Artful Stairs: Pairing in Steel
July 4, 2018
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
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