I love stairs.
Most architects love stairs and dream of extravagant jobs that would fund explorations into more adventurous designs, I know I’ve go a few ideas up my sleeve given half a chance! but until then we must satisfy ourselves with tantalising pictures of other designer’s work - stair porn!
from http://asaptucson.com
Bookshop in Porto from http://www.flickr.com/photos/stukinha
There IS a website dedicated to the pursuit of the perfect stair, that delicate balance between physics, invention, art, aesthetics, safety, economy… and it IS called STAIR PORN. Check out some of the wonderful creations. Plenty of food for thought and inspiration to consider going a bit further that the off the shelf, straight flight, closed tread, 13 riser softwood with turned spindles and moulded handrail…
Carlo Scarpa, Palazzo Steri in Palermo from http://www.flickr.com/photos/seier
Thomas Heatherwick at the Longchamp store in NYC from http://www.heatherwick.com/
& Thomas Heatherwick at Paddington basin in London. OK, not a stair… a bridge.. but TH’s mind-blowing inventiveness and sculpture nonetheless.
This is what I’ve worked on today myself… a solid masonry staircase in a barn conversion – exploring the Welsh vernacular tradition of a compact half winder staircase against the gable that returns and rises up & over the hearth. I’m very interested in this layout & these ideas will be refined and integrated in my designs for a contemporary Welsh longhouse I’ve been evolving…
Solid masonry quarter winder dog leg OR traditional half winder?
detailed construction analysis for the ‘traditional’ half winder stair…
Tags: art&design, buildings