DEVELOPMENT OF STACK UP^®

It was another five years before, with a slight modification of Hans Zwimpfer’s hypothesis, on the basis of new insights into how people live, the solution for the 1½-storey living space was found. Since the claims were no longer covered by the first patent, a new patent application had to be filed. The name of the concept is “STACK UP”.

The typology arose from the experience that people require an increasing amount of storage space if the apartment is not to become overfilled with furnishings. As long as this does not affect the amount of light entering the apartment, reducing the height of the living space by 2 m means that a large room can be created in the apartment above which the space can be used for storage, or to accommodate cupboards, a sauna or a home trainer.

THEORY

The idea is to develop a living typology for the urban context which combines the attributes and qualities of a single-family house with those of an attractive apartment: the “stacked single-family house”.

HYPOTHESIS

In addition to the attributes and qualities of the single-family house, which PILE UP^® already offers, the following consideration needs be taken into account: the widely-promoted open floor plans often present the occupants with a challenge. The desire for space and openness simultaneously increases the need for intelligent, generous and central storage space.

STACK UP^® is a stacked single-family house with its own “attic” serving as a central storage space, while retaining an open floor plan structure:

Each residential unit receives optimal incident daylight due to a double-height outer room which merges seamlessly with a 2/3 height living area. Above the heightened living space lies a compact central storage room of the apartment above.