Northwest contemporary architecture is about wood, glass and a connection to the landscape. Big windows, open plans and exposed structure bring the trees and water inside. A solid elevator shaft in the middle of that can feel like a mistake. A pneumatic elevator avoids it.
A see-through elevator
The elevator is a clear cylinder with a cab inside. You can see through it, so it does not block light or a view. It reads as a piece of design, much like an open-tread stair.
How it moves
Fans at the top lower the air pressure above the cab, and the higher pressure beneath raises it. Releasing air brings it down. There are no cables and no hydraulic fluid.
Why it suits a remodel
- No pit to excavate
- No machine room to find space for
- No shaft to frame
- Installed in days once openings are cut
Good positions in an open plan
- Beside the staircase, as a companion to it
- At the edge of a double-height living room, serving a loft or bridge
- Near the entry, rising through each level of a daylight-basement home
Working with post and beam structure
Many homes of this style have exposed beams on a regular grid. The elevator is positioned within a bay, clear of the main beams, and the floor framing around the opening is designed by an engineer.
Sizes
One person, two people or wheelchair accessible.
Points to weigh
- The cab is compact
- The fans can be heard on the way up
- It needs clear height above the top floor
In a power cut
The cab lowers gently to the bottom level.
When another type is better
For the largest cab, or an elevator you would prefer not to see, a traditional model behind a door is the choice.
See it in your home
Nationwide Lifts of Washington installs Vision pneumatic elevators. Call (425) 495-6910 for a free in-home consultation.