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Attics and upper-floor spaces with angled roofs can feel stuffy and constricting, often cut off from both daylight and fresh air. Instead of renovating the roof to add attic windows or balconies, you could have both in one. European window manufacturer Velux offers dormer windows that transform into outdoor spaces in seconds, the bottom half featuring pop-up banisters and the top half opening vertically into an overhang.

The Cabrio system fits snugly into the roof when closed, but becomes an instant balcony just by pushing both panes open. Available in single, double or triple formats, they bring daylight, fresh air and a view to rooms under sloping roofs, making the space inside feel dramatically larger and more open.

The top-hung section rotates 180 degrees for easy cleaning, and protects the indoor space in case of sudden rain. Previously unusable floor space butting right up to the ceiling becomes an indoor/outdoor lounge space.

If you want an instant balcony that’s a little larger, there’s also an option for a triple window with bottom panes that swing out to the side, creating a full-sized door leading to a small terrace with a standard balcony railing.

“VELUX CABRIO balcony opens in seconds to give your loft space a place in the sun. The innovative balcony adds air, light and a great view to your home. For added convenience, the VELUX CABRIO balcony fits flush with the roof when closed.”

“Enjoy a balcony instantly – VELUX CABRIO® goes from roof window to balcony in seconds. Bring the outside in – let in more natural daylight and fresh air. Roof window or balcony – your choice – the top half opens like a traditional roof window.”

“With a small investment, you can dramatically transform any room in your home with daylight and fresh air. In the long run, installing roof windows will help you save on your utility bills. Costs vary depending on the number of roof windows and your ceiling type.”

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Small spaces can be some of the most inviting living spaces on Earth – if they are well made. Spanish architects Elii took an unused space measuring only 57 square meters (just over 613 square feet) and made it into an awe-inspiring attic apartment with hidden elements everywhere. The result looks kind of retro-futuristic, and very fun. Who doesn’t want swings tucked away in the ceiling to pull out when you’re feeling frisky?

They call the apartment Didomestic. In its terrifically small space, it includes a central column that contains a staircase and storage. Two slivers of space on either side of the core contain a kitchen, bathroom, appliances and more storage.

Transparent panels can be moved and shifted to create different rooms or change the shape of some spaces. When the panels are all closed up, the apartment flows freely from one room to the next. Certain panels can be moved to create an additional room or close the living room off from the kitchen.

Various trap doors and hidden compartments open to reveal storage cubbies, sitting areas, and even a fun swing or hammock hanging from the ceiling.

In the kitchen, the table and chairs pull down from the ceiling to create a fluid, completely changeable cooking and dining area.

This apartment uses its small space to its advantage more than almost any other. The pop-up dressing table and in-floor storage space next to the bathtub are unforgettable features that make the Didomestic apartment stand out from its small-space counterparts.

More from the architects

“ The scope of the project covers from the development of a customised functional proposal for a user that is turning a new leaf to the rehabilitation of the structure, the insulation, the facilities and the modernisation of the existing construction systems.”

“The selected approach removes all obstacles from the floor to provide the greatest possible flexibility. Two basic elements are used: firstly, the central core, comprising the staircase, some shelves and the larder. The core is at the centre of the main space under the mansard roof. It connects the access floor and the space under the roof and allows the natural lighting coming through the roof into the living room. Secondly, there are two side strips for the functional elements (kitchen, bathroom, storage space and domestic appliances).”

“This basic arrangement is complemented by two strategies that provide flexibility to the domestic spaces. Firstly, the moving panels that are integrated into the core and run along guide rails. These panels can be used to create different arrangements, such as adding an extra room for a guest, separating the kitchen from the living room area or opening the whole floor for a party. The panels have transparent sections so that the natural lighting coming through the mansard roof can reach this space.”

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Secret compartments activated by pulleys hide both functional and fun surprises in this Madrid attic apartment, including a dining table, swing, hammock and disco ball. Elii Architects complemented the rustic wooden beams of an existing attic space with a new plywood and polycarbonate platform to offer separation for different uses, while remaining highly adaptable.

The main component is a core that houses the stairs, separate from the rest of the main floor by transparent panels. These sliding panels can be arranged in different ways to close off a guest room, separate the kitchen from the rest of the space, or open the whole floor for a party.

Hidden in the plywood ceiling are a range of functions activated by handles on the wall. Turn one of these handles and pulleys will drop down various furniture items like the kitchen table or a hammock for lounging. Also concealed within the ceiling is a set of storage shelves for guests.

