IN THE CLOSET

Loft access prior to new work

Perspectival cut-away drawing

This small project posed a clear problem: a potentially useful loft space existed atop a precarious ladder that deterred use. Besides being awkward to use, the ladder was an imposing fixture in the living room.

Detail from above

A stair would bring an ease of accessibility to the loft, but posed another problem in this small apartment: space. After sketching through many different stair types in different locations, an alternating-tread stair emerged as the logical choice. It was comfortable to use and took up little space.

View of person ascending stair, passing stored objects

We located the stair in a coat closet tucked conveniently below the loft. The closet was narrow and deep which made it inconvenient for storage and perfect for the new stair. To compensate for lost closet space, the stair was designed as a cabinetry piece and configured to hold a range of items from books, to shoes, to LPs, to knick-knacks.

Overall view

General Contractor: Alan Hyland