Onix NL

Stair House

Stair House
© Peter van der Knoop
Stair House
© Peter van der Knoop

Stair House

Onix

ARCHITECTS
Onix

CLIENT
Erna Springer, Almelo, Tjeerd Willem Droogers

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER 
Brons Constructeurs & Ingenieurs

INTERIOR DESIGNER 
Onix

CONTRACTOR
Bouwbedrijf G. Hulshof Bv

CONTRIBUTOR
Peter Van Der Knoop

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
Onix, Tjeerd Willem Droogers

ARCHITECT IN CHARGE
Haiko Meijer

PHOTOGRAPHS
Peter Van Der Knoop, Werry Crone

AREA 
150 m²

YEAR 
2013

LOCATION
Almelo, The Netherlands

CATEGORY
Houses

Stair House
© Peter van der Knoop
Stair House
© Peter van der Knoop

Text description provided by architect.

In 2013 the first Onix climbing house was created in the small town of Almelo (the Netherlands). 

Stair House
© Peter van der Knoop
Stair House
© Peter van der Knoop

A house, situated at the edge of a new development area in a town like Almelo and designwise unbothered by any municipal inspectorate interference, not only presents the opportunity to live directly adjacent to its garden:

It also makes the idea of literally living at a ‘higher’ level seem quite appealing, which indeed was the case for its future owners Tjeerd Willem and Erna.

Stair House
© Werry Crone
Stair House
© Peter van der Knoop

Following this concept, Onix has managed to develop a dwelling for them, which indeed offers multi-level living possibilities as the house keeps on spiralling upward through a large number of different floor levels, till it finally ends in a roof terrace.

Each floor level differs a mere 75 cm from the previous one, giving the building an atmosphere of continuous space.

In addition, as these differences in height are quite minor, the use of balustrades for safety could luckily be avoided.

Stair House
© Peter van der Knoop
Stair House
© Peter van der Knoop
Stair House
© Werry Crone

For now the house incorporates 10 floor levels, allowing the possibility to build even higher in the future though.

The house is completely made of wood. The exterior consists of vertical planks, the interior and walls of multiplex.

Tjeerd Willem has chosen to finish the interior walls himself, as well as build a concrete countertop for the kitchen.

Stair House
© Peter van der Knoop
Stair House
© Peter van der Knoop
Stair House
© Peter van der Knoop

The interior is actually furnished in one piece: a continuous and complex totality of connected stairs, floors, walls, ceilings and wardrobes.

The design is reminiscent of Adolf Loos’ ‘Raumplan’. The climbing house with its surface area of 7 x 9m is extended to a gross floor area of 10 x 10m.

Thus integrating the structure in the space and allowing it to become ornament, structure, furniture as well as stairs, all at the same time.

Stair House
© Peter van der Knoop


Stair House
Floor Plan
Stair House
Floor Plan
Stair House
Floor Plan
Stair House
Floor Plan


Stair House
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Stair House
Site Plan

Onix NL
T +31 50 5290252
Onix NL
Helperpark 284, 9723 ZA Groningen, Netherlands