Staircase Design / PROJECT

Spring City Kitchen, Dining & Staircase

Removing the wall connects the dining room, stairwell and study. A built-in booth, cabinetry, resting platform and steel-timber stair reorganize the limited area and unite kitchen with dining.Designer: Lu Haining

Spring City Kitchen, Dining & Staircase
00PROJECT OVERVIEW
01 / EXISTING CONDITION

The compact home had its main constraints around the kitchen and dining area. No cabinetry could be placed along the dining wall, the two zones lacked a coherent relationship, and the ordinary stair occupied valuable space without adding further use.

02 / CLIENT BRIEF

The brief was to add kitchen storage, improve dining use and connect the dining room, stairwell and study. The redesigned stair also needed a place to pause while retaining structural strength, clear circulation and a minimal balustrade footprint.

03 / DESIGN APPROACH

The original wall is removed first, turning the separated dining room, stairwell and study into one continuous shared space. This creates a more direct visual and functional connection between kitchen, dining and stair.

A new base below the stair becomes a built-in booth. Using the change in level to form seating releases part of the former stair footprint for additional cabinets, allowing kitchen storage to extend into the dining area.

An independent resting platform is added within the stair sequence. Together, the platform, booth and cabinetry adjust the boundaries between kitchen, dining and study so the limited area can support overlapping uses.

Folded steel plate forms the structural base of the treads, with timber boards laid above. Integrating the steel support and balustrade retains strength while reducing the space normally occupied by a separate railing, making the stair lighter and more compact.

04 / KEY MOVES
  1. 01Remove the wall to connect dining, stairwell and study
  2. 02Turn the lower stair platform into a built-in booth
  3. 03Release space for additional kitchen cabinetry
  4. 04Unite the kitchen and dining area
  5. 05Add an independent resting platform within the stair
  6. 06Support timber treads with folded steel plate
  7. 07Integrate steel support and balustrade to reduce the footprint
SPATIAL CHANGE

SEPARATED ROOMS / INTEGRATED SPACE

Before: walls separated dining, stairwell and study, while the stair remained an ordinary circulation element01
STARTBefore: walls separated dining, stairwell and study, while the stair remained an ordinary circulation element
Completed space: kitchen, dining, stair and study are reconnected through integrated elements02
RESULTCompleted space: kitchen, dining, stair and study are reconnected through integrated elements
PROJECT SEQUENCE

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

Removing the wall creates a continuous space between dining, stairwell and study
01Removing the wall creates a continuous space between dining, stairwell and study
A new base below the stair reorganizes the relationship between steps and dining
02A new base below the stair reorganizes the relationship between steps and dining
Changes in level between platform and steps form the dining booth
03Changes in level between platform and steps form the dining booth
The booth releases wall space for cabinetry and connects kitchen with dining
04The booth releases wall space for cabinetry and connects kitchen with dining
The steel structure begins to form an integrated support for treads and balustrade
05The steel structure begins to form an integrated support for treads and balustrade
Steel tread supports and the independent resting platform establish the new stair route
06Steel tread supports and the independent resting platform establish the new stair route
Timber boards are laid over the steel base to lighten the stair visually
07Timber boards are laid over the steel base to lighten the stair visually
Resting platform, booth, cabinetry and dining table form one continuous shared space
08Resting platform, booth, cabinetry and dining table form one continuous shared space