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Livingetc reports a shift toward enclosed staircases, showcasing seven projects that treat stairs as sculptural features while helping define interior spaces. The examples use curved walls, stained timber, microcement, plaster and brass; the report does not quantify how widespread the trend is.
The projects span a range of materials and forms. London studio Studio Tashima created a softly curved white staircase set against a triangular oak-and-glass window. Barcelona-based LOBB Studio used bright red microcement for a stair intended to help organize circulation and stand out in a material-focused home.
Other designs make the staircase’s construction part of its visual effect. Zurich’s Studio Hinton contrasted natural oak treads with dark-stained oak to bring out a ribbon-like shape. Paris studio Hauvette & Madani used molded plaster, known as staff, for a curved stair and balustrade, alongside patterned carpet. Milan’s LC Atelier chose burnished brass, while London studio Foils made a stair from birch-faced plywood finished with blue-tinted stain.
The seventh project, by Paris architect and designer Martin Massé, hides the staircase behind a curved panel that also serves as a handrail. Livingetc says enclosed stairs can help divide open layouts, reduce noise moving between floors and conceal practical features such as storage. The report presents these as potential benefits, alongside the opportunity to make the stairwell a focal point.
How Enclosed Stairs Shape Homes
Staircases occupy a central role in how a home connects its floors, but these examples give them another job: organizing space and setting a visual tone. A solid stair or curved divider can create a more distinct boundary within an open-plan interior without relying only on walls.
The projects also show how material choices can change the character of a stairwell. Timber, plaster, microcement and brass bring different colors and textures into view, while curves and contrasting finishes direct attention to the structure. Livingetc describes possible practical gains, including softened sound and hidden storage, but the report does not provide measurements or evidence comparing these effects with open staircases.
Seven Projects, Varied Materials
Livingetc frames the designs as part of a recent shift in staircase design and suggests the change may relate to a wider move away from open-plan layouts toward separate, defined spaces. That connection is offered as an explanation, not established through industry data in the report.
The examples range from a sculptural white form by Studio Tashima to the red microcement stair by LOBB Studio and the brass design by LC Atelier. Some emphasize the stair itself; others use a wall, balustrade or finish to shape how it sits in the room. The report is a curated selection of seven projects, not a survey of designers or a measure of how common enclosed staircases have become.
“The stair was conceived as a singular, softly sculptural white form, set in deliberate dialogue with the sharp geometry of the triangular oak-and-glass window.”
— Charles Tashima, founder of Studio Tashima
The Trend’s Reach Is Unmeasured
Livingetc does not identify a source for trend data or quantify how many designers are choosing enclosed stairs. It is not clear how widespread the shift is, whether it is concentrated in particular markets or project types, or how the featured examples were selected.
The claimed benefits also vary by design and home. The report gives no acoustic measurements, cost comparisons, or details on how the staircases affect usable floor area, access to storage or maintenance. Those outcomes cannot be inferred from the seven projects alone.
More Projects May Clarify the Shift
The report offers no next industry milestone or follow-up data. Further projects and reporting could show whether enclosed stairs are becoming more common and how designers balance their spatial benefits with practical requirements such as circulation, storage, construction and upkeep.
For now, Livingetc’s seven examples document the design approach in specific homes. Any broader judgment about its popularity or performance will require evidence beyond this curated set.
Key Questions
What is an enclosed staircase?
In the Livingetc report, the term describes stairs shaped by solid forms, curved walls or enclosing panels rather than presented as an open stair structure. The specific designs differ, and the article does not set out a formal definition.
What benefits does Livingetc associate with enclosed staircases?
The publication says they can help divide open layouts, soften noise between floors and conceal practical features such as storage. It does not provide measurements or comparisons showing how much they do so.
Which materials appear in the featured designs?
The seven projects include oak, molded plaster, red microcement, burnished brass and birch-faced plywood, as well as white curved surfaces and patterned carpet.
Does the report show that enclosed staircases are now widespread?
No. Livingetc describes a shift it has observed and presents seven examples, but gives no industry-wide data to establish how common the design approach is.
Source: rss
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