Designer: Aamir & Hameeda

The under-stair area presents a unique design challenge due to its awkward triangular shape. Whether you need extra storage or require an additional room, the under-stair space allows you to maximize every square inch of your home. However, with creative ideas, one can transform the under-stair area into a functional and visually stunning zone. So, unleash your creativity and give a new lease of life to the under-stair area of your home.

Designer: Mel Boyden

1. Create an Entertainment Zone

Designer: Bex Designs and Decorations

If you love entertaining, then use the under-stair area for creating a built-in bar alongside a buffet counter for serving food and added convenience. Arrange the shelves by the height of the liquor or wine bottles and different types of glassware. Introduce LED strip lights that illuminate the shelves and exude soft, diffused lighting to create a cozy and comfortable atmosphere. This fully-functional entertainment zone is perfect for an open-plan home.

2. A Green Thumb

Designer: Kate Chilver

Maximize the functionality and aesthetic appeal of the under-stairs area with open shelves that are perfect for keeping plants and wicker baskets that add an element of organization and storage. Plants not only add color but are also an affordable and natural way to infuse life and improve indoor air quality.

3. A Cozy Reading Nook

Designer: Camilla Falconer

Drawing inspiration from Scandi decor, the sinuous curves of this reading and resting nook create a cozy and stylish cocoon-like effect. Perfect for curling up with a good book, enjoying some hot coffee, having a long phone call, or listening to music, this nook transforms into a comfortable space ideal for relaxation. The depth of the stair provides ample space for a cozy bed, making it an ideal spot for putting on shoes and creating a feeling of tranquility. To complement this space, add a cozy lamp and good lighting to create an inviting and relaxing atmosphere.

4. Essential Storage

Designer: Denver Real Estate

Maximize your home’s storage potential by utilizing under-stair area. With its deep storage capabilities, this area is perfect for storing everyday essentials and utilitarian items such as scarves, coats, and extra belongings. By organizing this space, you can keep your home clutter-free while keeping everyday items close at hand. Consider creating designated shoe storage, allowing you to conveniently put on your shoes before leaving the house and easily store them upon returning.

5. Introduce a Kennel

Designer: Kimberly Lewis

Optimize the under-stair area in your home by creating a private space for your furry friend. This space can be customized to fit their size and needs, providing a cozy and comfortable spot for them to rest and relax. To keep the space clean and organized, consider incorporating easy-to-clean flooring and storage solutions for their items. In this example, a dog house facade complete with a door, lamp, and mailbox adds an extra touch of charm and functionality.

6. Design a Dry Kitchen

Designer: Blakes London

Transform your under-stair area into a practical dry kitchen with a coffee maker, microwave, and storage space for books and other essentials. With the addition of utility drawers, this space can become a perfect zone for quick and easy meal preparation. Ideally, this area should be close to a refrigerator to minimize walking time and maximize convenience. When not in use, the cabinet can be closed, keeping the area neat and out of view.

7. Incorporate Storage Drawers

Designer: Clever Closet

If you prefer a minimalist approach, consider dividing the under-stair area into several pull-out drawers. Designate each drawer for strategic storage as per your requirements. Pull-out drawers are an excellent choice, as they make deep storage easily accessible and can help extend your pantry space. The use of white drawers can create a clean, streamlined look that does not add bulk to the space.

8. Create a Laundry Room

Designer: Kayleigh Hilbert

Convert the under-stair area into an efficient laundry room with a washing machine and dryer. The shelves make space for storing your laundry supplies, washing powder, and fabric softener. Customized doors can camouflage the washing machine and tumble dryer and keep them looking tidy.

9. Introduce a Powder Room

Designer: Artvalleys

Maximize the under-stair area by creating a functional powder room for guests. When designing this space, ensure there is enough headroom and ample space to incorporate a WC and sink. Make provisions for all the necessary plumbing lines during the construction stage.

10. Storage Cubbies

Designer: Roundhouse Design>/a>

The slant of the stair provides a unique opportunity to create cabinets and racks of various sizes. If the staircase is near the kitchen, it can serve as an extended pantry or additional storage space, with dedicated areas for crockery, plates, and even wine storage. By customizing the cabinets and racks to fit the slant of the stair, you can create a streamlined and functional storage solution that maximizes the available space.

