Sun drenches the grand entry of this elegant Spanish Colonial in the hills above Malibu.

With a compact form and several integrated sustainable systems, the Capitol Hill Residence achieves the client’s goals to maximize the site’s views and resources while responding to its micro climate. Some of the sustainable systems are architectural in nature. For example, the roof rainwater collects into a steel entry water feature, day light from a typical overcast Seattle sky penetrates deep into the house through a central translucent slot, and exterior mounted mechanical shades prevent excessive heat gain without sacrificing the view. Hidden systems affect the energy consumption of the house such as the buried geothermal wells and heat pumps that aid in both heating and cooling, and a 30 panel photovoltaic system mounted on the roof feeds electricity back to the grid. The minimal foundation sits within the footprint of the previous house, while the upper floors cantilever off the foundation as if to float above the front entry water feature and surrounding landscape. The house is divided by a sloped translucent ceiling that contains the main circulation space and stair allowing daylight deep into the core. Acrylic cantilevered treads with glazed guards and railings keep the visual appearance of the stair light and airy allowing the living and dining spaces to flow together. While the footprint and overall form of the Capitol Hill Residence were shaped by the restrictions of the site, the architectural and mechanical systems at work define the aesthetic. Working closely with a team of engineers, landscape architects, and solar designers we were able to arrive at an elegant, environmentally sustainable home that achieves the needs of the clients, and fits within the context of the site and surrounding community. (c) Steve Keating Photography

Azalea is The 2012 New American Home as commissioned by the National Association of Home Builders and was featured and shown at the International Builders Show and in Florida Design Magazine, Volume 22; No. 4; Issue 24-12. With 4,335 square foot of air conditioned space and a total under roof square footage of 5,643 this home has four bedrooms, four full bathrooms, and two half bathrooms. It was designed and constructed to achieve the highest level of “green” certification while still including sophisticated technology such as retractable window shades, motorized glass doors and a high-tech surveillance system operable just by the touch of an iPad or iPhone. This showcase residence has been deemed an “urban-suburban” home and happily dwells among single family homes and condominiums. The two story home brings together the indoors and outdoors in a seamless blend with motorized doors opening from interior space to the outdoor space. Two separate second floor lounge terraces also flow seamlessly from the inside. The front door opens to an interior lanai, pool, and deck while floor-to-ceiling glass walls reveal the indoor living space. An interior art gallery wall is an entertaining masterpiece and is completed by a wet bar at one end with a separate powder room. The open kitchen welcomes guests to gather and when the floor to ceiling retractable glass doors are open the great room and lanai flow together as one cohesive space. A summer kitchen takes the hospitality poolside. Awards: 2012 Golden Aurora Award – “Best of Show”, Southeast Building Conference – Grand Aurora Award – “Best of State” – Florida – Grand Aurora Award – Custom Home, One-of-a-Kind $2,000,001 – $3,000,000 – Grand Aurora Award – Green Construction Demonstration Model – Grand Aurora Award – Best Energy Efficient Home – Grand Aurora Award – Best Solar Energy Efficient House – Grand Aurora Award – Best Natural Gas Single Family Home – Aurora Award, Green Construction – New Construction over $2,000,001 – Aurora Award – Best Water-Wise Home – Aurora Award – Interior Detailing over $2,000,001 2012 Parade of Homes – “Grand Award Winner”, HBA of Metro Orlando – First Place – Custom Home 2012 Major Achievement Award, HBA of Metro Orlando – Best Interior Design 2012 Orlando Home & Leisure’s: – Outdoor Living Space of the Year – Specialty Room of the Year 2012 Gold Nugget Awards, Pacific Coast Builders Conference – Grand Award, Indoor/Outdoor Space – Merit Award, Best Custom Home 3,000 – 5,000 sq. ft. 2012 Design Excellence Awards, Residential Design & Build magazine – Best Custom Home 4,000 – 4,999 sq ft – Best Green Home – Best Outdoor Living – Best Specialty Room – Best Use of Technology 2012 Residential Coverings Award, Coverings Show 2012 AIA Orlando Design Awards – Residential Design, Award of Merit – Sustainable Design, Award of Merit 2012 American Residential Design Awards, AIBD – First Place – Custom Luxury Homes, 4,001 – 5,000 sq ft – Second Place – Green Design

