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    Eight closed staircases in tactile materials and sculptural shapes

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    For our latest lookbook, we’ve gathered eight stylish closed staircases, ranging from a winding wooden spiral staircase to a light-filled “stairway to heaven”.

    Closed staircases – stairs that have been framed so that the threads and risers aren’t visible from the side – have become a popular search term on Dezeen’s Pinterest board.
    While they create heavier volumes in a room, when done well closed staircases can add a monumental, almost sculptural feel to an interior.
    In the eight examples below, architects and interior designers used the style in different creative ways to turn staircases into statement pieces made from materials including steel, patterned wood and micro cement.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring “bookshelf-wealth” interiors, living spaces with metal furniture and interiors punctuated by structural columns.

    Photo by Alex BaxterBarn at the Ahof, the Netherlands, by Julia van Beuningen
    Architectural designer Julia van Beuningen created a spiral staircase made from plywood for this barn conversion in the Netherlands. The beautifully patterned staircase sits at the heart of the floorplan and contrasts against the barn’s rough-hewn wooden beams and pillars.
    “It’s something you either love or hate, but it’s definitely a statement,” Van Beuningen told Dezeen.
    Find out more about Barn at the Ahof ›
    Photo by Gokul Rao KadamClermont House, India, by FADD Studio
    This apartment inside a high-rise development in Bangalore comprises two flats that were fused, with an expressive closed staircase connecting them.
    “It has a sculptural feel with the addition of multiple curves, carved into each riser’s deep red marble,” the studio said of the staircase, which was covered in white micro cement that has a soft sheen finish.
    Find out more about Clermont House ›
    Photo is by Noortje KnulstMatryoshka House, the Netherlands, by Shift Architecture Urbanism
    A steel-clad volume encases an electric-blue staircase and runs along the side of the living space in this Dutch house that has been converted into two apartments.
    The volume conceals a toilet, storage space and kitchen equipment, creating a clean and simple kitchen interior to which the colour adds a playful feel.
    Find out more about Matryoshka House ›
    Photo is by Pierce ScourfieldParis apartment, France, by Johanna Amatoury
    Gently curved plaster forms in soft white hues define this Parisian apartment, including the staircase in its entryway.
    Interior designer Johanna Amatoury aimed to create a holiday-house feel in the home, which was designed as an homage to the architectural vernacular of Greek islands.
    Find out more about the Paris apartment ›
    Photo by The IngallsAustin Proper Hotel, USA, by Kelly Wearstler
    Interior designer Kelly Wearstler gave the Austin Proper Hotel in Texas her signature bohemian touch, as seen on the closed staircase she created as an eye-catching centrepiece.
    Wearstler chose to work with white oak wood to create the striking staircase, which has a ziggurat design that lets it function as a display case for a collection of glazed earthenware pots and vases.
    Find out more about the Austin Proper Hotel ›
    Photo by Brotherton LockNithurst Farm, UK, by Adam Richards
    Described as a “stairway to heaven”, British architect Adam Richards created this staircase based on one in the film A Matter of Life and Death, in which a pilot gets a second chance at life after a crash.
    It ends by facing a full-height window, creating a striking light effect that makes the staircase live up to its name.
    Find out more about Nithurst Farm ›
    Photo courtesy of Rubén Dario Kleimeer and Lagado ArchitectsWorkhome-Playhome, The Netherlands, by Lagado Architects
    This townhouse in Rotterdam was revamped by its owners, the founders of studio Lagado Architects, to create more versatile living spaces.
    Called Workhome-Playhome, the home has a closed staircase in an eye-catching baby-blue colour that matches other touches of colour in the house, including its bright green kitchen chairs.
    Find out more about Workhome-Playhome ›

    Tommy Rand House, Denmark, by Tommy Rand
    Perhaps the most monumental of the staircases in this roundup, the spiral staircase designed by architect Tommy Rand for his own house in Denmark was constructed from 630 pieces of CNC-cut plywood.
    “It is very beautiful from all angles,” said Rand. “It is like a snail house, which opens up more and more as you go up to the first floor.”
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring “bookshelf-wealth” interiors, living spaces with metal furniture and interiors punctuated by structural columns.

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      Dezeen’s top 10 staircases of 2023

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      Continuing our 2023 review, we have selected 10 striking staircases published on Dezeen this year, from prefabricated plywood steps at a Cornish home to a colourful set for an opera in a Swiss theatre.

