Case Study: A Stannah platform lift lights up a new designer home in Devon
Peter and Margaret Watling couldn’t be happier with the Stannah Midilift SL platform lift installed in their brand-new designer home in the Devon village of Bishopsteignton.
The house has been designed and built to their exact requirements—with the platform lift a hedge-betting essential that will give freedom of movement should the stairs become non-negotiable.
It’s called future-proofing and it’s catching on big time with enterprising homeowners and developers alike.
Located in the spacious entrance hallway, the access lift unites two floors in this reverse-living house—the ground-floor bedrooms and bathroom and the first-floor living area, with magnificent views across the Teign Estuary.
“When designing our contemporary, reverse-level, self-build house we knew that this would be our forever home and therefore we should future-proof ourselves for later life and any mobility issues this may bring.”
About the house
“The specification for the house included building to beyond passive house standards and includes a European-supplied (from Austria), highly insulated house shell, triple glazing throughout, an intelligent rainwater harvesting system, full solar photovoltaic panels on the roof with an energy-saving intelligent control system and a Mechanical Heat Recovery Unit ensuring the house is always supplied with clean, fresh air and that waste heat is efficiently recovered.”
About the lift
The whole home is flooded with light and this is boosted by the Midilift which is fully glazed on all sides. Supplied in its own structure, it takes advantage of every source of natural light, including that from its own skylight.
“Natural light was an important consideration and glazed roof lights were installed over the top-floor living accommodation, one directly over the lift shaft.
“Stannah's engineering department was up to the challenge of aligning the shaft to the roof light and we worked closely with them to ensure that on final fitting the floor heights would perfectly match the lift platform height and that the lift would fit seamlessly into the opening.”
A simple, cost-effective lift solution
- Hydraulic drive system: energy efficient, accurate levelling, easy to maintain
- Carries up to 400kg: five people or a wheelchair user and companion
- Easy to use: large, illuminated constant-pressure buttons
- Easy to install: Supplied in its own structure—quick and easy to install as there’s no need for a built shaft
- Durable and stylish: finished in dark grey vinyl skin plate— durable and easy to clean
- Simple, safe and economical: fewer moving parts than mechanical and electrical systems
Why Stannah?
“Having designed a contemporary house we needed a lift which would complement our home and after looking at several lift companies we felt confident with Stannah as our choice of supplier their flexibility in designing exactly what we wanted sealed our decision.
“My working life has been spent in Engineering and the build quality and design of a Stannah domestic lift influenced our choice of supplier. The glazing on all four sides shows off some excellent detailed electrical and engineering assembly and skills.
“Stannah’s was not the lowest price quotation but they certainly delivered exceptional value for money. The team gave us impeccable advice during the eighteen-month build period and made several visits to ensure the required accuracy was achieved. And the installation team was first class, too, always on time and very efficient—we could not have asked for more!”
A pet-friendly people mover
“The home lift is in the main entrance hallway and gives a stunning impression to visitors who have all been very complimentary. We all enjoy using it and have surprised ourselves by how much we use it and how convenient it is, particularly when bringing in heavy shopping or items that need to be taken to the first floor. At the moment it really is a man-sized dumbwaiter!
Whilst the Watlings and their guests have nothing but praise for the Stannah platform lift, it seems that their dog, Flo, has her reservations.
“Our dog Flo, however, is not so taken with it and uses the stairs to follow us up or down, keeping perfectly level with the lift platform and sporting a distinctly curious expression. Perhaps she’ll warm to it as she gets older…”
The Watlings (and maybe Flo)—delighted to have future-proofed their dream designer home with a Stannah Midilift platform lift.
As with all Stannah lift products, the Midilift SL vertical platform lift is covered by Stannah’s comprehensive lift service plan. This includes four service visits in the first year, with continued lift maintenance by the South West England and South Wales branch of Stannah Lift Services. This branch is part of a nationwide network providing comprehensive lift servicing and support.
Stannah Midilifts feature in new residential developments and retrofit private homes throughout the UK, for example:
A new-build private home in Dorset
Imperial Green, Kent: a high-specification development of 75, two-, three- and four-bedroom townhouses and apartments
Tunbridge Wells: a detached, 2-storey, 5-bedroom designer home
Winchester: a detached, 2-storey family home adapted for the needs of a disabled child
The Stannah Midilift hydraulic-range is manufactured in the UK and is suitable for all market sectors, from education and retail to offices, public buildings and private homes. All models add value and deliver smooth, efficient service for years.
Midilifts are predominantly used as wheelchair or disabled lifts and are also ideal for public and commercial buildings. There is a half-height gate option and an external lift model. For full information on the Midilift range: download the brochure.