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FlexStep

When space is minimal – but the need is essential

In a classic townhouse property in Chelsea, London, a challenge arose that many older buildings share: separate access to a basement flat via a narrow staircase leading down to a very small landing in front of the main entrance door. A classic older townhouse in a city like London.

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Too little space for a wheelchair lift?

The entrance area is characterised by limited space, level differences, and existing architectural constraints that cannot be significantly altered

There is neither space for a ramp nor for installing a traditional lifting platform next to the staircase. The area is simply too narrow – both in width and in length.

When one of the residents’ needs changed significantly due to illness, there was an urgent need for an accessibility solution for a wheelchair user to access the basement flat in everyday life. The alternative was to move out of the home.

That became the turning point.

A solution that fits in – where nothing else can

The choice fell on a FlexStep – a 2-in-1 solution that combines a staircase and a lift in one installation.

This type of solution is specifically developed for situations where space is limited and where separate solutions are not feasible.

In this project, the FlexStep was installed directly into the existing flight of stairs leading down to the basement entrance. In its everyday function, the solution appears as a compact staircase that fits naturally into its surroundings. When needed, the staircase transforms into a stable lifting platform, ensuring safe and comfortable access for the wheelchair user in daily life.

The placement of the installation – tightly positioned between wall, handrail and entrance – clearly highlights the key strength of the FlexStep: its ability to operate where other solutions must give up.

Preserves the home – and everyday life

For the resident, the solution meant something far more important than mere functionality.

  • It meant that the home could be preserved.
  • That everyday life could continue in familiar surroundings.
  • That a physical barrier did not become decisive for the life situation.
“They didn’t want to move – and with the FlexStep, they didn’t have to.”

Accessibility without compromise

The customer case in Chelsea is a strong example of how accessibility does not necessarily require major interventions or compromises in the architecture.

On the contrary, it shows how a well-considered solution can:

  • make use of even very limited space
  • be integrated into existing buildings
  • create real value for the user

FlexStep is specifically developed to solve this type of challenge – where every centimetre counts, and where function and aesthetics must go hand in hand.

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FlexStep

The FlexStep stairlift is designed to function both as an ordinary staircase and as a wheelchair lift. Developed and manufactured by Liftup, the FlexStep is flexible and equally useful for pedestrians and wheelchair users alike. FlexStep is an innovative 2-in-1 solution and saves space compared to installing both a flight of stairs and a separate lift.

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