GRAND DESIGNS(^) // EDITOR-AT-LARGE
A
s land prices continue to rise, so
does our acceptance of smaller
block sizes for housing. Sites of
400m² are becoming the norm.
In fact, the last season of Grand Designs
Australia saw Ralph Alphonso build his
incredible house — a four-level home — on
just 20m² of land.
Along with smaller lot sizes comes the need
to go up or to go underground to capitalise
on the available land. Multi-level homes have
become de rigueur. This year, GDA Series
Seven will see the majority of homes over two
and sometimes three levels.
I am not a huge fan of subterranean living
and entertaining spaces. We are hopefully
moving on from the ubiquitous home theatre,
gym, wine tasting room and kids’ rumpus
(aka keep the children out of sight/out of
mind) that often inhabit the bowels of homes.
What is a delight, however, is the way we move
through spaces — vertically.
This issue looks at some of the options, but
I thought I’d share my tips and views on this
residential opportunity.
Stairs are unique in that they provide
a chance to experience space in a three-
dimensional way. The North Balgowlah
Pop Art House employed two stairs — one
internally, the underside of which is visible
from the street and defi nes the front entry. I
enjoyed using it as it gave a lofty appreciation
of the cactus gardens and outdoor pool. This
stair exploits space. The second stair in this
house is a playful, exterior Enzie spiral stair
that runs from the living room terrace and
cuts its way into and through the upper-level
balcony.
The East Melbourne House (5x4) has straight
fl ights between levels, which are pressed
against the front windows so that movement
between levels becomes a bit of street theatre. I
must say using the stairs evokes slight vertigo.
There is therefore an experiential eff ect that
can be accentuated, depending on how stairs
are designed and detailed.
If you are thinking of building multi-level,
consider including a lift into the layout. They
are relatively cheap and easy to install. A lift
will help futureproof your home and make life
easy when lugging suitcases. It’s also amazing
how a window in a lift changes
the experience.
If you are going underground, access natural
daylight either through the stair void or by
glass. Apertures in the ground fl oor, cast in
glass into the slab, is a good trick (see GDA
Series Four, Richmond House). Make the stair
easy to use — have risers no more than 175mm
high and treads 275mm, or even 300mm, deep.
Beware of the noise of leather shoes on steel
stairs (I’ve made that mistake).
Stair design and construction is expensive,
but if done well it can be a major sculptural
feature in a home. (Look at the Hunters Hill
House or the Surry Hills Very Small House).
Everyone loves a good cantilever. This is your
chance to cantilever the treads out from a wall
or landing.
Don’t forget there are a number of excellent
pre-designed stairs that you can buy off the
shelf in spiral and straight formats. If you
are designing your stair, there is a whole
chapter devoted to this in the Building Code of
Australia, ensuring the safety of stair design.
Stairs and lifts are the new signature pieces
that calibre homes consider and integrate
well. They can be teamed with vertical height,
daylight and outlook to accentuate the joy
of living. Many of the great modern masters
expressed their stairs so they could be read
from outside as an architectural signature.
Whatever you do, make it an opportunity
for a tactile experience that is comfortable and
safe to use. Get on board; you can’t avoid them.
They are the key to unlocking the value of the
ever-increasing cost of land.
PETER MADDISON
EDITOR-AT-LARGE
FROM
PETER
MADDISON
Photography
Nick Wilson
Hunters Hill Textural House from Grand
Designs Australia Series Four