Besides being necessary, staircases can also be beautiful. In these examples, their designers have had the audacity and grace to transform this essential element of multi-story houses into a key feature of interior design and architecture.
Thomas De Bruyne/ Photofoyer.
A sculptural concrete staircase
Interior design and architecture should reflect the lives of their inhabitants, telling small stories that, when combined, reveal the origins, backgrounds, travels, and specific tastes of the people who will make their home there. When it comes to a couple, as in this case, with different life experiences and needs, the interiors must necessarily tell two "stories," and it has been the task of Belgian designer Nathalie Deboel to balance them, ensuring that neither one overpowers the other, but that both speak for themselves.
His interest in nature is expressed through the raw, honest materials of the architectural elements, while her refinement is reflected in the sophisticated materials and subtle shades of white in the interior. The house is situated on a rather complex site, with the entrance at a lower level and the living spaces higher up, which prompted Nathalie Deboel to create a home based on the concept of a journey. The wide, custom-made concrete staircase is the starting point of a "promenade," a sculptural element that leads us from the front door to a series of destinations, each with its own distinct character, reflecting the interests of the inhabitants.
Rafa Gamo.
This concrete staircase, open to the landscape, is quite an experience
In Mexico's Zihuatanejo Bay, perched on rocks battered by the Pacific and near a small lighthouse, Zozaya Arquitectos has embedded an architectural masterpiece with a concrete structure. An infinity pool overlooking the cliff, open areas integrated into the landscape, local materials that define and harmonize color and texture, and the savoir-faire of the region's artisans define this vacation home. The staircases are designed to enjoy the outdoors. They connect the common areas with the private quarters along exposed concrete walls, allowing one to see the movement of the treetops and feel the outdoors while remaining sheltered. The staircases culminate in a pool enclosed by concrete walls that frame the infinite continuity with the Pacific
Boysplaynice.
This impressive steel staircase hides a library
“The main idea is to blur the boundaries of the apartment and emotionally draw the city in,” says Petr Janda , the architect behind this Prague residence, which features a glass facade that seamlessly connects its interior with the city. The house occupies two rooftop levels on a corner building, and thanks to its elevated position above all the surrounding buildings, it offers unparalleled panoramic views of the Czech capital. “The leitmotif of the project was the free and continuous flow of the interior through the space and its endless optical extension out into the surrounding city,” explains the architect, who has led his own studio since 2008. A suspended steel staircase, sculpturally inserted into an elliptical cut in the ceiling, creates the dominant element of the two-story living space. Furthermore, the staircase conceals a library.
Maria Mira.
Floating stairs that go unnoticed
In Valencia, on the top floor of a historic 1930s building, the Boor architecture team has visually expanded this house, which was previously dark and compartmentalized with interior rooms. Originally, the building had a false ceiling that concealed a double-height space. When demolition work began, an entire structure of solid brick pillars and load-bearing walls, along with wooden beams originally from New Orleans (USA), was uncovered. To take advantage of this double-height space, they designed these floating stairs, which are a true decorative feature
Mas-aqui Study.
As charming as it is practical, this staircase that doesn't look like one is truly unique
The starting point for this project by the Mas-aqui studio, comprised of Maasaki Higashi and Esther Mir, was nothing but difficulties: a 1924 building in terrible condition, on a sloping plot—albeit with a west-facing orientation and views of Tibidabo—with poorly lit and ventilated interiors and an abandoned basement accessible only from the outside. The architects turned this string of complications on its head and, through a complete renovation and the use of handcrafted materials in natural tones, managed to articulate the space, giving it spaciousness, abundant natural light, and functionality. The interior basement was transformed into a bright en-suite bedroom with access to a patio. A large open space connects the kitchen, the main entrance, and the storage area, dominated by a concrete fireplace that also serves as a step to the living area. A practical and aesthetically pleasing solution that functions as a staircase without appearing to be one.
Studio Flusser.
A colorful staircase that interacts in pastel tones with the rest of the house
On the outskirts of Prague, vestiges of a historicist past still remain. The team at No Architects was asked to bring one of these houses into the 21st century. Their intervention included insulating it, installing heat pumps and underfloor heating, and stabilizing the exterior humidity. In this project, the architects painted over the asymmetrical areas, cleaned the house, and repainted it. The staircases are thus integrated into an interior design where the color palette transforms the spaces into welcoming and dynamic environments.
