Growing families often look to new neighborhoods for homes that better suit their changing needs. They leave behind the communities they've become part of in search of more practical alternatives, sacrificing support networks and neighborhood amenities they've come to rely on. When the Italian-Canadian couple Laura and Matteo first approached P·A, they were facing this dilemma with their home in The Hague: either stay and renovate it to suit their growing family's needs, or move to a home that more practically accommodated them. As luck would have it, right then were able to purchase the apartment next to theirs to get the best of both: a redevelopment and additional living space.

P·A merged and transformed the two apartments into one with a floating steel staircase that draws a bold connection between all living activities, providing expansive interior voids, split-levels and loggia with floor to ceiling folding windows. The ground floor is freed to accommodate a generous entry, kitchen and dining space opening to the back garden, and drawing a strong interior-exterior connection.

A mezzanine off the floating staircase reveals a play area for the children, which can later be transformed into a study room as the children age. Privacy increases moving from level to level with the first floor accommodating living room and adjacent exterior dining space, as well as guest room and study. On the second floor is a spacious master bedroom and en-suite with the two children's bedrooms and shared bathroom.

This challenging job was completed in 2018, but not for long. A year later, the couple was back on the doorstep at P·A when the lower neighboring house suddenly came up for sale. The newest part will serve as a play area for the children, wellness for the parents, and guesthouse for friends and family from Canada and Italy.