The Homelift DHM 500, an art object for accessible living
In a house on the Mediterranean coast near Barcelona, the DHM 500 shows what it can do:
· solid and sustainable technology
· made-to-measure, custom production
· sophisticated design
In this house built on a slope, the lift had to connect the two floors and the car had to be as large as possible, yet comfortable, given the space available. A DICTATOR shaft system was also needed, as there wasn’t one previously available. The space allowance for shaft and lift was 1,630 mm wide and 1,860 mm deep. Another wish of the client: the car had to get as much light as possible, and the shaft had to emphasize the airiness of the architecture of the rest of the house while acting as an accent.
The result left the client fully satisfied.
Glazed lift shaft with metal accents
The lift shaft is almost entirely made of glass. This gives it the desired airiness. At the customer’s request, for purely optical reasons, we added cross beams made of a single piece of sheet metal. The state-of-the-art technology of the laser cutter used in production allows for this type of customization without significant additional costs. Even the roof of the structure was included in the design, further emphasizing the feeling of airiness. This is because it does not rest directly on it, but “floats” above it.
The Homelift DHM 500 with glass structure as an architectural design element. The design of the structure with diagonal bars was requested by the customer for optical reasons. At first glance, the roof appears to float, which emphasizes the feeling of airiness.
Homelift DHM 500 with maximum comfort
At DICTATOR we put the highest demands on our Homelift because, after all, it has to be able to deliver great satisfaction to the customer for many years to come:
- Stability and operation like a conventional elevator
- Maximum car dimensions within the available space
- Customizable car design
- Sustainable and durable construction
- Color & design of lift shaft matching the design of the car
The lift car is glazed on two sides. The wall with the drive has a full-length mirror on the upper half, while the lower half is made of stainless steel. This enhances the feeling of spaciousness, further emphasized by the fact that, thanks to custom production, the lift car could be produced with the maximum dimensions possible within the space available: 1,150 mm wide x 1,400 mm deep. That is enough space even if someone needs to access it with a wheelchair. The telescopic sliding glass doors also fit in with the overall concept.
Our laser cutter machine not only works with steel, but also serves as an artist
For the unveiling party, the customer received one more small “work of art” from the DICTATOR team. Since fishing plays an important role in the customer’s life, DICTATOR created a small image of a fishing boat at sea with the laser cutting machine. Of course, this laser engraving technique can also be used in the design of the lift car, e.g. to individualize the melamine walls with a company logo or other images. All you need is a photo as a template.
For the architectural and artistic design of the shaft, as well as the DICTATOR Homelift DHM 500 itself, there are endless possibilities, which could be applied again in an exterior elevator for the same house (see reference here).
The lift car is glazed on two sides. Above the control panel on the left is a mirror (standard option) that takes up the entire width of the wall and makes the car appear larger. In addition, the control panel includes a display. The floor is vinyl, matching the floor in the rest of the house.
The glass structure with diagonal traverses is completely laser-cut from a single sheet of metal. The cylinders, rail supports, chassis, rear wall and car floor were painted in the same color as the landing, as they are always visible through the glass structure.
The telescopic sliding doors are also made of glass, like the car and landing. This allows light to enter more easily.
Our laser cutting machine, which normally cuts and drills sheet metal, can do much more: with the right know-how, it can also laser images – here on a melamine panel, just like those used for the interior of the lift car.
The customer was so pleased with the lift and the picture that he hung it on the wall right next to the lower landing next to other pictures): “a work of art next to another work of art”. 🙂
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