11. Style the Space

Designer: Oh My Edwardian

The under-stair area presents a unique opportunity to add style and visual interest to your home. By introducing a chair, throw, cushions, and plenty of planters, you can create a cozy and inviting space that is perfect for reading or relaxing. Additionally, consider adding a piece of art or decorative element to the space to elevate its overall aesthetic.

12. A Wine Cellar

Designer: Jay Rosen

Utilize the space under your stairs to create a luxurious wine cellar! Show off your wine collection like a pro by transforming the area into a temperature and moisture-controlled room that’s perfect for storing wine. A glass display will enhance the visual appeal of the space, while proper lighting is essential for elevating its ambiance. Opt for wine racks to organize and display your collection stylishly.

13. Incorporate a Built-in Bar

Designer: Parsons Custom Builders

This built-in bar unit is not only smart and stylish but highly functional as well. With a wine chiller, shelves for glasses and accessories, and drawers for storage, it’s the perfect setup for hosting memorable cocktail hours. Its wood finish infuses an element of warmth within the interiors.

14. Kids Playhouse

Designer: SR Fine Home Builders

The under-stairs area is the perfect hidden spot for toddlers to hang out and play with their toys without making a mess in the main living areas. As the children grow taller, convert the space into a functional storage zone with deep drawers or cabinets. Make sure to incorporate good lighting to keep the interior bright and cheerful.

15. Home Office

Designer: Building Culture

A home office is a space that transforms into a functional workspace with the right furniture and storage solutions. This dedicated zone is demarcated with an arch and is perfect for working or doing homework. A comfortable chair is essential to complement the space, along with adequate task lighting to prevent eye strain. Make sure there are plenty of electrical outlets and enough headroom to avoid any unwanted bumps.

16. A Home Library

Designer: Jenny Marrs

Transform your under-stair area space into a home library that can be used for displaying your cherished keepsakes in an organized and clutter-free way. One simple approach is to create open shelving or a bookcase with differently sized shelves, utilizing larger ones for displaying art and plants.

These creative tips will help you achieve the perfect balance of form and function in your home. Maximize the under-stair area; consider incorporating drawers, cupboards, or cabinets to make optimum utilization of the available space.

The post Inspiring Under-Stair Planning and Decorating Ideas first appeared on Yanko Design.

Architectural studio LOHA has transformed an agricultural building in California into the light-filled Sandi Simon Center for Dance with polycarbonate walls that evoke the “ephemeral nature of performance”.

Located on the campus of Chapman University in Orange, the educational and performing arts venue is housed within a former agricultural building listed on America’s National Register of Historic Places.

Constructed in 1918, the building served as an orange-packing house and headquarters for the Santiago Orange Growers Association, and later, the Villa Park Orchards Association.

Prior to its recent revamp, the wood-framed building had one level and a basement. Architectural features include stucco facades, large trusses and a sawtooth roof.

The studio was charged with creating a dance school within the historic building while preserving its exterior shell.

“The post-and-beam, heavy timber-frame building is representative of the industrial vernacular style of its time,” said Los Angeles-based LOHA, also know as Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects.

“Our adaptive reuse strategy required precise planning and innovative strategies to transform the packing house from a one-storey warehouse space with an unused, uninhabitable basement into a multi-level centre for dance,” the studio continued.

“This process included celebrating unique elements of the existing building, utilising the original wood flooring as a material for the new design, and incorporating new structural elements.”

The team opened up the interior by making a “calculated cut” through the floor plane, allowing for a reorganization of the space into three levels.

The building now holds five studios for dance instruction, a performance studio that is used for small concerts and master classes, two classrooms, a training room and faculty offices.

There also are spaces for students to socialize, including atria between classrooms that are fitted with seating.

The building’s large roof trusses were left visible and evoke different sensations, based on one’s vantage point.

“Enormous historic trusses were left exposed and rendered at once lofty by the view from the lowest level and tangible from the proximity to them at the mezzanine,” the firm said.

Light flows in through the building’s original sawtooth roof, along with north-facing clerestory windows. Actuators were added to the windows, enabling them to open up and expel heat when triggered by a mechanical system.

