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Stairs are among those components in a house that allow architects to truly flex their style muscles. When many pieces of a stair are standardized — both the height and length of risers and treads, railing heights, and the openness of guardrails — numerous factors allow for intriguing surfaces and construction details.

One means of designing stairs is to treat them as a constant surface, like a ribbon that wends its way from floor to ground, forming the treads and risers. Steel is a great material for this approach, since it allows to get a thin profile to accentuate the continuity of surface; it may act structurally, so other structural supports may be minimized, and the welding steel plates may give the appearance that a piece of steel is crimped to shape, although truth is quite different.

Following are some examples of steel stairs that express continuity of surface. The effects are minimal and contemporary, fitting a certain sort of interior. Yet at precisely the exact same time the effects are somewhat varied, originating from the treatment of the steel and the detailing of those other parts of the stair.

Eggleston Farkas Architects

This photo clearly expresses the thin profile that may be achieved with steel plate stairs. The only additional support is a steel tubing beneath the steps. Launched in context…

Eggleston Farkas Architects

… the black steel stairs float into the area between the kitchen and living room. The glass guardrails fortify this floating impact. A closer look …

Eggleston Farkas Architects

… shows the minimal construction of the steps: Notice the weld joints in which the L-shaped bent plates match the measure above (one can be seen right below”A36″). This is industrial in appearance, but it functions with an interior that is easy in detailing and surface.

This gorgeous stair unlocks a single step above the stone flooring, The wires on the proper suspend the steps from the ceiling and act as a guardrail. Notice the angle of the risers, a response to code that requires a 1-inch nose extension, apparently not required in the previous example.

John Lum Architecture, Inc.. AIA

Here we see that the 1-inch nosing is reached through the introduction of wood treads on top of the steel stairs. Again we see stairs that are suspended, in this case with steel rods. A closer look …

John Lum Architecture, Inc.. AIA

… shows the capping of the rods below the treads, a wonderful detail. As well, the welds are apparent in which the risers fulfill the treads. Bent plates — in the opposite direction of the first example — are evident in the curve on the bottom.

John Maniscalco Architecture

This is another example where the treads are covered with another material. No wonder; wood is a lot warmer to the touch than steel. A look from under…

John Maniscalco Architecture

… shows the stair is held away from the wall, allowing some light from above to filter down the wall and give the impression that the stair floats.

DeForest Architects

Inside this staircase the perforated steel steps seem to disappear. When seen from the appropriate angle they supply a gauzy view of what’s outside. They also allow light to filter down the staircase. Seen from a different angle…

DeForest Architects

… the stairs have more opacity. Be aware that these steps span from the good steel guardrail in the center of the stair into the adjacent wall, with no intermediate support.

This stair squeezes and spirals to a narrow area that previously provided a ladder into the attic above. The new glass wall brings lighting from above (aided by painting the steps white) and puts the new stair on screen. Seen from the side …

… it seems that the stair floats. Held from the walls on each side, the stair is attached at the top and bottom. I’m imagining the form of the steps and the welding provide it structural equilibrium.

More:
Suggestions for Finding Spaces With Level Dimensions
Framing Style: Structural Expression in Steel
Wood Slats in Design: Repetition, Scale and Light
More inspirational architectural Information

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Cape Cod houses are available across America in diverse variations to match differing climates and norms. This is because the Cape is, in its spirit, the one house style that conjures for us dreams of beachfront vacations, flower gardens, white picket fences and a simpler, more relaxed lifestyle.

Historically, the Cape Cod house started as a modest and efficient layout in response to Colonial America’s harsh climate. By keeping the layout an easy, one-story -rectangular box with a steeply pitched gable roof at the top, the Cape Cod house used an economy of materials to achieve a maximum of interior space.

As Americans enlarged Westward they took that all-American style with them, and currently there are examples of Capes all across the nation. Originally a modest house, the Cape enlarged to keep up with wealthier and larger families. The accession of roof dormers, both doghouse and shed kinds, easily additional headroom and usable distance to the second floor. When needed, a space or two would be inserted into the sides or backs of these houses. These developments would, in the best examples, be smaller than the initial principal portion of the house in order to maintain the scale and charm of a Cape.

This is an 18th century, Mid-Atlantic variant of the Cape Cod style home in Colonial Williamsburg. The simple rectangular shape of the main degree and steeply pitched roof gable that starts at the first floor ceiling are attributes of the style. So are the three doghouse dormers that include ceiling light and height into the second-floor rooms.

Unlike the New England variant with its central chimney and fireplace, this Cape has the chimney and fireplace placed at the side, a true reply to the milder Tidewater climate.

Savoie Nolan Architects

In New England, Cape Cod houses were often built quite small, only two or three bedrooms downstairs and two bedrooms upstairs. These houses would then be enlarged to the back and sides with small and massive developments to accommodate the operator’s needs. Growing over time in this way infused these houses with a sense of background, with roofs and walls and flooring telling the narrative of the inhabitants.

Savoie Nolan Architects

Here, the back of the exact same house shows the explosion of additions and changes this house has gotten. It’s like the house grew organically over the years to accommodate some pressing need of its inhabitants. Perhaps a fresh screened porch to enjoy winter. Perhaps a brand new kitchen and family room wing to accommodate a more contemporary lifestyle. And a shed dormer to make additional bedrooms upstairs.

All evidence that a Cape Cod style house is flexible, with the ability to accept and accommodate changes with time.

Frank Shirley Architects

The interior of these houses was typically a group of small, cozy and comfortable rooms. Dormers, window seats, under-roof storage, and vaulted ceilings all contribute to a Cape Cod home’s charm.

David Vandervort Architects

Cape Cod houses continue to be built, a testament to our love of the style. But while in the past the interiors were often small and dim, contemporary interpretations include open floor plans, soaring ceilings and extensive window and door locations.

In response to the hot and humid weather, the variant of the Cape Cod style for the Southeastern part of the country includes a huge porch to shade the interiors from the sun, and massive windows to capture cooling breezes.

This variant also has lifting the house a few feet above the floor to prevent the often wet environment while providing an chance for a grander entrance. And often the chimneys were put at the faces of the house to keep heat from the interior.

Milieu Design

A Cape Cod in the Upper Midwest shares the shape and details of its Colonial-era tradition but is often constructed of Chicago common brick, an inexpensive and mass-produced building material of the early- to mid-20th century.

James Hill Architect, AIA

A Bay Area Cape Cod house with doghouse dormers and side wings has much in common with the Capes of New England. Whether built all at one time or not, the Cape seems to have grown organically over time to match each operator’s needs.

Mahoney Architects & Interiors

The other Bay Area Cape with brick walkwayfront porch and dormers set into, not at the top of, the roof. It’s a mixing of the Capes located from north to south along the Eastern Seaboard.

David Vandervort Architects

This home in the Pacific Northwest is a contemporary update of the Cape Cod style. Each of the characteristics of the Cape Cod house are here while the material palette, such as the metallic roof, has been upgraded. It’s evidence that the Cape could be adapted to today’s engineering and building methods.

More: Browse guides to home styles and designs

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