I am currently looking at buying a loft-style condominium in an old converted warehouse downtown, and the unit has completely exposed raw concrete ceilings and exposed ductwork running through the rooms.
On one hand, I think it looks really cool, edgy, and industrial, which fits the whole vibe of the neighborhood perfectly. On the other hand, a part of me feels like the developers are just being lazy and cheap by skipping the drywall and framing stage to save themselves some money on construction costs.
For those of you who live in a condo with exposed concrete ceilings, how is the acoustics in the unit? Does the raw concrete cause a ton of echo when you are trying to listen to music or talk on the phone? Also, does it transmit a lot of impact noise from the people walking on the floor above you, or does the thick concrete slab block the sound better than a standard wood-framed floor? I’m trying to decide if this layout is actually practical for long-term living or if it’s just a design trend that gets annoying after a few weeks.