The team inserted walls made of polycarbonate, a material that was chosen for its translucency and reflectivity. The walls “allow the architecture to reflect the ideas of movement and the ephemeral nature of performance embodied in the program”, the team said.

“Bringing daylight and a sense of motion throughout the building was immensely important,” addedarchitect Lorcan O’Herlihy.

Other projects by LOHA include a workspace for sportswear brand Nike that embodies a pairing of “art and science” and a wedge-shaped student housing complex that steps down a Los Angeles hillside.

The photography is by Eric Staudenmaier.

Project credits:

Architect: LOHA (Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects)
Project team: Lorcan O’Herlihy (principal in charge), Ghazal Khezri (project director), Ian Dickenson (principal), Joe Tarr, Abel Garcia (project lead), Morgan Starkey, Kathryn Sonnabend, Kevin Murray, Wentao Guo
Client: Chapman University

The post LOHA creates dance school within historic orange-packing building in southern California appeared first on Dezeen.

Where do you put the clothes you’ve worn that day that aren’t dirty enough to go in the hamper, nor clean enough to go back in the drawer? I’m guessing people are content to throw them on a chair or treadmill. Antique clothes valets were designed for this purpose, but their aesthetic doesn’t fit with modern décor. I’d make an argument that this Arch Clothes Valet does.

It was designed by Sofia Lagerkvist and Anna Lindgren, the duo behind Swedish design studio Front. And if something about the bentwood elements seems familiar to you…

…it’s purely intentional: The piece was designed for and is in production by GTV. That’s Gebrueder Thonet Vienna, the Austrian furniture company founded in 1853 by the Thonet brothers, who of course brought us the iconic Thonet chair (which GTV still produces).

Dezeen School Shows: a community housing scheme for those displaced by the war in Ukraine and a project that likens architectural spaces to musical instruments are included in Dezeen’s latest school show by students at Parsons School of Design.

Also included is an indoor composting bin that aims to teach children about food waste, and a biodegradable tray designed to be planted with the seeds it contains to nourish the soil as they grow.

Parsons School of Design

Institution: Parsons School of Design at The New School
School: Parsons’ School of Constructed Environments
Courses: Master of Architecture, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Architectural Design, Master of Architecture and Master of Fine Arts in Lighting Design Dual Degree, Master of Fine Arts in Industrial Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Product Design, Master of Fine Arts in Interior Design, Associates of Applied Science in Interior Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design, Master of Fine Arts in Interior Design and Lighting Design Double Major and Master of Fine Arts in Lighting Design
Tutors: AdegBoyega Adefope, Mark Bechtel, Craig Bernecker, Andrew Bernheimer, Carly Cannell, Yvette Chaparro, Rama Chorpash, Cotter Christian, Nadia Elrokhsy, Christine Facella, Mark Gardner, David Gissen, Paul Goldberger, Michele Gorman, Robert Kirkbride, Martina Kohler, David Leven, David J. Lewis, Allyson McDavid, Bryan McGrath, Alison Mears, Dan Michalik, Derek Porter, Fiona Raby, Barent Roth, Jonsara Ruth, Sharon Egretta Sutton, Glenn Shrum, Joel Stoehr, Joel Towers, Michael Verbos, Johanne Woodcock and Alfred Zollinger

School statement:

“Encompassing a unique confluence of design disciplines, Parsons’ School of Constructed Environments guides tomorrow’s leaders toward creating socially just, environmentally sustainable, and technologically innovative buildings, interiors, lighting, and products.

“In a time of unprecedented change, we cultivate the skills, values, and vision that are vital to fostering a more integrated, equitable, and delightful world.

“We pursue regenerative material and design practices that break from conventional disciplinary norms.

“We cultivate a global outlook while drawing on the local resources of NYC and its groundbreakers.

“And as the only major design school embedded in a research university, Parsons gives students access to an array of disciplines that surround their field.

“Here – in fabrication shops, computing labs, NYC’s only light lab, the Angelo Donghia Healthier Materials Library, and open design studios – students develop into responsible, engaged collaborators and innovators.”

Imagined Futures by Grace Hernandez

“How can historic preservation be reimagined to incorporate both equity and sustainability in addition to cultural significance?

