House with Unusual Staircase in San Francisco

Uniquely styled four-story private residence of 325 square meters, designed in San Francisco, USA, by Schwartz and Architecture studio, is defined by its staircase that enabled architects to create a flexible and continuous vertical space.

Using the sloped nature of the site, architects incorporated a garage and additional lower floor. By organizing parking for two cars on a very steep ramp, they were able to free up a new lower-level area for necessary living space. This logical yet distinctive solution provided the impetus for the entire project concept.

The unusually large first-floor staircase actually conceals a car garage, creating additional space for a narrow and elongated living room. This innovation became the leitmotif of the entire project, making the staircase the main protagonist of the space.

A series of staircases leads from the lower garden level to the upper terrace roof, each one viewed as a sculptural object. Although living spaces are often restricted by the narrow urban lot, this winding staircase design unifies the home functionally, visually, and spatially, making it appear much larger than it actually is.

Photos: Bruce Damonte