Go upstairs, and you’ll find more secret compartments in the floor. One houses bath products beside the tub, while another hides a mirror. And on the other side of the upper level, a series of invisible doors can be opened to offer up a dressing table, tea room and storage spaces.

More from the architects

“The adopted strategy frees up the plant in order to achieve the greatest possible flexibility. For this, two fundamental elements are arranged: On the one hand, the central nucleus, which integrates the staircase, some shelves and the pantry. The core is located in the center of the main space under the mansard roof, which allows connecting the access floor with the space below deck and introducing the natural light that enters through the mansard roof to the living area; On the other hand, two lateral bands, where the entire functional program is concentrated, such as the kitchen, bathroom, storage and electrical appliances.”

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Attic or loft living can be great for a lot of reasons, but it can also come with a unique set of problems. The most significant of these is the quality of air to be found in the top level of a building. Even with air conditioning or open windows, the orientation of the living space on the top floor of the building leads to hot, stuffy air.

The balcony windows from Fakro are a perfect way to solve this problem. They are designed for installation in attics with pitched roofs to add a bit of outdoor space and much-needed air flow to the upstairs rooms.

When closed, the windows look like any other skylight windows. They open in two pieces: the top sash lifts up and the bottom sash moves up and outward, creating a kind of enclosure. The bottom sash conceals a hidden safety rail that pops into place when the windows are fully opened, making the balcony feel safe.

The windows, when fully opened, add a sense of space to an upstairs domicile. Although they do not create a space for one to walk on and place flowerpots or other outdoor decorations, they do provide a small space for residents to stand, breathe in the outdoors and feel close to nature.

From Fakro:

“Balcony windows are an innovative large roof window with an additional window opening up into a balcony. The bottom sash can be pushed open to create the balcony and it has side safety barriers built in. Once closed the side rails are hidden inside the window and are not visible above the roof surface.”

“An innovative, large roof window that opens into a balcony. The upper sash opens upwards while the lower sash opens forward to create a balcony bay. The window stays open anywhere along the 0 ​​to 45​ ​​​degree opening range. The window is operated by the handle located at the bottom of the upper sash which has a two-point locking mechanism.”

“Automatic air inlet V40P adjusts the air pressure in the room to compliment the air pressure outdoors for maximum performance and stability. Both the upper and lower sash are equipped with​ ​laminated​ glazing unit P2.”

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In the southern Spanish city of Murcia, ancient buildings line the streets and add a particular type of character to the locale. One penthouse remodel in particular embraces the centuries-old charm on the street level but goes for the futuristic look up top.

Clavel Arquitectos were called in to rehab an existing attic and turn it into a stylish penthouse-style art gallery/living space addition. But what would a project like this be without some strict regulations or unusual challenges to get around? The building was under strict regulations that made it impossible to modify the positions of the attic’s exterior walls.

Working only within the space already defined, the architects designed a futuristic, open structure with a lush exterior green wall. The existing penthouse was dark and closed off with narrow corridors and rooms on both sides. After the renovation, the residents have a bright, open space filled with living bubbles.

Each “bubble” is a separate chamber with a specific function – living, sleeping, dining – and the space between them keeps things light. The opaque white glass that makes up the bubbles’ walls seems impractical for an art gallery…but the impracticality disappears when you notice the clever system of three flush-mounted hanging rails running all throughout the penthouse.

On the rooftop terrace, futuristic meets naturalistic at the living green wall. The gently undulating shape of the white walls is carried over into the rich greens of the grasses that cover the rooftop vertical garden, adding the perfect soft touch to this gorgeously modern addition.

More from the architects

“As an evolution of the previous layout, with corridors and room on both sides, we proposed a system of habitable bubbles by covering and breaking the existing outer walls. While the space in between works as service and circulation, each bubble has different uses such as dining room, living room, main bedroom, and children’s bedroom.”

“We proposed a small number of materials, making sure that they were as durable as possible. In this way, the bubble’s walls were cladded with opaque white glass. Contradictory with the creation of an art display system, this constructive solution gets very suitable when integrating three lines of flush-mounted rails for hanging paintings. The floor that surrounds the bubbles is paved with long slabs of grey phyllite stone, while their interiors are finished in different solid wood flooring.”

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This Japanese house is as easy-looking as it gets – at least from the outside. This modest-seeming project is stunningly executed, using minimal materials with a strategic precision that surpasses their ordinary potential and just keeps going.

Simple flat walls, pitched roof, dull color and a few standard-sized windows (largely mandated by local building codes).?On the interior, the first glance reinforces the initial impression: white walls, simple decor, but … wait, look up – what are those curious voids and spaces above?