“In my thesis, I aim to explore this question through two approaches: redesigning the Bronx Borough Courthouse and revising historic preservation legislation.

“My proposal involves transforming an abandoned courthouse into a transitional house of studies for formerly incarcerated individuals, with the new programme acting as a catalyst for an internal transformation that is reflected in the architecture.

“By doing so, I hope to pave the way for a more flexible and inclusive future for preservation – one that addresses the needs of all communities.”

Student: Grace Hernandez
Course: MArch
Thesis advisor: Astrid Lipka
Programme director: Allyson McDavid

Bucha Resiliency Project by Bruke Alemayev and Artem Chouliak

“Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, millions of Ukrainians have lost their homes in a desperate attempt to escape death and destruction, and the need for safe and dignified housing is more urgent than ever.

“Our design for social housing in Bucha utilises a framework for new prefabricated modular housing and a system for modular integration into partially destroyed buildings.

“The programme provides immediate housing and community space as a refuge for healing and connection. A living memorial weaves through the whole site and into the fabric of the community. It is a symbol of resilience and a place to reflect, unify and fortify.”

Students: Bruke Alemayev and Artem Chouliak
Course: BFA Architectural Design
Thesis advisors: Alison Mears and Emily Moss
Programme director: Martina Kohler

UCMe Studios by Stephan Verwayne-Mullen

“UCMe Studios, located in Brownsville, Brooklyn, offers a tactile experience generated through textiles, stone and soft lighting.

“It provides a space in which Black women are honoured and respected for their strength and craftsmanship, one in which they feel comfortable, beautiful, inspired, empowered and excited to create.

“Using ‘the veil’ to both obscure and reveal, UCMe Studios provides Black women with an experience that serves as a respite from the stresses of the world outside and enables them to fulfil their creative potential.”

Student: Stephan Verwayne-Mullen
Course: MArch/MFA Lighting Design Dual Degree
Email: stephverwayne[at]gmail.com
Thesis advisor: Glenn Shrum
Programme directors: Allyson McDavid and Craig Bernecker

Shanzhai Identity: An Critique of Western Systems of Valuation Through the Fake by Young Kim

“Shanzhai Identity builds on the Chinese concept of shanzhai – a neologism that means ‘bootleg’ or ‘fake’ – to open conversation around the informal counterfeit economy found on Canal Street, New York City.

“Counterfeit goods demonstrate consumer demand and exist symbiotically with authentic luxury items. The fake simultaneously reinforces and underscores the exclusiveness and desirability of the real.

“This project aims to demonstrate how the valuation of luxury goods – at both the object and the systematic scale – reveals layers of inequity and exploitation.”

Student: Young Kim
Course: BFA Interior Design
Thesis advisors: Virginia Black
Programme director: Carly Cannell

In Sieme by Katherine Rodes

“In Sieme is a hospitality project for adults who are looking for romantic connection without the distractions of the digital realm. This effect is achieved by designing for the senses and shifting the user’s focus from the artificial realm to a physical one.

“A cohesive, natural colour palette connects one space to another, creating a sensual environment in which to wander.

“Light and shade as well as open spaces and enclosed ones come together with vertical elements and water features to create a phenomenologically rich environment, connecting users to their bodies and surroundings.”

Student: Katherine Rodes
Course: AAS Interior Design
Email: katherineprodes[at]gmail.com
Project advisor: Nina Freedman
Programme director: AdegBoyega Adefope

Gallery Roaming Video by Mina Guo

“A space is like a giant musical instrument in which sound gathers, amplifies, reverberates and travels elsewhere.

“The final presentation of sound depends on the shape and size of each space, the material surfaces that come into direct contact with the space and how each material is applied.

“When seeking a way to magnify the sound for those experiencing the interior, I took inspiration from the marimba – the ramp floor would operate like the keyboard of the space, with an under-ramp structure working as the resonator to amplify the sound.”

Student: Mina Guo
Course: MFA Interior Design and MFA Lighting Design Double Major
Email: makylo.guo[at]gmail.com
Thesis advisor: Glenn Shrum
Programme directors: Michele Gorman and Craig Bernecker

Robud by Darice Lee

“Robud is an indoor composting bin and educational tool to help children learn about composting, the food life cycle and the complications of food waste and loss.

