Exposed zigzag design gives the illusion of a floating stair

hokon / Masukowitz

Curved black and white staircase with a glass balustrade and a glass landing

The sheer beauty and simplicity of this glass and oak staircase brings a touch of modern art to this family home. This striking transformation combines a contemporary clear glass balustrade with a solid oak handrail for a timeless look that brings together traditional carpentry and the very best in 21st century staircase design. The glass balustrade promotes the flow of light from surrounding windows, making the hallway look and feel bigger. It gives the wonderful visual effect of the oak handrail floating in parallel with the staircase.

Light Wood steps interior stair. Fine woodworking and the best materials.

David O. Marlow Photography

Первый марш лестницы на тетивах,с подступенками. Под маршем и площадкой организована кладовка . На стеклянное ограждение установлены деревянные перила и защитная калитка от детей

Wide board engineered timber flooring in split level home. Brass insert nosing with shadow line detail.

The Atherton House is a family compound for a professional couple in the tech industry, and their two teenage children. After living in Singapore, then Hong Kong, and building homes there, they looked forward to continuing their search for a new place to start a life and set down roots. The site is located on Atherton Avenue on a flat, 1 acre lot. The neighboring lots are of a similar size, and are filled with mature planting and gardens. The brief on this site was to create a house that would comfortably accommodate the busy lives of each of the family members, as well as provide opportunities for wonder and awe. Views on the site are internal. Our goal was to create an indoor- outdoor home that embraced the benign California climate. The building was conceived as a classic “H” plan with two wings attached by a double height entertaining space. The “H” shape allows for alcoves of the yard to be embraced by the mass of the building, creating different types of exterior space. The two wings of the home provide some sense of enclosure and privacy along the side property lines. The south wing contains three bedroom suites at the second level, as well as laundry. At the first level there is a guest suite facing east, powder room and a Library facing west. The north wing is entirely given over to the Primary suite at the top level, including the main bedroom, dressing and bathroom. The bedroom opens out to a roof terrace to the west, overlooking a pool and courtyard below. At the ground floor, the north wing contains the family room, kitchen and dining room. The family room and dining room each have pocketing sliding glass doors that dissolve the boundary between inside and outside. Connecting the wings is a double high living space meant to be comfortable, delightful and awe-inspiring. A custom fabricated two story circular stair of steel and glass connects the upper level to the main level, and down to the basement “lounge” below. An acrylic and steel bridge begins near one end of the stair landing and flies 40 feet to the children’s bedroom wing. People going about their day moving through the stair and bridge become both observed and observer. The front (EAST) wall is the all important receiving place for guests and family alike. There the interplay between yin and yang, weathering steel and the mature olive tree, empower the entrance. Most other materials are white and pure. The mechanical systems are efficiently combined hydronic heating and cooling, with no forced air required.

Architect: Doug Brown, DBVW Architects / Photographer: Robert Brewster Photography