I'm still a fan of paper, because while you can have tons of books on a DVDR, a DVDR gets damaged more easily and can age and become unreadable, whereas books are still functional/readable after loooong periods of time. I have similar feelings about digital photography, which I still rarely print out - it's really easy to lose a file, but harder to lose a photo. You tend to need special conditions (software, power, hardware, etc) to be able to use or enjoy digital media; physical media simply "is", and exists for you to use in its current state, more or less. I still love digital media and take gobs more photos than I could take traditionally, but there are elements of traditional media like paper and film that are still difficult to truly replace.

Also, should you still hate the paper media thing, you could also realize that you can consider the bookcase thing as design in the first place, and has aesthetic functionality as well. So do you see this as an impractical set of stairs full of space-wasting outmoded media, or as an interesting piece of multi-functional architecture that can be explored as well as used?

Chef

@the-anti-dead-tree-book-crowd: I've read my fair share of trade books/programming manuals/etc. on a computer or tablet, but I'll be damned if I'm going to curl up in an overstuffed leather chair with a glass of twenty year old scotch, a pipe, and a kindle instead of a pulp and ink copy of Walden. Blech. I think the digital format and the analog format in this instance can happily coexist.

Jason Fitzpatrick

My goodness, that's the coolest thing I've seen in months. If I'm ever going to live vertically as well as horizontally I'm definitely building myself something like this.

Lasse Rintakumpu

You have to keep books somewhere. I take pains to give away as many books as I buy, and to read or at least use any book that I have, and I still never have enough shelves for them all. This one is cool and innovative, and if no one has noticed, this was a staircase BEFORE it became bookshelves, and the owners did say their small flat was too small for shelves elsewhere. Kudos.

BTW, the Kindle is not available in Canada (and maybe not in Great Britain). I am told I cannot even purchase it in the States if I have a Canadian address on my credit card. So toys are not for everyone. Besides, there is always room for a good (or another) book.

Cornflower

@andy: Actually, it does. Building codes are set forth by the International Code Council which develops both the International Residential Code and International Building Code (For commercial and multi-family structures). There are also typically supplemental building codes by county, state, and country but they are usually addendums or amendments to the IRC or IBC, whichever is applicable for the particular project. Also, I can tell from looking at it that WordsWithin is correct, those stairs don't meet code. Although, anything truly aesthetically pleasing typically doesn't.

sinz

This is amazing, although probably easier to do in older homes versus newer places here in the Silicon Valley where we have wonderful home owner's associations looking over our shoulders.

Just to be on the safe side, however, I plan to hide this post from my husband. Otherwise, he will be Googling for Bay Area architects at lightening speed.

Helzerman

@Ctrl: "What's the point?" Sigh. If one needs to explain it to you, you're unlikely to get it. But in a recent article, Robert Darnton writes, "Even if the digitized image on the computer screen is accurate, it will fail to capture crucial aspects of a book. For example, size. The experience of reading a small duodecimo, designed to be held easily in one hand, differs considerably from that of reading a heavy folio propped up on a book stand....

"Books also give off special smells. According to a recent survey of French students, 43 percent consider smell to be one of the most important qualities of printed books-so important that they resist buying odorless electronic books. CaféScribe, a French on-line publisher, is trying to counteract that reaction by giving its customers a sticker that will give off a fusty, bookish smell when it is attached to their computers."

But if you're happy with your DVD, hey, go for it.

Horace_Worblehat

I always thought there were a lot of potentially great dual purpose mods in the captain's ladder.

Only one gripe-dirt and dust on my precious tree carcasses. I would definitely not consider this if the stairway had to be used often.

soundsofscience

I've seen this somewhere before...maybe on Curbly...anyway, that would kick ass to have, anywhere really, but especially in a small, compact living space. Awesome!

Runeshai

To those who are concerned about the safety of the staircase... the steps form a lapeyre stair (commonly called a monk's or captain's ladder depending on the setting you find it in.) If you've never used on before it looks awful, but in actual use they are extremely easy to use. They are set up where there is just enough stair for each step you take. It allows for a steeper stair with more sure footing, than a traditional full length staircase would allow.

Jason Fitzpatrick

Looks like this would be a great solution for homes in Amsterdam. The steepness of some of their staircases is downright scary!

I'm not sure I like how the steps have 2 different widths, and how the narrow and wide sides alternate with each step. Combined with the steepness, that's a recipe for disaster. A handrail would be nice....

