Check out this cool stair/shelving hybrid over at Materialicio.us. We like that it is a single unit and it gets wider at both the bottom and top of the stairs (aiding in stability and aesthetics!). The project comes from the Belgian site of Voet-Theuns Architecture. Painted, this could be an even more attractive piece in a small studio apartment with a lofted sleeping area. Via: Materialicio.us...
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I've been really wanting something like this for my cat!
Oh my gato! My cat would love that!
so pretty!
Why don't they show a picture of the woman trying laboriously to navigate those 18" risers! Definitely a recipe for a bad injury/liability lawsuit. THIS is why building codes were implemented.
Obviously Begium has building codes more conducive to nice aesthetics/design :) If this was to be built in the US, you'd need a handrail, and potentially a guardrail. Don't forget that you can't have cables or balusters that are "horizontal" as that encourages climbing. Oh, and balusters should be no further apart than 4" on center to prevent a child from injuring herself. Grrrrr.....
We had stairs a lot like this in all of the basement classrooms at my grade school. We never used them, but I think they were a safety measure in case of a fire (they went up to large windows). I always thought they were cool.
@katalyst: the 4-inch code (openings less than 4 inches) is to prevent children from fitting through the ballusters and falling to the lower level. I don't have a problem with this.
my god it's gorgeous!
Yes!!! This is almost exactly what I want for my postage stamp studio for the stair up to a loft.... now if you could only get the risers shortened...
there's no way a petite little thing like me could climb those!
And, while you're at it, can you source the perfect matching loft bed for me too?
(AT rocks!)