“Many educational composting programmes cater to those who have access to large outdoor spaces such as gardens or yards, and composting education materials have been limited to worksheets and videos because composting is regarded as a smelly and messy process.

“Robud – a new system of odourless indoor composting – is designed for daily classroom use and can be incorporated into existing curricula. It helps students understand the life cycle of food in a hands-on way, from collection and composting of scraps to growing new plants.

“It makes composting fun, engaging and something to look forward to every day and builds sustainable habits from an early age.”

Student: Darice Lee
Course: BFA Industrial Design
Email: dariceleedesign[at]gmail.com
Thesis advisor: Mark Bechtel
Programme director: Barent Roth

Revising Germicidal Ultraviolet Irradiation Devices From Users’ Perspectives by Ryan Xiang Sun

“For decades, scientists have known about the disinfection capabilities of ultraviolet light (UVC), which is used in hospital facilities and now can serve as an essential tool in the fight against Covid-19 and other viruses.

“The application of novel Germicidal Ultraviolet Irradiation (GUVI) remains in the development phase.

“While the market is focused on designing safe and effective devices, developers have neglected human/user preference considerations.

“This study provides analysis and design proposals to balance safety and efficacy with users’ concerns, which include worries over accidental exposure, undesired blue light, affordability and spatial-aesthetic disruption.

“This study focuses on the three most promising GUVI systems: the indirect up-room air circulation system, the HVAC chamber air circulation system, and the 222 nm direct far UVC exposure system.”

Student: Ryan Xiang Sun
Course: MFA Lighting Design
Thesis advisors: Craig Bernecker and Francesca Bastianini
Programme director: Craig Bernecker

Cortiçeira Amorim x Parsons collaborative project by students of Parsons School of Design and Amorim Cork

“This spring, Parsons launched a research partnership with Portugal-based Cortiçeira Amorim, the world’s largest cork processing group.

“Led by product designer, associate professor and cork expert Daniel Michalik, the initiative brings together Michalik’s longstanding creative practice and advocacy on behalf of the regenerative material and the School of Constructed Environments’ deep commitment to innovation in sustainability.

“The partnership was launched with Michalik’s recent course, The Thick Skin: Cork as a Material for Designing New Futures, which challenged students to explore cork’s singular properties on-site at Amorim Cork Composites Cork Factory.

“David J Lewis, dean of the School of Constructed Environments at Parsons, described the unique learning opportunity – involving both research and hands-on making – as ’emblematic of Parsons’ mission to cultivate leaders prepared to address pressing global issues including equitable climate resilience through their work.'”

Course: The Thick Skin: Cork as a Material for Designing New Futures
Tutor: Daniel Michalik

Presence in Bed by Annabelle Schneider

“Presence in Bed puts the physical and digital in dialogue through a site-specific installation tied to virtual reality. Here, the bed represents an essential place to reconnect to the self – touch points of temperature reactive sheets on a mattress act as a canvas to capture the presence of absence.

“Digital human traces are recorded as tactile image transfers on pillows and hand-woven emergency foils serve as protection capes that foster comforting temperatures while giving the installation an otherworldly feel.

“Blood, hair, skin, sweat and bacteria are presented along with recorded audio affirmations and an evocative sound design. Presence in Bed was on public view at 173 Elizabeth Street in New York City during NYCxDesign, from May 20 to May 25, 2023.”

Student: Annabelle Schneider
Course: MFA Interior Design
Thesis advisors: Francesca Forlini and Maria Linares Trelles
Programme director: Michele Gorman

Sead by Mara Zimmerman

“Sead is a collection of biodegradable vessels and packaging that can be planted in the ground with the seeds they hold, adding protection and nourishment to soil.

“It makes use of seafood processing waste – a material with high nutritive value – to help cultivate heirloom seeds for small-scale growers in homes and urban gardens.

“Sead serves as a case study for considering waste products as an alternative to perpetuating the extraction of virgin material and invites further investigation into the opportunities that chitin, a shell-sourced biopolymer and other waste materials offer.”

