A dramatic, interlocking plywood staircase, engraved with email exchanges between architect and client; worn external window frames repurposed inside; and a glass floor in the hallway. This is no ordinary Victorian terrace; instead, it’s a radical refurbishment of a former squat in east London, expanded for a young family.
“The old staircase was designed to be impressive,” says Japanese architect, Taro Tsuruta. “But it was big, disproportionate to the rest of the house, and hogged space.” Consequently, the rooms that radiated out – which included seven bedrooms (there are now four) – were cramped.
Rising two storeys above the ground floor, the new staircase and landings are considerably slimmer. The treads and banisters are made from about 2,000 plywood pieces, assembled on site by carpenters. Slits between the pieces allow for dramatic views as it soars up the house. Look closely and you can read emails carved into the side, sent during the course of the build: “Can you remind me on what basis you will calculate your fee?”, reads one; “high quality fish oil, probiotics and vitamins” reads a snippet of another. “We thought, why not incorporate some of these conversations into the design,” says Tsuruta. “When a building is finished, these conversations tend to be forgotten or deleted. We wanted to keep these memories as part of the house’s history and highlight the process behind redesigning it.” Read more
“The old staircase was designed to be impressive,” says Japanese architect, Taro Tsuruta. “But it was big, disproportionate to the rest of the house, and hogged space.” Consequently, the rooms that radiated out – which included seven bedrooms (there are now four) – were cramped.
Rising two storeys above the ground floor, the new staircase and landings are considerably slimmer. The treads and banisters are made from about 2,000 plywood pieces, assembled on site by carpenters. Slits between the pieces allow for dramatic views as it soars up the house. Look closely and you can read emails carved into the side, sent during the course of the build: “Can you remind me on what basis you will calculate your fee?”, reads one; “high quality fish oil, probiotics and vitamins” reads a snippet of another. “We thought, why not incorporate some of these conversations into the design,” says Tsuruta. “When a building is finished, these conversations tend to be forgotten or deleted. We wanted to keep these memories as part of the house’s history and highlight the process behind redesigning it.” Read more