What’s Old is New Again
October 15, 2011
With renovation work well underway on the Ko Residence, one component left on the table is the reconditioning of the exterior entry stair. Barring the fact that an infinite number of things can be done to these stairs, we established a minimal deconstruction – simple design criteria. Now one could say “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, but this is where the idea of a holistic approach becomes a factor in design – where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
We believe that the entry stairs are as important as the new door, the new windows, the new cladding, or the new roof that was installed during the renovation. Furthermore, the entry stair is one of the first things that you see as you approach the house, it is also the first thing that you interact with, thus it was critical to address its existing aesthetic. Borrowing material context from the cedar-cladded bay windows and the cedar soffit, the existing structure will be retro-fitted with wood treads that appear to float above the existing concrete steps and sleek frame-less glass guardrails.
The wood to be used may be of a certified pressure-treated variety (ie. pressure treaded 2x’s) or a natural wood species such as IPE or Ironwood. In order to elevate the new wood treads from the original concrete ones (to reduce contact with standing water), cut metal tubing will be installed between the wood tread and the concrete step. Finally to cap the stairs off and to provide a more contemporary feel, not to mention compliance with VBBL regulations, we’ve proposed glass guardrails with polished metal standoffs face-mounted to both sides of the stairs. We feel this will tie the entry stair in with the modern aesthetic that is reflective of the overall renovation.
