“The project makes use of a single material, steel plate, to play with ideas of enclosure, openness, tension, and release.”

Stair[way] solves a seemingly mundane problem—how to connect a guest suite to a main house—with an artful and innovative solution. The project makes use of a single material, steel plate, to play with ideas of enclosure, openness, tension, and release.

A monolithic steel ceiling leads to the staircase, which is framed by thin, planar walls. From this point, a series of nested frames with no visible supports seems to float upward from the ground. Each frame is subtly tapered, resulting in a funnel-like effect. The exacting craftsmanship and attention to detail is apparent every step of the way.

Thin slits provide glimpses of the outside and create intricate patterns of light and shadow on the steps, enhancing the sense of disorientation and tension. The feeling of compression builds as one ascends the stairs, only to be reversed at the upper landing, where the steel enclosure is cut away to reveal a view of Lake Austin several hundred feet below.

PROJECT
Stair[way]

LOCATION
Austin, Texas

SCOPE
Renovation

PHOTOGRAPHY
Paul Finkel, Michael Hsu