Student: Mara Zimmerman
Course: MFA Industrial Design
Thesis advisors: Yvette Chaparro, Andrea Ruggiero and Erika Hanson
Programme director: Yvette Chaparro

Partnership content

This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and Parsons School of Design. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

The post Eleven design projects by students at Parsons School of Design appeared first on Dezeen.

In this week’s comments update, readers discussed luxury car manufacturer Bugatti’s first foray into residential architecture.

Car brand Bugatti last week unveiled the design of a 42-storey skyscraper in Dubai that will have two garage-to-penthouse car lifts.

Developed in partnership with local developer Binghatti, the Bugatti Residences will be the first residential building branded with the Bugatti name. Dezeen readers were sceptical.

“Looks like something you chanced upon in Patrik Schumacher’s recycling bin”

Commenter AlfredHitchcock thought “Bugatti should stick to what they know and make beautiful cars”, while Nah lamented the absence of the “finesse and sophistication [that] they use in their car design”.

“Making an amorphous random blob is, especially in architecture, the laziest way to design,” wrote Javier Conejo. “It doesn’t require any knowledge or sophistication – particularly in this case where even the scaling finesse of a Zaha Hadid is absent.”

Conejo wasn’t the only commenter to have had a sense of déjà vu. “Zaha Hadid guys freelancing?” wondered Apsco Radiales.

Kumar Arvind offered a less flattering assessment: “Looks like something you chanced upon in Patrik Schumacher’s recycling bin.”

What are your thoughts on the Bugatti skyscraper? Join the discussion ›

“What are architects doing in that Line mess?”

Also igniting debate in the comments section this week was reports of a discussion with British architect Peter Cook, who is working on The Line mega city in Saudi Arabia.

Speaking at an event to mark the opening of an exhibition dedicated to the wider Neom project in Venice, Cook called the height of the 500-metre-tall project “a bit stupid and unreasonable”, according to a report in the Architects’ Journal.

Commenters weren’t long pointing out other aspects of the project that they find unreasonable.

“So Cook wasn’t phased by the planned 100-plus mile-long buildings and the impact that they have on the area and its people, but was questioning the height of 120 stories?” commented Tim. “As with everything about this project, the big picture was missed and a detail was discussed.”

“What are architects doing in that Line mess, except probably making loads of lolly?” wrote Pa Varreon. “Interestingly Peter Cook seems to be, like Fuksas, moving far away from his 70s visionary projects. What a sad evolution.”

“It’s architects who are a bit stupid,” added Jb. “The Line is an abomination.”

Do Cook’s comments stand up? Join the discussion ›

“Non-architects are producing the most interesting architecture these days”

The residential YOO GYE skyscraper in Guayaquil, Ecuador, which developer Uribe Schwarzkopf is designing in collaboration with French designer Philippe Starck, has split commenter opinion.

Described by Starck as a “paradise”, the 176-metre-high skyscraper will be located alongside the Rio Guayas river, which runs through Ecuador’s largest city.

Romeo Reyes called the project a “brilliant display of Monsieur Starck’s design bravado”, while Kevin McGrath declared it “dreadful”.

“Very unusual,” commented Colin_MacGillivray. “Is this the first time a 46-storey tower has looked like it’s a seven-storey building perched on an eight-storey one?”

Jb was all for it. “Non-architects are producing the most interesting architecture these days, unhampered by dogma,” they commented.

Bravado or bust? Join the discussion ›

“Someone send this to Wes Anderson’s location scout”

Commenters were “charmed” by EBBA Architects’ transformation of a former jellied-eel restaurant on London’s Broadway Market into a shop for eyewear brand Cubitts.

Idracula called it “lovely”, while Jennifer Kay simply wrote: “Yum yum yum!”

“You can’t help but enjoy the warmth of the interior that is reflected in the rays in the stained glass window,” wrote Pickled.

“Someone send this to Wes Anderson’s location scout,” added Tom.

Are you a fan of the transformation? Join the discussion ›

Comments update

Dezeen is the world’s most commented architecture and design magazine, receiving thousands of comments each month from readers. Keep up to date on the latest discussions on our comments page and subscribe to our weekly Debate newsletter, where we feature the best reader comments from stories in the last seven days.

The post “Looks like something from Patrik Schumacher’s recycling bin” says commenter appeared first on Dezeen.