A Statement in Precision: Lift Shop’s ElfoLift in an Architect’s Riverside Home

When an architect chooses a home lift for their own residence, it speaks volumes about the product’s quality and design. This case study highlights a bespoke installation in a stunning riverside property, where Lift Shop’s ElfoLift was selected to meet the architect’s vision of minimalist elegance combined with practical function.

Project Context: Riverside Residence with a Design-Driven Brief

Located on a serene riverside site, this architect-designed home required a residential lift that would blend seamlessly with the modern, minimalist aesthetic of the property. The client, an architect with a keen eye for design, sought a lift solution that was compact yet stylish, functional without overpowering the home’s clean lines. The requirement was for a three-level lift that could provide smooth, quiet movement with a footprint that respected the architectural integrity of the space.

Challenges Faced: Integrating Functionality with Architectural Purity

One of the key challenges was fitting the lift within a constrained footprint without compromising on car size or accessibility. The property’s contemporary design demanded finishes and features that would enhance rather than detract from the overall look. Additionally, meeting Australian residential lift codes for safety and performance—such as speed limits and pit and headroom dimensions—while maintaining aesthetic standards required careful planning.

The architect also prioritized natural light flow and visual transparency, which meant avoiding bulky, opaque lift doors or intrusive machinery visible within the living areas. To maintain the home’s minimalist ethos, the lift needed to be visually light yet robust.

Solution: Choosing the ElfoLift for Style and Substance

Lift Shop’s ElfoLift was the ideal choice for this project. Known for its compact and quiet operation, the ElfoLift offers flexibility with car configurations and a design that complements modern homes.

The lift was installed with an adjacent through car configuration, providing dual entry and exit points for efficient movement and space optimization. The car dimensions were tailored to 1380mm wide by 990mm deep, maximizing passenger comfort within the limited shaft size of 1540mm by 1340mm.

To meet the architect’s desire for a refined aesthetic, the ElfoLift was specified with anodised aluminium doors featuring clear glass panoramic panels that allow natural light to flood the space. Door handles were elegant Caspim designs, chosen for their discreet and modern appearance. Inside the cabin, Similinox skinplate wall panels paired with brushed stainless steel profiles created a luxurious yet subtle interior. A half-height mirror enhanced the sense of space and light, while the signature DAMA light diffuser ceiling provided soft, even illumination.

The client supplied timber flooring to maintain design consistency with the rest of the home, allowing the lift to feel like a natural extension of the living environment. Unique to Lift Shop, the skinplate roof cladding ensured that the external appearance of the lift was just as sophisticated as the interior finishes.

Technical Specifications and Performance

• Car Size: 1380mm wide x 990mm deep
• Load Capacity: 300kg
• Travel Distance: Three stops with total travel fitted to home layout
• Speed: 0.3m/s (fastest allowed for residential use)
• Pit Depth: 150mm
• Headroom: 2530mm
• Shaft Size: 1540mm x 1340mm

This combination ensured the lift met all regulatory requirements without sacrificing design or user experience.

Unique Features: Where Innovation Meets Luxury

This installation showcases several standout features:

• Panoramic glass doors: Enhancing natural light and openness.
• Exclusive Similinox skinplate panels: Offering durability with a refined aesthetic.
• Minimal pit and headroom requirements: Allowing the lift to fit into a tight architectural space.
• Custom timber flooring: Matching the home’s interior for seamless integration.
• Brushed stainless steel profiles and Caspim handles: Blending style with function.