A double-height space is an area where part of the upper floor is left open, allowing you to see the floor below. This can be useful when creating an open staircase, gallery, mezzanine, atrium, or a living room with a high ceiling.
In Planner 5D, you can create this effect by working with the ceiling of the lower floor and the floor of the upper level.
You can watch the video below or read step-by-step instructions to get it done in your project:
1. Create the first floor
Start by creating the first floor of your project.
Draw the rooms and walls according to your floor plan. You can also add doors, windows, and other construction elements at this stage.
Pay particular attention to the area where you want the double-height space to appear.
2. Add the second floor
Add another floor to your project.
Create the second-floor layout and make sure its exterior walls are correctly aligned with the first floor.
Planner 5D keeps the different levels within the same project, allowing you to edit each floor separately while viewing the completed building in 3D.
Tip: It is easier to create the opening when the corresponding walls on both floors follow the same dimensions.
3. Define the open area
On the second floor, determine which area should remain open to the floor below. Create a separate room for that area since we'll be working with it later on.
For example, you might want to create:
an opening above a living room;
an open staircase;
a mezzanine;
a gallery overlooking the first floor.
The boundaries of this area (that separate room) should correspond to the room on the floor below. Meaning that you will need to create a separate room on the first floor as well.
4. Hide the ceiling on the first floor
Switch to the first floor.
Select the room that should extend upward through both levels and hide its ceiling.
Removing the ceiling allows the space to visually continue toward the second floor.
This is one of the key steps in creating the double-height effect.
5. Hide the floor on the second level
Now switch to the second floor.
Select the corresponding room and hide its floor.
Once both elements are hidden, the first and second levels will visually connect, creating an opening between them.
Think of it this way:
First floor → ceiling hidden
Second floor → floor hidden
Together, these create the vertical opening.
6. Remove unnecessary walls
Depending on your layout, some walls around the opening may still appear.
Select any wall that should not be visible and hide it.
For example, if the upper floor is designed as a gallery overlooking the room below, you may want to remove the walls facing the opening.
Keep structural walls that should remain part of the design.
7. Add railings around the opening
Where the second floor overlooks the space below, add railings along the exposed edges.
Position each railing so it follows the outline of the opening.
If necessary, adjust its position or elevation so that it sits directly on the second-floor surface.
For railings placed directly on the floor, the elevation/levitation should normally be set to 0.
8. Add the staircase
If the two levels need to be connected, select an appropriate staircase from the catalog and place it on the first floor.
Position it inside the staircase room and make sure the top of the staircase reaches the second-floor level.
When creating a dedicated staircase opening, the same principle applies:
On the first floor: hide the ceiling above the staircase.
On the second floor: hide the floor where the staircase arrives.
If walls are not required around the staircase opening, you can hide them and use railings instead.
9. Check the staircase height
Switch to 3D mode and inspect the connection between the staircase and the second floor.
If the staircase finishes above or below the upper-floor surface, select it and adjust its height or elevation until the top step sits correctly against the second floor.
Also check that:
the opening is large enough for the staircase;
no ceiling intersects the staircase;
no second-floor slab covers the opening;
railings follow the exposed edges correctly.
10. Check the finished space in 3D
Finally, explore the project in 3D.
You should now have an open vertical space connecting both levels.
From the first floor, you should be able to look upward into the second-floor area. From the second floor, you should be able to look down into the room below.
If part of the opening is still covered, return to the relevant floor and check whether the ceiling or floor is still enabled for that area.
Important
The floor controls and exact location of individual settings can differ slightly between Planner 5D platforms.