One of the most popular times to install a home lift is when undertaking a home refurbishment or a house extension. In these instances often you will be working alongside a qualified architect to make sure the plans work hard, delivering everything that is needed, whilst also ensuring the design is as striking, aesthetically pleasing or complementary to the original structure as it can be.
When first discussing the requirements for your home with your architect, it is important to list all the problems you want solving, along with any specific products or features you wish to be included, including which domestic lift you would like, so the decision needs to be made early on. This helps to streamline the process as all initial drawings your architect develops will be able to address all of your needs.
Some requirements might give the architect a challenge. Your desire to install a home lift as part of the building however, will not prove to be a challenge for even the most novice architect. Newly developed cutting-edge technology and modern design in the world of home lifts means that incorporating a lift into any design is simple without compromising the architect’s vision for your build.
1. DESIGN
The main consideration in any architecture project must be the look and feel of the completed building. And as the new generation of high-tech home lifts give as much thought to the outward appearance and styling of the lift as they do to the function and technology used your architect will have no problem envisaging how your chosen lift will fit easily into any scheme.
Unlike stairlifts which can be unattractive and unwieldy, or the old bulky mobility lifts, which made any architect’s job more difficult, the appearance of the new style of home lift is stylish, contemporary and streamlined. Gone are the days of needing to conceal or camouflage the contraption whilst still keeping it accessible.
The minimalist capsule style of the Lifton home lift for example, was designed specifically to ensure the lift would blend naturally within any architectural structure, complimenting any interior theme whether contemporary, classical or ultra-modern these domestic lifts can take pride of place in a project to add a feature which is both functional and beautiful, giving more flexibility to the vision of your architect.
Although Stiltz domestic lifts, Lifton and Artico home lifts are often considered so stylish they are put on display, if your architect feels it would work even better for your home lift to blend in with a specific theme or scheme, most can be fully customized with different colours and finishes to give even more flexibility.
2. SPACE
As space – its use, and creating its illusion – is the main occupation of the architect, it might make them argue against incorporating another piece of equipment into a design. No so for a home lift.
The new generation of through the floor domestic lifts are so smartly designed that they have a very small footprint, ‘disappear’ when not in the room and, with the use of transparent materials and lights, give the impression of creating space.
Made to the highest specification with attractive downlights and transparent casing, modern lifts are light and airy giving occupants panoramic views as they move between floors. And in addition, as some lifts are self-supporting on two upright ‘rails’ on the lower floor, when the lift is not in the room. Clever design means the space it leaves can be used, so no floor space is lost.
3. VERSATILITY
Another architect-driven design feature of the new generation of home lift is how they can be installed almost anywhere in the home. This puts the architect in control of where the lift will be located so as best to complement their plan for your home, whether it is a key showpiece of the project or a more discreet feature.
As the innovative design of modern domestic lifts means not only are some self-supporting, they also have a surprisingly small footprint and many plug into a standard mains socket, and so can be located in most parts of a building: in a corner, in a cupboard, in a stairwell or through a galleried landing. Many home lifts are considered so attractive they are often installed in pride of place by the front door or at the centre of the house.
4. INSTALLATION
When discussing your plans your architect will have one eye on the build schedule. It is easy to assume that adding a mechanically complex piece of equipment to a build may complicate timings and consequently ramp up build costs. However, yet again modern lift designers have taken this into account and by ensuring that their state-of-the-art domestic lifts are as simple as possible to install, adding a home lift to an architects plan will not interfere with the smooth running of the build project.
Thanks to the modular design of the new generation of lifts, delivery of the parts of the lift is easy and installation can take as little as just one day, meaning that it can fit with ease around the rest of the building work of the project. For a standard installation, the only professional building work needed to be carried out is to make a small opening in the ceiling for the lift to pass between floors. Some domestic lifts do not require any hydraulics or supporting walls and once the lift is installed it can plug straight into a domestic power socket and it is ready to go.
5. WOW-FACTOR
In the world of structural design, architects are always looking to push the boundaries, to create beautiful buildings and leave their mark on each project. By including the requirement for a home lift in your brief, your project will stand out. Your architect will know that you do not just want another simple extension. They will know you have thought about your needs and lifestyle, and it will push them to think about your build or refurbishment in a different way to other projects. Specifying the inclusion of a home lift gives your architect another toy to play with, a stunning feature which can help to shape the ultimate design. When your plans are finished you and your architect will know that by including a state-of-the-art home lift your home will have the instant wow-factor that every architect wishes to give each project.
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