Wood Staircase Design

The clean, open design by Haller Jürgen is stunning (2:10).  I helped a friend in Quebec mimic this look last winter.  He built the laminated  treads directly into the framing, and we pieced drywall around each tread.  No hidden rods, clips, or supports.  The simplicity is beautiful, from above and below, but required loads of patience – imagine having to mud and paint around each tread!  We’ll see how it wears over time.

While researching that project I came across a few open stair alternatives (pics below).  One uses a traditional stringer, mostly recessed, that presents a straight line to the drywall.  And the open stair in Niels Bendtsen’s house (by Jennifer Marshall) uses angle iron to attach wood treads to a concrete wall.  These are easier installlations but less successful aesthetically, IMO.

Lastly, I just have to remark on the ‘handrail’ on the far side of the Grosfeld Van Der Velde example (3:45).  I don’t know if it meets North American code for a graspable handrail, but it’s wonderfully minimal and adds to the sculptural oragami of the whole piece.  Thanks!

Just had to add a pic from SPG Architect’s Pawling house showing an inventive built-in stair rail.  Thanks to Contemporist …
http://www.contemporist.com/2011/08/02/pawling-residence-by-spg-architects/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+contemporist+%28CONTEMPORIST%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Wood is good, but steel is real. (Or is that saying only for rollercoasters)