Things quickly get quite interesting on the second level of this small rural Japanese home by Tato Architects (images by Satoshi Shigeta), where inward-angular ceilings below make for outward-leaning walls above – little leaning perches to look down from.

Lined in high-grade plywood, this upper (ladder-or-staircase-accessed) attic-and-living space feels raw and supplemental on the one hand, but warm and homey on the other. On the outside, drab corrugated polycarbonate panels blend in with the earthy landscape.

A series of portholes provide light and connection back through to the first story, while skylights and small exterior-wall windows let residents gather daylight and view out from the comfortable enclosure of this rec-room-plus-storage part of the layout.

But lest the design seem too much driven by all these clever little moves, it is worth recalling that all of these materials (wood and ply, cement board, simple paints, etc…) are cheap, as is the construction technique employed. Much of what you see was a matter of making the most of a limited budget.

The post Lean In: Plywood-Lined Attic w/Awesome Angled Portholes first appeared on Dornob.

The challenge: replace a standard skinny ladder leading up to an unfinished attic with working stairs … but they must be able to wrap within the same limited confines of a tiny landing. The solution: an elegant folded sheet of steel connected to a newly-renovated living room area within the uppermost story of this small and thin London flat.

Look closely: the single-piece set of stairs and treads twists from bottom to top without ever touching the adjacent walls or the central pole that serves as a handrail, being fully self-supported along the way.

A simple sheet of glass serves as a protective barrier instead of regular wrapping railings (unfortunately not something that would be likely to pass US fire code inspections). You can see clearly how much of an improvement it is from the before: a simple ladder.

Tamir Addadi Architecture followed the wishes of their clients, creating something that stood out as different – clearly an additional, furniture-like element adding to the more traditional existing apartment.

At the top of the climb lies a cozy living room lined with warm wooden panels, bookended by existing exposed brickwork and perforated for a single skylight to let in natural rays during the day while making the space feel private and enclosed.

“Our client decided to use the loft as a study and we were asked to improve the connection between the loft and the rest of the house by replacing the ladder to the loft with a permanent staircase. The main challenge was to design a staircase for a narrow space of 140 cm x 90 cm.”

“We focused on creating a design solution that would help integrate the two differently designed floors – the wood-clad loft with its clean modern lines, and the carpeted Victorian lower floor with its engraved banisters – without disturbing their distinctive characters. This was achieved by designing three separate elements that function together as a staircase but remain abstract in shape – a painted steel staircase, a painted steel post, and a sheet of toughened glass. These three elements can be seen as pieces of furniture placed in the space, rather than fixed features of either the lower or upper floor.”

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Did you know: before becoming popular around the world, mansard roofs were developed in response to a loophole in the building codes of historic Paris? Heights were limited by city standards but the measurement only went up to the cornice line, so the entire extra ‘attic’ area (now premium Parisian apartment and condo space) slipped past the relevant law and turned into an international style sensation.

What used to be a sharply-angled top-floor flat outside of Prague has been turned (by Sepka Architekti) into an outstandingly modern variation on the classic mansard roof style. Like this historical building approach, the character of the structure changes dramatically from the lower walls to the upper metal-clad and very contemporary-looking penthouse space.

The built-out ‘attic’ area was transformed into a far more open space with fewer angled walls and significantly more access to natural light view expansive new rectangular windows. While it certainly sticks out from its surroundings as an ultramodern home addition, it also fits a rich tradition of differentiating the uppermost floor of a residence from those below it.

No less exception, the interior is unique and unusual in a variety of ways. Some smaller more private rooms are painted with bright and bold color schemes. Other common areas and shared spaces show off unfinished hardwood floors, recycled composite-wood wall products and built-in wooden bookcases. A circular porthole skylight sits squarely above a likewise round dining room table, a modernist interplay of solid and void.

From the architects:

“The existing attic space layout of a terrace house from the 1930s was not suitable for the owner’s new requirements. We opted for a radical solution to improve the functional arrangement of the attic space and to significantly increase the total area of the flat. A new mass with a platform roof extending beyond the floor plan of the building was attached to the existing roof truss.”

“The new mass of the facia is also reflected in the interior, including the porthole created in response to the vertical layout of the interior. The large view of the porthole faces north towards Prague. Roof lights situated above the dining and coffee tables deliver light to the living area from the southern side. White surfaces with an oak floor were preserved in the old section of the attic.”

“The new facia is constructed of OSB slabs and covered with titanium and zinc sheet metal on the outside. Newly introduced elements, such as the bathroom, toilet, kitchen and some furniture are distinguished from the original space by their colour.”

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