At Aura Building and Design Concepts, we’re passionate about crafting beautiful, custom-designed furniture that fits your lifestyle and your space. But early in our journey, we ran headfirst into a challenge that many designers and builders often overlook: how do you get a stunning, handcrafted piece of furniture into an apartment eleven storeys high?
A Lesson in Logistics
The first time we faced this situation, we learned the hard way. A gorgeous, custom-built unit, designed with precision and built with pride, stood ready for delivery. It wasn’t until we tried getting it into the building that we realised: it wouldn’t fit in the elevator. And manoeuvring it up 11 flights of stairs? Let’s just say it’s a mistake you only make once.
From that moment on, we made it our mission not only to design for form and function, but also for fit.
Thinking Around Corners – Literally
If you’ve ever tried to move a wardrobe through a tight hallway, then around a corner and through a standard bedroom door, you know that it’s not as simple as measuring the piece; it’s about understanding the space it has to travel through.
That’s why one of our biggest learning curves was mastering how to visualise, plan, and execute every project with logistics in mind. From hallway widths to ceiling heights to tight elevator cabins, we now evaluate every angle long before we bring any tools or timber on site.
Building Smart: From Workshop to High-Rise
Our current process is a fine-tuned system:
- 1. Design with access in mind: We ensure that each piece we create can be broken down into manageable components without compromising its design integrity or strength.
- 2. Test assembly in our workshop: Every piece is built fully in-house first. We assemble the entire unit to check that everything fits together seamlessly and matches our exacting quality standards.
- 3. Flat-pack for transport: Once we’re satisfied, we disassemble the piece, carefully package each component, and prepare it for site delivery.
- 4. On-site assembly: On arrival, we take it up, yes, in the elevator, and reassemble it right there in your apartment, just as we did in the workshop.
It may sound like extra work, but it’s a critical part of our commitment to quality and practicality. As the saying goes: measure twice, cut once. And in our case, sometimes it’s measure ten times and plan the route before we even make a single cut.
No Space Too High
The truth is, modern living increasingly means living in vertical spaces. High-rise apartments and compact spaces are part of the future of urban design. But that doesn’t mean you have to compromise on custom-built beauty. Whether you’re eleven floors up or at the penthouse level, we’ll get your dream pieces into place – piece by piece if needed, but always coming together as one complete, beautiful product.
At Aura, we don’t just design for the now; we design with experience, foresight, and care. So, if you live in the sky, rest assured: we’ll get your furniture there, flawlessly.
Based in Somerset West, proudly serving the Western Cape. Want to get started? Contact us at info@aurabdc.co.za or visit www.auraconcepts.co.za to explore our latest projects or book a consultation.