GregH

I would have a cracked skull after the first week of using that thing.

[still cool, tho]

hector7g

It does seem like some of the books would be unreachable, unless you have the wingspan of an NBA center.

Would a TALL ladder served just as well? Also, it would've taken up less space then those stairs.

closeupman

*drooling* I want that in my house! I sooooo want that!

... Well, I want a full out room-sized library too, like Wit says. But those stairs are BEAU-TI-FUL!

tournevis

as a philosophy professor, i can tell you that i do need the books and i also need to better organize them. that said, books cost enough and take up so much of my budget that i have a hard time imagining paying for such fancy new shelves!

pdfetc

@WordsWithin: Luckily, USA building code doesn't apply to them :)

andy

I'm fairly sure that this is a violation of Building Code in the USA.........too steep and no railing.

WordsWithin

@reclusivemonkey: *sigh* What is it with you people? If you don't like keeping books, FINE! Why do you feel the need to judge those of us who DO like keeping books?

And for the record: the Kindle is proprietary, DRM-encumbered crap. "Future generations" won't be able to share the books locked on them with friends. Hell, we can't do that today. A real book is never locked down and is always sharable. If we pass on all our books in DRM-infested format, those "future generations" about whose opinion you're so worried will think we were complete idiots!

Bruce_A

*wants* Oh, hell - who am I fooling? I want a full-out, room-sized library. With a globe... definitely a globe. But this is a very cool idea.

The steepness does seem to present something of an issue... I wonder if it'd be almost as cool (and safer) if you just had normal stairs and then set the shelves into the walls only? Though I guess there'd still be a shelf-to-stair-height issue to be worked around...

Still... neat.

Wit

Do you guys mean "Kindle" instead of "Kimble"? As in, the e-book reading device from Amazon.com? Just wanted to clarify. :)

Torley

Books, how quaint. That whole collection could probably fit on a single DVD-R.

What's the point when you can shove everything from movies, music, documents and books on to a single compact digital device. Simple to move, easy to backup, takes practically no space, etc.

Ctrl

I don't fancy walking up and down steep steps with heavy books piled up in my arms. And how do you access those books that are away from the steps..looks dangerous to me. I'll keep my library on the ground floor thank you. There are better ways to store books than stuffing them into bookcases with planks sticking out and calling them dual use 'stairs'.

This is a really a solution looking for a problem.

Neel_Relaxation

@reclusivemonkey: Given the price of a Kimble, the DRM (which, while better than some, is worse than with physical books), and the lack of discount for buying an ebook versus a physical copy, the Kimble makes a poor library replacement tool.

I'm glad to hear you enjoy giving away your books, but I wonder how your method is any less wasteful than maintaining a (re-use and lending) library which is ultimately passed on to the future generations whose opinions you hold in such esteem.

Given that you probably do not follow the custody chain of a book to its conclusion, it seems unlikely that you can know that the utlimate fate of a book you give away. So, it may be that your method is in fact more wasteful and ends up with a higher number of books in landfills. In fact, if your books do not ultimately end up in _someone's_ library, they must end up in landfills or at best, recycled.

detoys

WOW - really cool! I'd totally do this if my house was set up like this - oh, and if i had a 2 story.

aggiejaa

The weburbanist link has, farther down, a library where the books are ordered by the colour of the spine. I found it more than a little creepy.

Jim (The Canuck One)

knew I had seen this on gawker recently:

[gizmodo.com]

read the comments for some idiocy

crashtestben

saw this ages ago, sure is awesome

Gonzie

Very cool idea! This is great for those of us who don't have room for lots of bookshelves. Er, sorry, those of us who show off how literary we are. :)

OX4

@reclusivemonkey: DETECTIVE JOHN KIMBLE?! I'M A COP, YOU IDIOT!

Sockatume

...or they could of just bought a Kimble...

I guess some people have the need to show how "Literary" they are. Pretty much every good book I have read I've passed on to someone else. How many books are made of recycled paper these days? I wonder how much of waste it will seem to future generations?

reclusivemonkey

Finally makes it's last stop on lifehacker, after being on every other (including gawker) site. This is a good idea until you try to carry laundry down that thing, good luck w/ the hospital bills.

inboulder1

You should also see this collection ...

[freshome.com]

Snapy

This would actually be a cooler as a DVD rack than a bookshelf

Dom