      Architects and designers have continued to find clever solutions to travelling on foot from one storey to another in 2023 by creating staircases that are both beautiful and functional.
      Ranging from the spectacular to the space-saving, here are Dezeen’s top 10 staircases of 2023:
      Photo by Purnesh Dev NikhanjRibbon House, India, by Studio Ardete
      An angular balustrade with tilting black rails twists around sweeping concrete steps to form the staircase at Ribbon House, a home in Punjab with an equally sculptural exterior.

      Architecture office Studio Ardete placed open living spaces next to the staircase on each floor to create lobby-like communal areas on the house’s different levels.
      Find out more about Ribbon House ›
      Photo by Lorenzo ZandriHouse by the Sea, UK, by Of Architecture
      House by the Sea is the home of a surfer-and-artist couple in Newquay, Cornwall, that was designed to be “simple, robust and utilitarian”.
      For the interior, London studio Of Architecture inserted prefabricated plywood steps leading to a cosy mezzanine level tucked beneath the dwelling’s sloping roof.
      Find out more about House by the Sea ›
      Photo by Schnepp RenouHaus 1, Germany, by MVRDV and Hirschmüller Schindele Architekten
      A bright yellow, zigzagging staircase juts out from the facade of the Haus 1 building in Berlin, creating the appearance of a striking crane and providing a beacon for approaching visitors.
      Dutch studio MVRDV worked with local studio Hirschmüller Schindele Architekten to design Haus 1, which forms part of the city’s Atelier Gardens redevelopment.
      Find out more about Haus 1 ›
      Photo by Pezo von EllrichshausenLuna House, Chile, by Mauricio Pezo and Sofia von Ellrichshausen
      Brutalist-style spiral staircases connect the storeys of Luna House, an expansive geometric complex in Chile comprised of 12 individual buildings.
      Chilean studio Pezo von Ellrichshausen designed the stairs and the majority of the structure in reinforced concrete, which is highly textured thanks to imprints left behind by wooden formwork.
      Find out more about Luna House ›
      Photo by Paolo Abate.Rigoletto set design, Switzerland, by Pierre Yovanovitch
      French interior designer Pierre Yovanovitch embedded moving, curved walls within an undulating staircase that stretched the full width of the stage for a production of Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Rigoletto at Theatre Basel.
      Bathed in coloured light, the flexible walls created a neutral set for the performers to balance the play’s complex plot, according to the designer.
      Find out more about this staircase ›
      Photo by James Leng (also top)Hairpin House, USA, by Studio J Jih and Figure
      This Boston house was renovated to revolve around a sculptural “hairpin” staircase informed by the twists and turns of mountain roads.
      Designed by American firms Studio J Jih and Figure, the white oak stairs were created to increase the home’s useable floor area by 20 per cent.
      Find out more about Hairpin House ›
      Photo by Alex Shoots BuildingsHouse in Pernek, Slovakia, by Ksa Studený
      This home in the village of Pernek, Slovakia, was designed in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid, mirroring its longitudinal profile.
      Architecture studio Ksa Studený positioned a chunky white staircase over a slanted slab of concrete to divide the interior space.
      Find out more about this house ›
      Photo by Jim StephensonThe Arbor House, Scotland, by Brown & Brown
      A spiral staircase made from birch plywood winds into the dining area at The Arbor House by Brown & Brown, located in a conservation area in Aberdeen.
      The studio assembled the stairs over three weeks, with timber treads individually cut and hand-layered to form a smooth curve.
      Find out more about The Arbor House ›
      Photo by Gokul Rao KadamSNN Clermont residential tower, India, by FADD Studio
      Indian practice FADD Studio renovated two apartments within the SNN Clermont residential tower in Bangalore to create a fused multi-generational home.
      The studio took cues from the curves of caterpillars when creating a swooping staircase, which connects the two flats and features deep red marble risers.
      Find out more about these apartments ›
      Photo courtesy of The Conran ShopThe Conran Shop, Japan, by Keiji Ashizawa 
      Japanese designer Keiji Ashizawa created interiors for The Conran Shop in Tokyo to reflect the inside of someone’s home.
      The store’s mezzanine floor is accessible by a minimalist geometric staircase featuring a handrail made from black paper cords.
      Find out more about The Conran Shop ›

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      Eight sculptural wooden staircases that bring warmth to the home

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      Our latest lookbook features eight sculptural staircases made of wood that make a statement and bring warmth to apartments from Hong Kong to Boston.

