Step Right Up: Expressing Movement on Modern Stairs
In a previous ideabook I looked at how people and pets bring interior photos to life, and it included a couple of photos of people traversing stairs. In that piece I said that “stairs are static entities that imply movement, but adding a person makes that movement tangible.” The implied movement is most often achieved through a blurry figure in the photograph. I then thought, what better way to look at some interesting modern and contemporary stair designs than with ones populated by people ascending and descending?
It’s worth pointing out one aspect of stairs that makes the inclusion of people important: Stairs are a good source of exercise. As most of our lives are spent inside — about half to two-thirds of that time awake or asleep inside our home — it’s beneficial to see stairs as elements that people want to traverse, not an impediment to the good life.
Design plays an important role in this, from the right rise-to-run ratio (dictated to a certain extent by code, yet a gentle rise, given the room for it, can aid in walking up stairs) to materials, openness and how the stair fits into a room. Not surprisingly, given these considerations and my modern/contemporary tastes, most of these stairs are fairly open and integral parts of adjacent spaces.
Houzz is full of lots of side views of stairs with people, like in the photo here. These views show the various qualities of a stair — angle, materials, transparency etc. — while the people add a sense of scale and lead our eye in a certain direction. If we follow the woman moving down this stair with clear glass guardrails, we end up in the kitchen or can continue down another flight to a lower level.
The glass guardrails here are actually structural; they support the treads, thanks to advances in glass technology. Note how the treads extend past the glass in the foreground. Take another look at the stairs to see this detail up close and to see how the landing serves as an office and a library.
Transparency can also be gained by a full glass wall, as in the case of this straight-run stair. Compare this stair with the first one in terms of the angle; I’m guessing this stair is easier on the leg muscles.
Continue reading Step Right Up: Expressing Movement on Modern Stairs
Step Right Up: Expressing Movement on Modern Stairs
