Behind the design: Bridge landings
Architect Allan Corfield reveals how to create this striking design feature in your new home
Introduce wow factor into your home with architect Allan Corfield’s look at this bold, spacedefining statement — from costs to construction
Abridge landing is a bridge across an upper floor that also forms the top landing of a stair. But as with all of the features we cover in Behind the Design, it is so much more than that simple description suggests!
The stunning image you see here is of a new-build home my practice worked on in the Scottish Borders.the house was designed to have two distinct wings: a traditional one at the front and a contemporary wing to the rear. These are linked with a central, double-height, glazed atrium. As I’ve detailed previously in this series, the entrance space of your home is a great place to create instant wow factor.welcoming guests into a large, double-height space is a brilliant way to create openness and a little bit of drama for your visitors.
In the case of this particular space, a feature staircase provides the link to the upper floor, and the feeling of space is enhanced by having the stairs connect to a bridge landing rather than a fully floored space. It couldn’t be a more dramatic contrast to the way stairs are so often hidden in cupboard-like spaces with no real link to the rest of the home.
The stairs and entrance in this space both perform their functions admirably, however the real joy is created by the linking bridge. By cutting through the space at an angle, it helps to break up the voluminous space and create interesting shadows, which move throughout the day.
Construction method
This project used structural insulated panels (SIPS) and Jji-joists (engineered floor joists, also known as I-beams) in its construction, both of which made important contributions to the creation of this feature. Using SIPS meant that we could create the cathedral-like volume and the Jji-joists allowed the construction of a landing spanning six metres without any additional supports.
Additionally, the structural void beneath the bridge can be used to run services, like electrical cables, across an open-plan area, provided the joists span the right way to accommodate them.
It’s important to make an allowance for the balustrade fixings.this example uses traditional newel posts, which are very easy to fix back to the structure, but other types of fixing may require special consideration. For example, if the client had chosen a glass balustrade then they may have needed to fit a steel beam to deal with the required structural support. On this note, the balustrade and the materials that you choose to clad your bridge landing with (for instance, the underside of this bridge landing has been clad in plasterboard) are a key consideration when it comes to aesthetics. Choosing materials that tie into your overall interior design scheme will ensure your the landing feels a cohesive part of the interior.
Width and use
The main functions of this architectural feature are as a linking feature and stair landing. As such, a practical landing needs to be at least the width of the stair it serves.
The bridge we’re looking at here is 1.5 metres wide, which is more than comfortable for two people to pass. However, if it were increased in width to, say, 2.5 metres, that would create a space for a sofa or a desk for home working. If you do hope to include a wider space, remember to check this through with your designer and structural engineer prior to the build.
Versatile space below
An often unexpected result of adding a bridge to a doubleheight space is that it creates a more intimate single-storey area below it. This contrasts to the joyous feel of the large doubleheight space that it sits in. In our client’s home they have used this space in numerous ways, first placing a piano there, and later replacing it with a reading sofa. This sort of space also provides another place you could use as a home office.
I hope this article has inspired you to think about how you can create interesting spaces within your home. Hopefully you can find a way to integrate a bridge landing in your designs! If there is a specific design idea which you would like us to feature, then please get in touch.
NEXT MONTH: Corner glazing on a budget