      Often the organizing principle in the planning of any space, a staircase can either blend in or stand out.
      The eight gathered in this lookbook lean into the latter – showcasing both the structural abilities of wood like larch, birch and plywood and demonstrating how circulation need not be boring.
      From a completely pre-fabricated staircase in a Boston apartment to a plywood spiral staircase twisting from the loft of a renovated barn in the Netherlands, these sculptural stairs create a visually striking centrepiece, as well as a fun way to traverse a house.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring rustic Italian interiors, autumnal bedrooms and show-stealing dining room tables.

      Photo by James LengHairpin House, USA, Studio J Jih and Figure
      Located in Boston’s South End neighbourhood, this historic townhouse renovation sees a four-storey interior plan wrapped around a white oak staircase that spirals around a 40-foot-high (12-metre-high) atrium.
      “Aptly named Hairpin House, the project takes the tight, unpredictable, and ultimately poetic switchback turns of a mountain road as inspiration for the overall renovation – and in particular a new unravelling central stair,” said the design team.
      Find out more about Hairpin House ›
      Photo by Jonathan LeijonhufvudCape Drive Residence, Hong Kong, Linehouse
      Just a short walk from the beaches of Hong Kong’s south side, this three-storey house channels “coastal essence” through natural materials and light, Chinese studio Linehouse told Dezeen.
      An “easy flow” was also imbued into the design, created in part by a timber stairwell that’s tucked to the side and – save for a white metallic screen – is open to the living spaces.
      Find out more about Cape Drive Residence ›
      Photo by Frank FrancesMass Timber House, USA, Schiller Projects
      According to design studio Schiller Projects, this renovated carriage home in Brooklyn is the borough’s first single-family residence that uses mass timber construction.
      Besides repurposed wooden elements like timber panels and floorboards used for the project, the house features a pre-fabricated glue-laminated timber (glulam) staircase that can be completely disassembled.
      Find out more about Mass Timber House ›
      Photo by Alex BaxterBarn at the Ahof, the Netherlands, Julia van Beuningen
      Architectural designer Julia Van Beuningen converted this Gelderland barn into a holiday home complete with a spiral staircase made out of plywood at the heart of the floor plan, which contrasts the more rustic materials of the surrounding building.
      “This is very different and very unusual in a barn like this,” said Van Beuningen. “It’s something you either love or hate, but it’s definitely a statement.”
      Find out more about Barn at the Ahof ›
      Photo by Eric PetschekCarroll Gardens Townhouse, USA, Starling Architecture and Emily Lindberg Design
      New York studios Starling Architecture and Emily Lindberg Design merged a two-family dwelling into one for the owner’s growing family.
      White oak running throughout the two units unifies the project, which includes the addition of a new wooden staircase covered by a slated screen made of the same material.
      Find out more about Carroll Gardens Townhouse ›
      Photo by Jim StephensonStoke Newington loft, UK, Whittaker Parsons
      Architecture firm Whittaker Parsons was tasked with adding a loft to a house in Stoke Newington, London, as well as updating spaces throughout the lower floors.
      With efficiency and quality in mind, the studio used prefabricated structural insulated panels (SIP) to construct the new loft. The space is accessed by a spiral staircase made of larch that’s topped with a skylight.
      Find out more about Stoke Newington loft ›
      Photo is by Tim CrokerDragon Flat, UK, Tsuruta Architects
      A floating timber staircase features in this flat in London, which is outfitted with walls CNC-etched with images of peonies, dragons, bats and the Thames.
      The central staircase allows light to filter into the kitchen and living room below, while solid timber bricks act as landings on either side.
      Find out more about Dragon Flat ›
      Photo by Rory GardinerElsternwick penthouse, Australia, Office Alex Nicholls
      The timber staircases in this Melbourne house were integrated into its “library spine” an organizing corridor that contains the family’s collection of books, art and artefacts.
      “From a practical standpoint, it allowed everything to be easily accessible and displayed but it also helps to draw people through the apartment and celebrate the two staircases to the roof garden at either end,” said Office Alex Nicholls founder Alex Nicholls.
      Find out more about Elsternwick penthouse ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring rustic Italian interiors, autumnal bedrooms and show-stealing dining room tables.

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      Linehouse adds tactile textures and warm tones to coastal home in Hong Kong

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      Chinese studio Linehouse has designed the interiors of Cape Drive Residence in Hong Kong to respond to the surrounding coastal views.

