Jirsa Loft

Jirsa Loft is a 2,700-square-foot apartment located in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, designed for a client with an interest in fine art and urban lifestyles. The brief called for a residence that accommodates both expansive communal spaces and sequestered, private rooms within a single volume. The plan addresses this by aligning the primary living areas—kitchen, dining, living, media, and bedroom—along the building’s exterior to maximize city views to the north and west. More private functions, such as laundry, bathrooms, office, and pantry, are arranged along the building core and separated from the main areas by a substantial gallery wall, generating a varied spatial sequence between open and enclosed zones. The design strategy focuses on reducing visual clutter and reinforcing simplicity. Mechanical services are concealed above the private core, keeping the main space free of obstructions. Translucent panels form a continuous element across the ceiling, both defining the open volume and discreetly accommodating systems like lighting and sprinklers. Hardware is kept to a minimum throughout. This approach results in a space that balances raw, industrial qualities with a minimal palette of refined, custom elements.

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