Great Escape

When architect Dan Rockhill’s clients requested an exceptional stair leading to their lofty library, he thought of the wonder induced by metal fire escape stairs that fold away just out of reach. When he found out his clients collected old scientific instruments, Rockhill knew that a stairwell contraption reminiscent of a fire escape was the way to go. The whole language of this Lawrence, Kan., house is steel, including the frame, so clear-coated gauged steel stairs fit that vocabulary. A low-tech but perfectly balanced system of counterweights raises, lowers, and keeps the stairs stationary. Leftover stones from the home’s sheathing were cut for the weights. From below, a firm tug on an easy-to-reach handle brings the stairs to the ground. For that cool party trick, simply walking on the raised stairs from above slowly and gently lowers them into place. The entire stairwell system was constructed in a metal shop, then brought to the site, where it was suspended from steel rafters. Builder/Architect: Rockhill and Associates, Lawrence, Kan.; Photographer: Paul Bardagjy.