      Located on the south side of Hong Kong Island, the three-floor home is a short walk from the beaches of Stanley and Chung Hom Kok and has panoramic ocean views to the east and west from its elevated position.
      “The design harnesses a costal essence through materiality, light and an easy flow, seamlessly connecting the interior and exterior spaces,” Linehouse explained.
      The home is located on the south side of Hong Kong Island with expansive ocean viewsAn open living area on the ground floor connects to the kitchen and dining space while an internal courtyard was inserted between theses areas and includes a centralised tree and surrounding seating.
      The living area extends to the main terrace with full-height windows that frame the expansive ocean views.

      Clad in stone, the terrace forms a sunken seating area with pockets of greenery surrounding it, which shelters the sea wind.
      A timber staircase framed by a shuttered screen connects all three floorsWhite timber louvers were used as a continuous ceiling plane in the living area which also extends to the terrace as a canopy.
      “The design of the home reflects the relaxed and laidback lifestyle of a beach setting,” said the studio. “Warm tones, tactile surfaces and textures, a clean and simple material palette, and a seamless flow between inside and out.”
      An outdoor terrace was clad in stone with a sunken seating area”Cape Drive Residence offers the fitting backdrop for coastal living,” it continued.
      A warm oak timber staircase was punctuated by a shuttered screen that runs vertically through all levels of the home while arranging more private areas such as bathing and dressing.

      Linehouse designs Hong Kong guesthouse to evoke the comfort of home

      The whitewashed timber material of the screen echoes the coastal location and reflects light through the spaces.
      A white metal rod screen can be slide open at each level, offering transparency and light through different spaces.
      An internal courtyard was inserted between the dining and kitchen areaBedrooms, a second living area and a study were placed on the upper two levels, all with coastal views.
      The same whitewashed timber material used on the shuttered screen was adopted to form storage, seating and shelving in these private spaces, providing a textural contrast to the hand-raked plaster walls.
      The bathrooms add a fresh moment of colour into the space, using patterned tiles handmade in Portugal by Elisa Passino.
      Shelving and storage spaces were created from whitewashed timber materialLinehouse was founded by Alex Mok and Briar Hickling in 2013 and the duo went on to win emerging interior designer of the year at the 2019 Dezeen Awards.
      The studio has recently completed a guesthouse in Hong Kong that evokes the comfort of home and a Mediterranean restaurant in Shanghai with natural, tactile materials.
      The photography is by Jonathan Leijonhufvud.
      Project credits:
      Design: LinehouseDesign principal: Briar HicklingDesign team: Ricki-Lee Van Het Wout, Cindy Pooh

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      Figure and Studio J Jih perform “stair gymnastics” inside Boston rowhouse

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      American firms Studio J Jih and Figure have overhauled a historic house in Boston, which now revolves around a sculptural “hairpin” staircase influenced by the twists and turns of mountain roads.

      Locally based Studio J Jih and San Francisco studio Figure collaborated on the transformation of the four-storey rowhouse in the city’s South End.
      Studio J Jih and Figure have renovated Hairpin HouseThe owner, a Boston native, desired more useable space in the 15-foot-wide (4.6-metre) home, which was only achievable by entirely reorganising the floor plan.
      The hefty existing staircase took up a third of the building, so it was removed and redesigned to be more efficient and help define the remaining programme while adhering to Boston’s strict building codes.
      A new staircase cuts a diagonal path through the houseThe result is a new white oak staircase that “unspools diagonally through the home” around a 40-foot-high (12-metre) atrium, increasing the useable floor area by 20 per cent.

      “Aptly named Hairpin House, the project takes the tight, unpredictable, and ultimately poetic switchback turns of a mountain road as inspiration for the overall renovation – and in particular a new unravelling central stair,” said the team.
      Lime plaster was applied to the walls throughout the homeOther rooms were adjusted around this new element so that the most-used ones – like the dining room, living room and primary bedroom – were increased in size while ancillary spaces such as the foyer, powder room and bathroom shrunk.
      “We performed a sort of stair gymnastics where each flight was distinct from the others, because of its necessary interface with the unique programmatic and circulatory conditions on each floor,” said James Leng, partner at Figure.
      Windows on the south facade were enlarged by 200 per cent to let in more light”Like how a mountain road derives its form from the slope it rests on, this central stair was truly shaped contingently through the pressures of its interior context,” he added.
      The stair flights were fabricated by hand individually off-site before being assembled into a singular element, connected by a continuous rounded handrail.
      The kitchen and dining room on the ground floor are anchored by a travertine islandMaterials throughout the rest of the house were chosen to match or complement the staircase.
      White oak and French limestone cover the floors while lime plaster is applied directly onto the brick walls.
      The dining area opens onto a bluestone patio enclosed with cedar panelsThe main entrance to the home is on the second of its four floors, where the main living room is also located.
      Downstairs, on the ground floor, the open-plan kitchen and dining area are organised around a monolithic island carved from a single piece of travertine – similar to the fireplace on the level above.

