Staircase Design / PROJECT

Kunming Compact Loft

Kunming
A steel-tube stair frame receives custom cabinetry, a refrigerator and wine storage, allowing the staircase to carry the kitchen while the upper level combines bedroom, study and living space.Designer: Lu Haining

Kunming Compact Loft
00PROJECT OVERVIEW
01 / EXISTING CONDITION

This compact Kunming apartment gained usable area through a new upper floor, but the original wall-mounted steel stair served circulation only. The limited ground level still needed living, dining, kitchen and passage space, leaving a conventional kitchen without enough room for cabinets, refrigerator and display storage.

02 / CLIENT BRIEF

The brief was to integrate the equipment and storage that the kitchen could not hold into the stair while preserving structure and circulation, then create a complete bedroom, study and living zone upstairs so neither level was wasted.

03 / DESIGN APPROACH

The design begins by removing the original steel ladder. Steel tubes form the entire stair skeleton in one operation, and the geometry of the treads also defines a series of cabinet cells, so the welded dimensions must precisely match the later custom joinery.

Once the steel frame is complete, cabinets are made to the dimensions of each reserved cell and inserted into the structure. Drawers and doors occupy the lower zone, open storage fills the middle, and timber treads complete one integrated stair-cabinet assembly.

The tallest cell is sized for the refrigerator, connecting the staircase directly to the kitchen when the appliance slides into place. Wine cubbies and display storage continue above it. A component that once only provided access now also carries cabinets, refrigerator, wine storage, display and handrail.

The upper floor is more than a place for a bed. Bedroom, desk, lounge chair and low storage form one continuous living zone. Choices based on the resident's way of life allow the kitchen, dining and living spaces below to work together with sleeping, work and rest above.

04 / KEY MOVES
  1. 01Build the stair and cabinet skeleton as one steel frame
  2. 02Insert custom cabinets into the reserved cells
  3. 03Integrate the refrigerator into the tallest stair bay
  4. 04Add wine and display storage above the refrigerator
  5. 05Give one staircase six different jobs
  6. 06Combine bedroom, study and living on the upper level
SPATIAL CHANGE

SINGLE-PURPOSE STAIR / STAIR KITCHEN

Before: the simple wall-mounted steel stair provided access and nothing more01
STARTBefore: the simple wall-mounted steel stair provided access and nothing more
The stair provides access, cabinetry, refrigerator, wine storage, display and handrail02
RESULTThe stair provides access, cabinetry, refrigerator, wine storage, display and handrail
PROJECT SEQUENCE

Read the project as a sequence of spatial decisions, from structure and circulation to the final lived scene.

After removing the original stair, the relationship between stair and kitchen is rebuilt from an empty space
01After removing the original stair, the relationship between stair and kitchen is rebuilt from an empty space
The steel-tube skeleton defines both the stair treads and the cabinet cells
02The steel-tube skeleton defines both the stair treads and the cabinet cells
The frame reserves precise positions for drawers, doors, open storage and appliances
03The frame reserves precise positions for drawers, doors, open storage and appliances
Custom cabinets fit cell by cell into the steel structure, forming a shared stair and kitchen framework
04Custom cabinets fit cell by cell into the steel structure, forming a shared stair and kitchen framework
Timber treads complete the integration of steel frame, cabinetry and stair
05Timber treads complete the integration of steel frame, cabinetry and stair
The tallest bay holds the refrigerator with wine and display storage above
06The tallest bay holds the refrigerator with wine and display storage above
Initial upper deck: the limited floor area must support sleeping, work and relaxation
07Initial upper deck: the limited floor area must support sleeping, work and relaxation
Bed, desk, lounge chair and low storage form a continuous upper living zone
08Bed, desk, lounge chair and low storage form a continuous upper living zone
The kitchen and passage remain continuous instead of being compressed by the stair
09The kitchen and passage remain continuous instead of being compressed by the stair
Completed space: the stair carries the appliances and storage the kitchen could not contain
10Completed space: the stair carries the appliances and storage the kitchen could not contain
Completed upper floor: bedroom, study and living functions unfold continuously along the daylight
11Completed upper floor: bedroom, study and living functions unfold continuously along the daylight
PROJECT FILM

Design walkthrough of the steel stair, custom kitchen storage, refrigerator bay and upper living zone