Blue Yellow Green
This major renovation was the second of a two-phase project on this 120-year-old, three-storey building. The first phase included the complete reconstruction of the ground floor apartment including a new slab on grade and steel frame structure and a mechanical/electrical service space for the water and electrical entries. The second phase saw the top two units combined into a six-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment on two floors This phase also included the restoration of the original cornice and stone facade, the reconstruction of the balconies as well as the replacement of the windows and roof. Read more
Because the living spaces are compact and open on the full depth of the apartment, a glass vestibule and an open riser stair were designed to allow light from the front and back windows to penetrate deeply into the apartment. The staircase, which was fabricated, assembled, and painted off-site and delivered in one piece to the unit, is composed only of steel plates and perforated panels for simplicity of construction and for maximum transparency.
Above the staircase, there is a large skylight that brings light down from the roof level to the living spaces two floors below. The landing and stringer are spaced 1” from the wall to let the light wash the wall continuously from above. The perforated steel guardrail was chosen to let the direct and reflected light pass through to the spaces below but with sufficient thickness that the plate does not warp or buckle. Behind the staircase and below the skylight, the double-height yellow wall brightens up the entire unit on both floors and provides a contrasting background for the dark staircase.