      OverUnder renovates landmarked Boston building to create single-family residence

      A trio of French doors open onto the bluestone back patio enclosed with cedar panels and enlarged windows continue up this south-oriented facade to bring in the maximum amount of natural light.
      “Each was increased in scale by over 200 per cent, creating a rear facade graced with daylight, views and which elegantly blends into the age-old brick of Boston’s historic architecture,” the team said.
      Large windows run up the south facadeThe building’s third floor is occupied solely by the primary suite – comprising a bedroom, bathroom and closet – and the uppermost storey accommodates an additional bedroom, bathroom and lounge area.
      “A great deal of the joy we found in this project was in the process of shaping it from so many dizzying constraints,” said Leng. “But it also needs to be said that the project could only have been sculpted from the intensely productive collaboration between our two firms.”
      The rowhouse is located in the South End of BostonBoston has no shortage of historic brick houses, many of which have undergone significant renovations to make them more suitable for modern living.
      Examples include a heritage-listed Victorian home that was extended and updated with minimalist interiors by local architecture studio OverUnder.
      The photography is by James Leng.
      Project credits:
      Design architect: J Jih (principal: J Jih) and Figure (principals: James Leng and Jennifer Ly)Structural engineer: Team EngineeringLandscape design: Pate Landscape ArchitectureGeneral contractor: Evergreen Group CompanyMillworker: Kenyon WoodworkingStair fabricator: Stairworks of BostonPlastering: Trowel Inc. Plastering

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      Bindloss Dawes maximises light and space in London mews house

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      Architecture firm Bindloss Dawes has reorganised a mews house in Chelsea, adding a full-height lightwell with a dramatic oak-and-steel staircase to forge “a sense of volume and theatre”.

      The client initially commissioned Bindloss Dawes to simply create a more spacious kitchen and living area on the lower ground floor of this typical London property and improve its relationship to the garden.
      Bindloss Dawes has completed the Chelsea Mews House in LondonBut as the project progressed, the studio was asked to extend its remit to the entire residence to create a more holistic scheme.
      “Chelsea Mews House highlights that large spaces aren’t always needed,” Bindloss Dawes told Dezeen. “It’s about creating something pragmatic and beautiful that clients will treasure.”
      “This is a small terraced house, and we’ve elevated it by bringing in daylight and giving it a sense of volume and theatre.”

      The house now features a sunken concrete floor in the basementAs part of the renovation, Bindloss Dawes updated the three-storey house from a dark and cramped two-bedroom to a simplified one-bedroom layout, making the most of the awkward trapezoidal plan with its angular walls and junctions.
      Working within the planning constraints of a conservation area in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Bindloss Dawes dropped the level of the lower ground floor to create a more impressive space.
      The studio also added a new three-storey staircase”Digging down 50 centimetres unlocked the opportunity to create new volumes, which in a tight footprint goes a long way to enhancing the spatial quality,” the studio said.
      This newly created spaciousness at the lower level is accentuated by the addition of a lightwell that cuts through all three storeys of the home, connecting them via a custom staircase while drawing sunshine deep into the basement.
      The staircase traverses a full-height lightwell drawing sun into the interior”The previous configuration did the house a disservice,” Bindloss Dawes said. “It has wonderful bones that we have celebrated by opening up and creating a void, which draws light right into the depths of the space.”
      Meanwhile, a subtle glass extension projects approximately 50 centimetres beyond the rear facade into the garden to increase the sense of light and space without significantly altering the exterior.

