HA received an award for their West Village townhouse project, which reimagines modern townhouse living by moving away from the traditional model of disconnected, vertically stacked spaces. The objective was to design a family home where vertical circulation no longer dominated the layout. By strategically relocating the stairs to the gable wall, the design opened up the floor plan, allowing natural light to flood the spaces.

The stairs became a sculptural focal point of the home, with its unique design spanning from floor to floor, now detached from any building walls and framed by floor-to-ceiling glass. These transparent panes create a visual connection between the floors, enhancing the sense of openness. Natural light now cascades from the top of the townhouse through to the ground floor, bouncing and reflecting off carefully selected materials, further enhancing the sense of brightness and flow throughout the space. The reflective surface of the adjacent glass wall, seen at oblique angles, creates a captivating sense of depth and space, while its transparency enhances visual connectivity. This effect is especially powerful in the compact confines of a townhouse.

Our firm thrives on designing spaces and elements that reflect our clients' personal interests. In this case, we crafted a staircase inspired by the client's passion for mathematics. The design features pre-cast concrete treads, a central steel stringer, and a pre-cast fiberglass reinforced gypsum soffit, coming together to form a series of interlocking hyperbolic paraboloids, much like a puzzle, providing both structural stability and aesthetic appeal. The staircase features a sophisticated design that serves its essential function of connecting the lower and upper levels. It appears as expected from above, but reveals a minimalist, geometric surface when viewed from below.

By repositioning the structural elements away from the centre of the space, we enhance the client's spatial experience, creating a more open and fluid environment. Reimagining traditional townhouse living and integrating the client's personal interests has created a home that is spatially connected both through vertical aspects and horizontal.

Written By : Jack Sheedy | Architectural Designer | Haute Architecture