Up the Narrow Stairs
Architects often obsess over the need to create beautiful stairs. Stan is no exception.
When we started the project, he was awash with visions of a gorgeous exposed staircase ascending from the living room. A little thing called a budget intervened and we eventually went for a cheaper L-shaped staircase tucked behind a wall.
With good design possible on any budget, Stan still managed to engage his architecture training to create the most elegant staircase our money could make.
Kept intentionally narrow, the resulting stairs are meant to feel a tad constricted. This works to accentuate the drama of the open spaces at the top and bottom landings. So as not to feel stuffy, we gave it a double height space with lots of light flooding in from above.
This week, the stairs have been formed and we ascended them for the first time. The first photo is taken from the bottom landing.
As you reach the first landing and turn to the right, the walls extend up nearly 20 feet and frame the light flooding down from above. It feels narrow without being tight, just as intended.
Once the walls are plastered, the stairs will be finished with tzalam wood that has been burnt and coated in polyurethane. The result will end up like the 3D rendering below.