      Bindloss Dawes creates car barn for classic Porsche collector

      A thoughtful and restrained material palette was crucial to the success of the project, according to Bindloss Dawes.
      “By embracing simplicity, maximising light and space, and employing a careful selection of materials, we’ve crafted a home that balances functionality with elegance,” the studio said.
      Venetian polished plaster in a Marmorino finish by Calfe Crimmings was used on the walls throughout the home, creating a sense of tactility.
      The steps are finished in European oak while the balusters are steelExpressed concrete brings a grounding element to the basement level, with concrete skirting that seamlessly extends onto the steps leading up into the courtyard garden.
      Concrete was also used to form the first flight of the new three-storey staircase, while the upper levels are finished in European oak to match the handrail.
      The steel balusters were painted in the same grey-based white by Farrow & Ball that was also used on woodwork and ceilings throughout the house.
      The bedrooms are hidden behind subtle pocket doorsTo eliminate visual breaks to the lightwell, pocket doors were strategically incorporated at the bedroom level.
      “The project exemplifies how highly detailed yet simple design can work to great effect within tight city footprints,” said Bindloss Dawes.
      The homeowner, a talented craftsman and metalworker, personally designed and created the lighting fixtures, adding a personal touch to the home.
      The home is a traditional mews house in ChelseaPrevious projects from Bindloss Dawes, which was founded by Oliver Bindloss and George Dawes in 2018, include a timber car barn for a collector of classic Porsches.
      The studio is based in Bruton – a village in Somerset that has drawn an increasingly metropolitan crowd in recent years after contemporary art gallery Hauser & Wirth opened an outpost in the area in 2014.
      The photography is by Building Narratives.

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      Black staircases link SC Workplace by Behnisch Architekten

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      A variety of black staircases dogleg and spiral between the levels of this office in Southern California, designed by global firm Behnisch Architekten.

      Tasked with bringing personality to a four-storey “developer box”, Behnisch Architekten 110,000 square feet (10,220 square metres) for an undisclosed client.
      Hairpin staircases rise through an atrium to link offices on different levels”We had the opportunity to work with a great client to transform this ubiquitous building type into a dynamic work environment, which promotes connection and collaboration,” said the studio.
      The building shell, measuring 120 by 240 feet (37 by 74 metres), features glass facades and an elevator core at its centre.
      Behnisch Architekten carved the atria from the floor plates to bring in light and create visual connectionsThe team began by carving up the continuous floor plates to open up the levels to one another – allowing in more light and creating visual connections between multiple spaces.

      On opposite sides of the core, they created two “eccentrically-shaped atriums” by staggering the walls of meeting rooms on the different storeys.
      The staircases are wrapped in solid black on three sides”A pair of hairpin-shaped stairs are situated in each atrium and connect users between office levels two to four, promoting inter-level exchange, but also serving as a sculptural element within the space,” said the studio.
      Voids were also created in opposing corners, each containing a spiral staircase treated with the same solid black balustrades and light wooden treads as the doglegged ones.
      More voids were formed at the building’s corners, which are used as lounge areas”The multitude of options between levels allows users to move freely from floor to floor,” Behnisch Architekten said. “These voids also add communication and transparency between previously disconnected floor plates.”
      Lounge areas also occupy the corner voids, which offer social spaces for employees and are flooded with light from the dual-aspect glazing.
      Spiral staircases provide alternatives vertical routes through the buildingPrivate offices are situated around the building’s perimeter so that users are afforded light and views.
      Closer to the elevator lobbies, conference and meeting rooms feature glass walls, allowing some to overlook the atria.
      Meeting and conference rooms are located in the centre of the buildingFor wayfinding and booking, every meeting room is named after a river, while lounges are represented by lakes.
      Each floor corresponds with two continental regions, which are identified through custom-designed wood artworks and photography.

      Behnisch Architekten clads energy laboratory in translucent polycarbonate

      Amenities for staff at ground level include a bouldering wall that wraps the core and is connected to a gym and a game room.
      A large dining hall features pale materials and a slatted wood ceiling also found in other areas of the building.
      On the ground floor, the core is wrapped with a bouldering wallStefan Behnisch established Behnisch Architekten in Stuttgart in 1989 with his late father Günter Behnisch. The firm now has additional offices in Los Angeles, Boston and Munich.
      It has completed a variety of different building typologies over the years, from kindergartens, schools and laboratories, to offices for Adidas and an academic building at Harvard University.
      Staff amenities include a large dining hallBehnisch was interviewed about his firm’s projects as part of Dezeen’s Virtual Design Festival in 2020.
      The photography is by Brad Feinknopf and Nephew.
      Project credits:
      Project team: Kristi Paulson (Partner in Charge), Daniel Poei (Director/Project Lead), Tony Gonzalez, Vera Tian, Laura Fox, Eric Hegre Apurva Ravi, Victoria OakesConsultants: John A. Martin & Associates (Structural), Loisos + Ubbelohde (Lighting/Daylighting), ARUP (Fire/Life Safety, Acoustical, Audio/Visual), ACCO Engineered Systems (Design-Build – Mechanical/Plumbing), Morrow Meadows (Design- Build – Electrical), Pinnacle (Design-Build – Audio/Visual), Ockert and Partners (Graphics), SPMDesign (Custom-fabricated Artwork)General contractor: DPR Construction

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      Tria Arquitetura renovates São Paulo penthouse with sculptural staircase

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      A large variety of art and collectible design pieces populate this penthouse apartment in São Paulo, designed by local studio Tria Arquitetura, which also includes a sculptural staircase.

