The first design dilemma... the only way is up...

Further to the feedback we provided previously to the architects on the latest designs, we had (whilst not exactly a stroke of genius) a thought at least regarding an option for how we might be able to get up to the mezzanine / ceiling height library. Viktoria attempted to scribble her ideas to help explain...

Given that we have no idea what the Australian Building Code says about the minimum diameter of these things, we're not even sure it would take up less room than a traditional staircase...

Some random pictures of spiral staircases & mezzanine access

Fiona-the-architect had planned for a large sliding ladder to access the bookshelves and provide access to the mezzanine, as shown in the following plan:

Plan showing ladder access to shelving & mezzanine

While a sliding ladder would take up less floor space than a spiral staircase, access to mezzanine may be required by less nimble folks than ourselves though, which would make the spiral staircase a ‘safer’ option.  Neal-the-architect also suggested some kind of 'safety cage' on the ladder (stylish, of course). But this presented some other challenges. In random order, here are some of the things we were considering:

·         We both agreed that a plain ladder would not satisfy our safety concerns (particularly in relation to guest access to the mezzanine)

·         We also both agree that having a ladder / stair with a cage-type arrangement (no matter how stylish) will make getting anything up into the mezzanine a royal pain, so we weren’t really keen on the idea

·         The Android likes the idea of the ladder on wheels, which can be moved along the book case and allow access to the mezzanine – however, because we would like the book case to be floor to ceiling height, it would need to be a HUGE ladder or the books near the ceiling won’t be accessible (and there would still be the safety issue as mentioned above)

·         The Android doesn’t like the idea of a spiral staircase because he doesn’t want it to block the high ceiling ‘feel’, nor does he want it to block the view out the big windows

·         Viktoria likes the idea of a spiral staircase with a gangplank at the top of the stairs, which would run along the length of the wall (half way up the bookcase) – and because she can no longer have her revolving bookcase secret door, a spiral staircase would be a small consolation (said with bottom lip poking out)

Hence, the dilemma.  And for two people who are usually in agreement about these sort of things - this is a dilemma indeed!!

So we have handed our dilemma over to Neal-the-Architect to see what he can come up with.

We'll let you know whether we have driven him completely bonkers ...

V&A