Stair
House for Billl Price
This project challenges the residential design status quo, emphasizing the incorporation of environmental and cultural sustainability into its core principles. Through the reinterpretation of an existing typology, it expands the boundaries of what is possible within a narrow urban infill lot. The use of sustainable materials, deep planter guard rails, and covered outdoor patios encourage a connection with nature and cross-ventilation. The house is a reflection of how the relationship with nature and one another is evolving in the context of urban living.
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Stair by William Price
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House by William Price
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William Price Stair
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William Price House
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Stair House Press Releases
Press resources for Stair are offered in several languages: English.
Stair House Media Articles
Our articles on Stair, prepared for immediate use, are offered in several languages, including Dutch, Spanish, German, Hindi, Italian, French, Portuguese, Korean, Indonesian, Japanese, Russian, Chinese (Mandarin), English, Turkish and Arabic (Standard).
Unique Properties
The project challenges the limited ways of thinking about residential design today as it relates to environmentally and culturally sustainable solutions. Under the umbrella of cultural and environmental sustainability, the house attempts to reinterpret an existing typology and provoke thought regarding how our relationship with nature and living with one another will evolve as we live longer in cities.
Tags
Nature, Green, House, Stair, Typology, Metal
Production Technology
The project is conceived as two volumes stacked atop one another. Each is made accessible to the other using three types of stairs. A tapered straight-run stair takes you from the street to the second level, a spiral stair takes you from the ground floor courtyard to the roof and a kickback stair takes you from the ground floor to the third floor. The lower volume is enclosed, released, and partitioned by a series of transparent and opaque walls. They move from the interior to the exterior, where they hold and gather nature, making it available to the interior.
Design Challenge
The creative challenge of the project centered around providing a comfortable living space with an emphasis on outdoor living, nature, air, and sunlight, all within the constraints of a narrow urban infill lot in Downtown, Houston Texas. The design incorporated open floor plans and large elevations of glass to maximize natural light. The three levels of the house feature covered outdoor patios, operable windows, and planter guard rails to promote cross-ventilation and a connection to nature. The use of deep planters on the patios added a lush, green element to the outdoor spaces and created a sense of privacy and intimacy.
Project Duration
The project started in January 2014 and finished in July 2018. Stair House is in the Lower Heights neighborhood of Downtown Houston, Texas. It is situated to the south of the White Oak Bayou and to the north of the rail line to Chaney Junction. Contextually the site is bound by the edge of an industrial zone to the south and the Olivewood Cemetery to the East with two and three-story residential development to the west. The Olivewood Cemetery marks where the First and Sixth Wards meet. It is a resting place for freed slaves and is the first African American cemetery in the Houston city limits.
Research
The Project attempts to bring together the best of the Dog Trot and Spanish Colonial houses while in essence bypassing their limitations. It is a living space that seizes upon the positive attributes of typology radically modified in light of the overriding and timely concerns of our time.
Inspiration
The Stair House draws inspiration from the traditional Dog Trot Houses located in the southern United States. The incorporation of breezeways in these houses promoted the circulation of air, which has been adapted into the Stair House design, both horizontally and vertically. Furthermore, the project takes inspiration from Spanish Colonial houses in the south that utilize porches to provide deep shade, protection from rain, and stairs to mitigate the challenges of second-floor living and being elevated off the ground.
Image Credits
image #1: courtesy of Bill Price and Photographer Ben Hill, editing by Alan Jauregui, 2022 image #2: courtesy of Bill Price and Photographer, 2022 image #3: courtesy of Bill Price and Photographer, 2022 image #4: courtesy of Bill Price and Photographer, 2022 image #5: courtesy of Photogrpaher Bill Price, 2021
Project Overview
Stair House has been a Iron winner in the Architecture, Building and Structure Design award category in the year 2022 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Iron A' Design Award is awarded to good designs that meet the rigorous professional and industrial standards set by the A' Design Awards. This recognition is reserved for works that demonstrate a solid understanding of design principles and show creativity within their execution. Recipients of the Iron A' Design Award are acknowledged for their practical innovations and contributions to their respective fields, providing solutions that improve quality of life and foster positive change. These designs are a testament to the skill and dedication of their creators, showcasing their ability to address real-world challenges through thoughtful design.
Iron Recognition
William Price was recognized with the coveted Iron A' Design Award in 2023, a testament to excellence of their work Stair House.
William Price Press Releases
Our press releases on William Price and their work are made freely available for press members looking to add depth to their content. Now available: Immediate access to 2 press releases for journalists.
Introducing Stair House: A Modern Interpretation of Traditional Southern Architecture
William Price's Stair House is a 3-story, 3000 sq ft residence in Downtown Houston, Texas, completed in July 2018, drawing inspiration from traditional Dog Trot and Spanish Colonial houses to create a culturally and environmentally sustainable living space.
William Price Newsroom
Find inspiration and award-winning creativity within the William Price Newsroom.