      The renovation of the 960-square-metre Frederic Chopin Apartment was led by architect Marina Cardoso de Almeida of Tria Arquitetura, who reconfigured the layout to make the most of the high ceilings and views.
      A sculptural staircase snakes between the levels of the duplex apartmentThe apartment is split over two floors and is home to an art-loving couple.
      Previously the owners of a large house, the clients chose to move to an apartment for convenience and security, but still wanted their space to feel open and expansive.
      Green furniture and rugs are highlighted against mostly neutral-toned materialsThe primary suite was moved to the upper floor, where the bed could be aligned with a floor-to-ceiling window that overlooks the cityscape.

      An intimate library was also created on this level, so that the whole floor is dedicated entirely to private space, apart from the patio and pool terrace, where the clients entertain guests.
      The couple’s contemporary art collection draws attention throughout the apartmentTwo employees’ suites were shifted to the lower floor, and a guest suite and home theatre were added in place of the closet.
      Connecting the two levels is a staircase with travertine treads and solid white bannisters, which snakes up a double-height space to appear like a piece of sculpture.
      Slatted wooden panels wrap the elevator block, the fireplace and the wall dividing the main living room from the guest areaThis sets the tone for the rest of the contemporary artworks and materials used throughout the penthouse.
      “The main concept in the choice of finishes and architectural solutions was to bring comfort but still leave a big void so that the works could dress the house,” said Tria Arquitetura.
      Stainless steel in the kitchen matches a wrapped column in the living areaIn the open living and dining area, colourful paintings adorn the walls, and furniture and rugs in shades of green and orange stand out against the otherwise neutral palette.
      “In the living room there were three large main volumes that should be highlighted to bring texture and more cosiness,” Tria Arquitetura said.
      The staircase features solid white bannisters and travertine treadsThese include the elevator block, the fireplace and the wall dividing the main room from the guest area, which are covered in thin vertical slats of veneered natural wood.
      Another column is wrapped in stainless steel to offer a cool, sharp-edged contrast to the wood and other warm tones in the living room.
      The primary bedroom was moved upstairs to face the best viewUpstairs in the library, wide-planked wood flooring is continued up the walls to make the room feel cosy, and provide a backdrop for a series of framed vintage maps.
      “It was only in the library that the architect chose to cover all the walls with the same wood as the floor to give more seriousness and highlight the environment from the others,” the studio said.

      Studio MK27 combines different textures in São Paulo apartment interior

      Updates were also made to the outdoor area, where the pool was reduced in size and re-edged to better integrate it with the landscaping.
      A pair of imitation classical pillars were also demolished, and a wood and glass pergola was added to cover the patio.
      Walls of an intimate library are panelled with the same wood as the floorThroughout the apartment, fully automated systems controlling the air conditioning, lighting, landscaping irrigation, and curtains and blinds were added during the renovation.
      The project took over two years to complete due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
      The project also involved adding a pergola and reducing the pool size on the terraceApartment living is commonplace in densely populated São Paulo, where architects and designers have used their creativity to add character to previously uninspiring spaces.
      Other recently completed examples include a residence by Studio MK27 that features furry upholstery, lace curtains and tactile rugs, and a renovation by Memola Estudio that exposed the building’s concrete structure.
      The photography is by Fran Parente.
      Project credits:
      Lead architect: Marina Cardoso de AlmeidaCreative team: Marina Cardoso de Almeida, Sarah Bonanno, Barbara Castro, Barbara Silva, Virginia CaldasEngineering: Steel ConstruçõesLandscaping: Alex HanazakiLight technician: Carlos FortesAutomation: TaagAir conditioning: Dealtec

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      Dezeen's top 10 staircases of 2022

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      As part of our review of 2022, we have selected 10 eye-catching staircases published on Dezeen this year, including stairs that turn, twist or double as seating.