View of the glass stairs looking down into the kitchen from the upstairs landing which leads to the terrace. Photography: Anice Hoachlander, Hoachlander Davis Photography

Antonio e Roberto Tartaglione

twin glass stairs for entrance hall of residential property in Germany

Stone Stairs by 'Ancient Surfaces' Product: Antique Stone Stairs Contacts: (212) 461-0245 Email: Sales@ancientsurfaces.com Website: www.AncientSurfaces.com Stairs are one of the most basic indoors and outdoors architectural feature that are a must both functionally and esthetically speaking. In landscaping beside their obvious usefulness in helping you access various elevations on your property they will also allow you to divide and breakup various section of your outdoor design, they'll help you redirect your line of sight to specific focal points of interest and by themselves can make a powerful design statement that symbolizes hospitality and openness towards guests. When creating staircases out of our antique stone building elements we focus on waring all of those hats that your stairs need to ware in order to serve their intended multipurpose role. Most don't dwell or even think twice about this seemingly rudimentary and basic building element that on its surface seems unchanged from the days of the Roman empire. However we've identified various stairs designs and cataloged over 30 divers stone stairs type that forms the bulk of our stone stair library. Here are a few that are noteworthy of mentioning: 1- The thick hexagon staggered stepping stone stairs ideal for any ancient, whimsical, 17th century English or Asiatic landscaping themes you may be using in your outdoors. 2- The 3" and 5" Thick foundation slab slices that are massive cut-out chunks from salvaged cornerstone foundation blocks that used to be laid underneath old farmhouses and building structures in medieval and renaissance Europe before the invention of modern cement and steel foundations. 3- The double stacked antique reclaimed limestone stair edge and risers. All made out of our various lines of very hard antique limestone paves that defies all weather types from sub-Saharan to Tundra climates and perfect for both indoors and outdoors applications. 4- Full blocked 8" thick (or more) )stairs with both the squared backs and the slanted backs ideal for the outdoors or for creating a self-supporting structure that will allow architects and designer an extended range of design options and usages. 5- Limestone stairs with Encaustic Tile raisers ideal for any coastal Spanish or Italian style home. 6- Thick and solid single pieced bull-nosed stairs and raisers flanked by wrist high limestone balustrades when used on the outdoor entryway staircase of your home. All of those types of stairs and countless many others will play an invisible role in defining the character and feel of your future home.

With a compact form and several integrated sustainable systems, the Capitol Hill Residence achieves the client’s goals to maximize the site’s views and resources while responding to its micro climate. Some of the sustainable systems are architectural in nature. For example, the roof rainwater collects into a steel entry water feature, day light from a typical overcast Seattle sky penetrates deep into the house through a central translucent slot, and exterior mounted mechanical shades prevent excessive heat gain without sacrificing the view. Hidden systems affect the energy consumption of the house such as the buried geothermal wells and heat pumps that aid in both heating and cooling, and a 30 panel photovoltaic system mounted on the roof feeds electricity back to the grid. The minimal foundation sits within the footprint of the previous house, while the upper floors cantilever off the foundation as if to float above the front entry water feature and surrounding landscape. The house is divided by a sloped translucent ceiling that contains the main circulation space and stair allowing daylight deep into the core. Acrylic cantilevered treads with glazed guards and railings keep the visual appearance of the stair light and airy allowing the living and dining spaces to flow together. While the footprint and overall form of the Capitol Hill Residence were shaped by the restrictions of the site, the architectural and mechanical systems at work define the aesthetic. Working closely with a team of engineers, landscape architects, and solar designers we were able to arrive at an elegant, environmentally sustainable home that achieves the needs of the clients, and fits within the context of the site and surrounding community. (c) Steve Keating Photography

A custom home on the Gulf Coast

We pride ourselves in the finish of our work and love nothing more than to complete a staircase renovation with finer details, such as feature steps and cupboards. These really add a unique touch to the staircase. Here's an example.

These stairs span over three floors and each level is cantilevered on two central spine beams; lack of risers and see-thru glass landings allow for plenty of natural light to travel throughout the open stairwell and into the adjacent open areas; 3 1/2" white oak treads and stringers were manufactured by our craftsmen under strict quality control standards, and were delivered and installed by our experienced technicians. CSC 1976-2020 © Century Stair Company LLC ® All Rights Reserved.