There is something about a well-designed staircase that gives a space authority. It is a fundamental piece of a space that can’t be avoided, why not give it grandeur? A thought-provoking shape, bold colour or unique finish. Reflecting on some of my favourite spaces, most that come to mind check a box that is the statement staircase, except of course my love for bungalows. Here is a roundup of swoon-worthy stairwells that inspire us to get our steps in.
1) Casa Balboni originally designed by Carlo Scarpa
Built in 1964 by Carlo Scarpa as a commission for Loredana Balboni. It was later redesigned in 2017 by design firm Archello. This marble staircase creates an infinite feeling to the eye with wrap around steps at the base, almost a Nautilus like shape. Timeless materials and colour choices allow for it to still fit the redesigned space 50+ years after its creation.
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The National Team Headquarters is a project promoted by the Portuguese Football Federation. Completed in 2016, located in Lisbon, Portugal, the sophistication of the space changes our perception of what a sporting facility’s interior should feel like. This floating spiral staircase with a dark wooden finish creates a subtle but dramatic effect on the otherwise minimal space.
3) Les Maisons Sculptures, Jacques Couelle
This is a special space that is built of unique details, instead of one stand out feature. The cast iron railing that almost looks like it could move adds to the imperfection's harmony. A single straight line would be unsettling to the eye in this space. It is as if you had a child draw a house, and built it exactly as they imagined, quirks and all. The colour story and use of strong material make the space feel sophisticated.
4) Queen Elisabeth foundation, Henry Lacoste
Colour in a stairwell is a daring, provoking and unfortunately rare occurrence. This art-deco space was designed in 1924 as a medical research institute, which is still in operation today. His deep interest in archeology shapes the blend of modernism with late Belgian gothic style, even some strong native African influences. Take this with a grain of salt as I am far from a psychologist, but bold colours and patterns in a research facility feels like a good way to stimulate deep thinking and innovation.
5) Le Jardinier, Joseph Dirand
This New York City restaurant was designed by renowned Architect Joseph Dirand in 2019, known for projects such as LouLou in Paris, Four Seasons Surfside in Miami and many more iconic spaces. There are many incredible details that make up this stairwell, the longer you look the more you notice. That being said, the monochromatic colour scheme creates a fluidity that to your eye initially that lengthens the space.
(Image Source: www.josephdirand.com)
6) Ex Palazzo delle attività Liguri , Robaldo Morozzo della Rocca
There is not too much information on this space, but this winding staircase is unlike anything we have seen. Located in Genova Italy, this grand entrance features a tiled spiral staircase with a contrasting dark solid wood rail. The grooves in the structure give it a unique visual that is true to the modernism era when it was designed.
(Image source: Unknown)
7) Boston House, Steven Harris Architects
This is a private residential home that was rebuilt by Steven Harris' Team in 2018. Following the motto “effortless and inevitable”, Steven Harris designs an ethereal staircase. Steven Harris Architects’ masterpiece merges contemporary shapes with classicism in a truly organic and effortless way.
(Image source: www.hommes.studio)
8) Bienhouse / Nemo Studio
Built in 2019 as a residential home in Vietnam, we know this space with last the test of time. The monochromatic lime wash walls with the lacquered fuchsia staircase perfectly juxtapose each other. Without this bold use of colour, the space would leave you with a completely different feeling.
9) Celine retail store, Casper Mueller Kneer and FOS
Possibly our favourite of the roundup, Celine while under Phoebe Philo’s direction was known for creating fun and colourful spaces for their retail stores that contained a lot of coloured stone. This patchwork mosaic tile staircase fits the aesthetic Philo brought to the brand as a whole. Philo left the brand in 2017, the same year as the opening of this German Flagship store in Munich. If anyone has been into a Celine store as of late, under the new direction of Hedi Slimane, you’ll know this colourful aesthetic is long forgotten.
10) Art Gallery Of Toronto, Frank Gehry
The AGO as it is known in our hometown of Toronto, was Frank Gehry’s first Canadian Building. It blends architecture and art beautifully, with the standout feature being the subtle natural colour of the douglas fir against the otherwise white building. The sculpture was designed with romance in mind. Gehry purposely designed the staircase to be narrow at some points to create a space where people might bump into each other or perhaps fall in love.
