Feature

Vertical Circulation

Contemporary residential lift beside a sculptural stair in a stone-and-timber hall overlooking a planted courtyard.
Journal Article

The Residential Lift as Architecture: Vertical Access, Privacy, and Spatial Integration

A residential lift shapes more than the journey between floors. Through shaft placement, landing orientation, the relationship to stairs, acoustic separation, and step-free routes, it can establish a home’s circulation and privacy. This study compares three spatial strategies and reveals how practical integration makes vertical access an enduring architectural asset.