      This year’s roundup of staircases features a children’s library in China with two intertwining timber stairs, a 25-metre-tall staircase in the Netherlands and a plywood spiral staircase in a barn conversion.
      Read on for Dezeen’s top 10 staircases of 2022:
      Photo by Leonardo FinottiCasa Thomé Beira da Silva, Brazil, by Marcos Bertoldi Arquitetos
      This helical wooden staircase anchors the large living space in Casa Thomé Beira da Silva, a Brazilian house designed by Marcos Bertoldi Arquitetos.

      The winding staircase leads to the bedrooms on the first floor of the home, which features a screen of chevron-patterned wooden planks wrapped around the exterior.
      Find out more about Casa Thomé Beira da Silva ›
      Photo by Ronan MézièreEscher House, Canada, by Naturehumaine
      Informed by the works of Dutch artist MC Escher, Canadian studio Naturehumaine inserted an angular staircase into this family home in Montreal as part of a renovation project.
      The centrepiece of the Escher House transformation, the new staircase is top-lit by a skylight and made up of wooden treads with black steel sides and guard rails.
      Find out more about Escher House ›
      Photo by Alex BaxterBarn at the Ahof, the Netherlands, by Julia van Beuningen
      Architectural designer Julia van Beuningen converted a late 19th-century barn into a residence with this plywood spiral staircase as the central focus.
      The staircase has a curved, swooping form designed to contrast with the barn’s rustic structure and leads from the open-plan living space on the ground floor to the newly added first floor, where bedrooms and bathrooms are located.
      Find out more about Barn at the Ahof ›
      Photo by Kenya ChibaKappa House, Japan, by Archipelago Architects Studio
      A series of staircases divide the spaces inside Kappa House in Kanagawa, Japan, designed by architecture practice Archipelago Architects Studio.
      The first two sets of stairs connect the house’s three floor levels, while the third staircase extends to the ceiling and is used as a place to sit, eat, drink or read.
      Find out more about Kappa House ›
      Photo by Lorenzo ZandriFarleigh Road House, UK, by Paolo Cossu Architects
      UK architecture studio Paolo Cossu Architects renovated the basement of Farleigh Road House in London, adding a chunky oak staircase to connect the floor with the rest of the house above.
      Designed to double as a place for the residents to sit and chat, wooden blocks were inserted on one side of the stairs to define the walking route, while deep steps that align with bookshelves on the adjacent wall provide seating.
      Find out more about Farleigh Road House ›
      Photo by Stijn PoelstraDe Niewe Herdgang, the Netherlands, by Architectuur Maken
      De Niewe Herdgang is a sculptural staircase designed by Dutch studio Architectuur Maken that rises 25 metres above the landscape to create a viewpoint overlooking the city of Tilburg in the Netherlands.
      Built from a galvanised steel frame with thin planks of Accoya wood, the watchtower aims to reconnect people with the landscape, which has been fragmented by roads.
      Find out more about De Niewe Herdgang ›
      Photo by Marcela GrassiLoft in Poblenou, Spain, by NeuronaLab
      This blue stair unit provides additional storage and a mezzanine bedroom in a compact Barcelona apartment renovated by local architecture studio NeuronaLab.
      The unit also divides spaces in the residence, transforming it from a studio loft to a two-bedroom apartment with separated work and living areas.
      Find out more about Loft in Poblenou ›
      Photo by Roberto RuizPalau Apartment, Spain, by Colombo and Serboli Architecture
      In another Barcelona apartment, Spanish studio Colombo and Serboli Architecture designed a multi-part staircase made up of micro-cement bottom steps with recessed shelving, timber box steps and suspended timber steps.
      The micro-cement base extends and dog-legs to form the backrest of the sofa on one side and a bench for the dining area on the other side.
      Find out more about Palau Apartment ›
      Photo courtesy of Kengo Kuma and AssociatesHisao & Hiroko Taki Plaza, Japan, by Kengo Kuma and Associates
      Japanese studio Kengo Kuma and Associates designed this student hub for the Tokyo Institute of Technology, which is built partially underground with a stepped roof made up of bleachers.
      The stepped roof is accessed by an external staircase that extends into the interior of the building, separated by glazing to blur the boundary between inside and out.
      Find out more about Hisao & Hiroko Taki Plaza ›
      Photo by Zhao SaiPingtan Book House, China, by Condition_Lab
      A double-helix staircase with deep treads and spacious landings provides space for children to read and play in this library located in China’s Hunan province, designed by architecture research studio Condition_Lab.
      Accessed from the ground floor, the two spiral timber staircases at Pingtan Book House intertwine around a square void before meeting again on the top level.
      Find out more about Pingtan Book House ›

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