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Staircase Inspiration from Samsel Architects

Flights of Fancy: 6 Staircase Ideas

Staircase Inspiration from Samsel Architects
A staircase is a practical part of many homes and buildings – you need them to go up and back down. Because of their utilitarian nature and specific parameters about slope ratios and height requirements, stairs are often overlooked as an opportunity to get creative. Still staying within the confines of codes, there are a lot of ways we can make steps a stand out feature by using different materials, interesting shapes and even location to make functional art. The following are examples of a variety of staircases that show the possibilities aren’t limited.

Blue Spiral 1

Blue Spiral 1 thought this 14,000 square foot space would be the perfect place to open their new gallery. When we began the renovation on this dilapidated building, we knew that the interior spaces would need ample natural light and a way to create a connection between all three floors. The result is a custom designed steel staircase that stretches through the entire building.  At the top of the stairs are generous clerestory windows to bring sunlight deep into the building. The steel staircase uses a thin profile and open treads to allow light to pass through all three stories.

See more of this project here.

The Cliffs Greenside

The main entrance at our Cliffs Greenside Residence is framed by a two-story window that acts like a display case for the floating sculptural stair inside. This transparent staircase makes an elegant ascent against a backdrop of stone. Each tread is lit by an LED that not only provides ease of use but also a gives the foyer an enchanting glow at night. This staircase took a collaborative team of architect, client, structural engineer, interior designer, general contractor and the stair craftsman – who ultimately unified the wood, steel, metal and glass components – to create this stunning structure.

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Camp Campos

The staircase at our lakeside cabin uses a sunny shade of blue that evokes the nearby Lake James. The central stair provides a subtle dividing line between the living space and kitchen. On one side is a backboard for the couch and the other side serves as extra storage for the kitchen. A large window in the stairwell brings light down to the bunk room below.

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Cliffside House

The main level of the Cliffside House is an open space organized around a substantial two-story stone fireplace. The back of the fireplace is at the main entrance with a custom steel staircase that leads downstairs. In order to create a little more interest at the railing, we designed a minimal floating cabinet for storage and art display. Windows above bring light down the stairwell.

See more of this project here.

Momentum Gallery

The architectural centerpiece of Momentum Gallery is the monumental staircase made of walnut and steel with glass handrails. Two-story columns that run through the center of the space are wrapped in a mirrored mosaic tile, whose subtle chevron pattern gives a nod to the 1920s when the building was first constructed. The substantial scale of the stairs is the anchor at the gallery’s core that allows you to move through the building and up to the second level. This large, functional feature provides a striking juxtaposition to the artwork in the gallery.

See more of this project here.

Windy Gap Residence

The space planning at our Windy Gap Residence is organized around a central entry and stair that divides the public and private spaces. Exterior materials are brought into this two-story space to reinforce the simple form of the house and indoor-outdoor concepts. The two-story window wall perfectly frames the wood and steel staircase and provides breathtaking mountain views.

See more of this project here.