Can you cut a new opening between floors in Barcelona
A new opening in the floor is possible if both flats are yours or it is a single duplex, but the structural engineer decides, and in a building with a community the owners' meeting too. The floor carries load and can only be opened for a staircase with trimmer beams around it.
What drives the decision. The type of floor: in old Barcelona buildings it is timber or steel joists with vaults (volta catalana), in newer ones a reinforced concrete slab. The joist direction: opening parallel to the joists is cheaper, across them means redirecting the load. The opening size: a staircase needs roughly 1.0 by 3.0 m or more. The condition of the floor itself: deflection and cracks show up in the survey.
If the floor is shared between two owners it is a common or party element, and without the consent of the neighbour above or below and of the community, the opening is not cut. The work needs a technical project signed by an architect and a major works licence.
Where to put the staircase in a duplex
The stair goes where it takes the least light and living area and where the floor can be opened. Most often that is a central zone next to a wall or the services core.
The options. A straight flight along a wall is the narrowest but long. An L-shape or one with a landing is more compact and safer day to day. A spiral takes little space but is awkward for everyday use and for moving furniture. A sculptural stair in the middle of the living room works when it is designed together with the interior, in stone, timber or steel with glass.
Comfortable geometry: a riser of about 17 to 18 cm, a tread of about 27 to 28 cm, a width of at least 90 cm and better 100 to 120. A handrail on both sides, or at least one. Details and safety are covered in our guide to the interior staircase in a duplex.
Protecting the structure and controlling noise between levels
Noise between floors of one home is not regulated as strictly as noise between separate dwellings, but in a premium interior it still gets solved. Footsteps on the stair and a timber floor are heard in the bedroom below.
What works. A floating floor on a resilient layer under the screed. An acoustic suspended ceiling hung on isolators with mineral wool. A stair with a soft bearing on the wall and damping pads between treads and structure. Timber treads on resilient supports instead of rigid fixing. A closed stairwell with a door if zones and sound need to be separated.
Noise requirements between different owners are set by DB-HR of the Technical Building Code (CTE). Inside one home it serves as a reference. When the floor is opened, the acoustic insulation of the adjoining level must be kept: losing it around the cut section is easier than it looks. More on sound at home is in our guide to acoustic insulation.
How to split the climate by floor
Climate in a duplex is split by floor because warm air rises: the top overheats in summer and the floor below feels cold in winter. A single system for two storeys almost always leaves someone unhappy.
Solutions that work. Separate underfloor heating circuits on each floor with their own thermostats. Fan coils or ducted air conditioning with room zones. An air-to-water heat pump with a zoned system and control by floor and by room. The stair opening acts as a chimney: it is sometimes closed with a glass screen or a door so air does not circulate.
These decisions are made at design stage: running pipes and ducts through the floor and the suspended ceiling takes space. Ventilation is checked too: closed zones need fresh air supply, especially bedrooms and bathrooms.
Do you need a lift inside the home, and what about fire rules
A home lift is not mandatory, but with three levels or more, with older family members or simply for convenience it is increasingly installed. It needs a shaft, a pit and machinery space, all provided for in the design from the start.
What to know. The shaft is typically about 1.2 by 1.4 m or more, and headroom is needed above the car; the pit often means lowering the slab. Lift noise and vibration must be isolated from bedrooms. Lifts in private homes have technical requirements and periodic inspections. An open shaft through the floor breaks fire resistance, so the shaft is built with fire-resistant walls and doors.
Fire requirements inside a single home are lighter than in the building's common areas, but when the floor is opened, the structure's fire resistance and separation from neighbours are maintained. The architect decides under CTE DB-SI. If the stair opens onto a shared landing, that becomes a matter for the community.
How we run such projects
A duplex or triplex starts with a structural survey and approvals, and the beautiful stair and interior come after. Without that, the sketch can run into the floor structure or the owners' meeting.
BCN YARD runs these projects in Russian and Spanish, with one person responsible. We visit, measure and price in stages. We work with our own crew and vetted subcontractors, and payment follows the contract and the stages. We reply to enquiries within an hour. Premium renovations start from 3,000 EUR/m2 excluding VAT at the Luxury level; the exact price comes in the estimate after the visit.
In the Urgel flat in Eixample, 109.80 m2, we built an open kitchen, herringbone parquet, slatted timber panels and a marble wall: solutions like these across two levels call for the same attention to detail.
Frequently asked questions
Can a new opening be made between floors?
Yes, if the structural engineer approves and the licence is granted. The opening is cut with trimmer beams, and if the floor is shared with another home the neighbour's and the community's consent are needed. A technical project from the architect is required.
Where is the best place for a duplex staircase?
Where it takes the least light and area: next to a wall or services core. A straight flight is narrow but long; one with a landing is more compact. A comfortable riser is 17 to 18 cm and tread 27 to 28 cm.
How can I split climate control by floor in a home?
Separate underfloor heating circuits and fan coil or duct zones on each floor, controlled by thermostats per level. The stair opening acts as a chimney, so it is sometimes closed with glass or a door. A closed stairwell with a door also helps with noise and smells between floors.
Is a lift needed in a two- or three-level home?
It is not mandatory, but with three levels or older family members it is increasingly installed. A shaft, pit and headroom above the car must be planned in the design. The shaft is built with fire-resistant walls and noise is isolated from bedrooms.