is the splashes of colors at unexpected places that make the home alive. Deep crimson washes the walls of one room. It’s a brilliant guest room bursting with energy, while cool geometric, bright murals grace the walls of their daughter’s room.
“Each color tells a story and has a function,” says Lang, “just like the energizing but still soothing red walls in the guestroom for a peaceful night’s sleep.”
Custom Art and Designs in Symbiosis
A truly astonishing facet of this loft is the way in which Lang’s art collides with functional design objects. The couple’s living area integrates vintage furniture with new custom touches. The coffee table was designed by Lang and local artist Ben Carter, featuring cast bronze legs and a glass top with one of Lang’s signature engraved patterns. Sitting on the coffee table is arguably one of the foremost sculptural items in the living room that represents the harmony between art and design.
Lighting in the house by Lang and produced with French artisan Pierre Duval has a dreamlike feel. The blown-glass and twisted-metal chandeliers appear suspended as sculptures in space. “I don’t see the distinction between creating art and creating objects for the home,” says Lang. “Both are deeply personal expressions. My sculptures are inspired by natural forms, and I wanted to bring that sensibility into our living environment.”
Similarly, their children’s rooms teem with creativity, bearing art made by friends and mentors who share the family’s values. The playroom, adorned with whimsical wallpaper depicting mythological scenes, is something of a surreal endeavor; the children’s bed linens are printed with motifs inspired by Lang’s sculptures, making their room feel like an interactive gallery. “We wanted the kids to grow up surrounded by art that sparks their imagination,” notes Rowe.
An Inspiring Yet Functional Space for the Whole Family
Though unquestionably avant-garde in look, the loft was conceived with great practicality in mind. Customized for his height, the kitchen, along which Rowe spends much of the time cooking, has elevated counters and sculptural range hood. “I wanted the kitchen to feel like a place where I could cook comfortably, but also one that was visually interesting,” says Rowe. Craft & Form provided the modern cabinetry with a sleek look and geometric metal pulls that contrast with the minimalist wood tones. The poured concrete countertops provide a nice durability while lending a raw-textured surface to the industrial feel of the room.
A Combination of Personal and Collective Artistry
The art is all-important in the apartment. Lang has taken the liberty of dedicating niches in the living room and hallway to show some of her own work, including a series of abstract metal sculptures mimicking natural forms like branches and leaves. Alongside them, Lang’s art shares space with works by friends and collaborators such as visual artist Lola Fernandez and sculptor Victor Ramirez.
At the far end of the loft, the couple has devoted this studio to spaces for relaxation and work. Here, Rowe and Lang usually work on their latest experimental sound projects, surrounded by instruments, sculptures, and even Lang’s painting easel. They actually find it quite easy to mix their art forms and share their methods.
Living with art: a home rich in meaning
For Lang and Rowe, these lofts are more than just homes; they are realised in the manifestation of a shared creative spirit, and they extend their creativity into their arts. “This space reflects who we are as artists, and it’s also where we come together as a family,” Rowe continues. In addition to being a living gallery, the apartment will double as a nurturing space for their growing kids.
The couple’s method of design echoes in their art: fluid, ever-evolving, and deeply personal. “There are no hard lines around what is our work or our home,” claims Lang. “Both are expressions of who we are and both are always changing.”
In the end, the loft fulfills the ideal function of the space: It effortlessly strikes a balance between the exuberant and boundary-pushing creativity of Lang and Rowe and the warmth and comfort of a familial home. It’s a space wherein art, design, and life cohabitate in beautiful intersecting avant-garde harmony.