VICTORIA’S BEST STAIRCASES

Victoria-area homes offer many striking examples

An open staircase can magnify the sense of space in a house and amplify the feeling of brightness, whether light pours down from windows above or spills softly between the treads themselves.

But staircases can do much more than visually expand an interior: They can serve as artistic focal points in any house.

Here are some of the best examples gleaned from House Beautiful features over the past two years. We have also included some of the latest versions built by Victoria “stair master” Christopher Bradshaw.

Anyone who doubts the architectural appeal of a staircase need only look at numerous examples throughout history — such as the double helix staircase at the Vatican, in Rome, where visitors can ascend one staircase and descend another via two spirals that twist together.

Or they can gaze upon the grand staircase at the Paris Opera, jump up the musical piano staircase in Shejiang Province, China, where each step plays a different note, or ascend the stone steps at Machu Picchu, in Peru.

Saanichton architect Silvia Bonet, who was born in Argentina and is on the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria board, always looks at staircases with an artistic eye, and says they present a golden opportunity for a homeowner, builder or designer to create a striking visual element.

“Even though a staircase is a circulation point, and we tend to look at it as a functional item, we can enhance any stairway and make it interesting,” she said. “It is something architects and designers like to play with and in a contemporary home, when you are working with the concept of transparency, with very airy spaces, high ceilings and greater volume, you don’t want a solid-looking staircase.”

There are many different ways to create interest, whether it’s with whimsical railings, iron balusters, contrasting treads and risers, or perhaps a curved-wall wine cellar tucked underneath, as was built into one Victoria home.

Stairs can spiral, wind, stop and turn at landings, or be served straight up — and some of the most intriguing even widen or narrow as they go.

Bonet dreamed up two of the examples featured here. The first, in her North Saanich home, is made from an engineered composite wood product called Parallam, which was invented by MacMillan Bloedel (now Weyerhaeuser). “Parallam is a great option because it is made of recycled wood and is probably one of the cheapest things you can use,” said Bonet. “Yet it looks exotic.” The product is normally used for interior structural beams, often clad in a different material, but she used it for her open-riser staircase, then sanded and coated the wood with a high-gloss marine epoxy.

“The natural colour is pale yellowish, but the epoxy brings out a rich, reddish colour.”

She used 1.5-inch-thick pieces for the treads and 3.5-inch ones for the stringers.

In another home, she created a staircase that hangs from a steel beam hidden in a decorative stone wall, in which several lights were placed.

“A staircase is a challenging piece because it combines artistry and technology, but that’s also what makes it fun to work with,” said Bonet.

“In the past, designers created spiral staircases to give a sense of the infinite, but now the look tends to be more functional and industrial, depending on the type of building.”

Carpeted stairs have a traditional look, but many people choose to go that route because of concerns about slipping. Another good option is to have a runner in the centre, which can look crisp and chic when a darker wood is contrasted with lighter carpeting.

Bonet said Bradshaw is a star stair-builder in this city. “He does absolutely amazing things and his craftsmanship is exceptional in wood, metal, glass and concrete.”

Bradshaw said staircases are key architectural details, “but most importantly a means of egress up or down, in and out, and a fire escape in most cases.”

Safety is paramount, so no matter what the design, he is meticulous about the run of treads, the line of flight, consistent risers and handy grab rails. “Basically, you take the first step and that should program the brain and then carry through all of the stairs, so climbing or descending is safe.”

Bradshaw said staircases can be simply functional or a work of art. “But for the last 39 years, I have been aiming to make works of art,” he said, adding his favourite moment is when clients tell him what they want and he starts building three-dimensional pictures in his head.

“The challenge is to listen to the clues and try to pull the design out — because most people can’t readily explain what’s in their minds.

“After that, you start incorporating all the technical aspects.”

A floating staircase with glass walls leads to a loft area. Saanichton architect Silvia Bonet says staircases are a golden opportunity for a homeowner, builder or designer to create a striking visual element.

Open treads and glass walls are common in contemporary homes.

Airy staircase serves as the spine of this contemporary space.

Below: A glass elevator awaits for those who don’t want to climb the stairs in this home.

Bradshaw Woodworking made this staircase in old growth Douglas fir. It was compressed into a narrow width and is an elliptical shape, yet the treads are consistent, as is the “line of flight,” making it easy to climb.

Above: Staircases can include a variety of artistic elements.

A staircase curves down to the foyer. If you’re concerned about safety but don’t want carpeted stairs, you can install a runner down the centre.

Left: This staircase has a curved wine cellar built in below, for creative, transparent storage.

Above: Silvia Bonet designed this staircase in her own home with open risers. It’s made from Parallam wood and finished in high-gloss resin.

Christopher Bradshaw’s cool black staircase looks like a painting by Dutch artist Escher. Built of maple plywood, it has no posts. The support is a steel structure hidden inside a hollow box that creates the staircase, which has the same profile underneath as above.

Saanichton architect Silvia Bonet designed this floating staircase, attached to a hidden steel beam in a central stone wall.

Built-in lights make stairs safer. Bradshaw says safety is paramount, which is why he is meticulous about the run of treads, the line of flight, consistent risers and handy grab rails. “Basically, you take the first step and that should program the brain and then carry through all of the stairs, so climbing or descending is safe.”

Above: Victoria builder Christopher Bradshaw of Bradshaw Woodworking built this compressed, cantilever-style staircase in eastern white maple. “Think of a diving board in a swimming pool, supported in the centre,” he said of the design, with a single beam running up the centre.

Left: This staircase splits at the landing, heading to bedrooms and an office.

A shelf built into a staircase displays artwork.