zack / de vito architecture, san francisco
Lise de Vito and Jim Zack, AIA, lavished attention on the design of the skylight-topped staircase in their San Francisco townhouse. The result—a glowing transmitter of light, sound, and air—won praise from the judges. “I like the luminous quality,” said one. The couple hand-sanded the staircase's clear acrylic treads and risers to achieve a translucent appearance. Waterjet-cut steel stringers hold these pieces together. A slim mahogany handrail adds warmth, and guardrails of glass and steel usher light into the heart of the house.
principal in charge / project designer: Lise de Vito, Zack / de Vito Architecture;
project architect: Jim Zack, AIA, Zack / de Vito Architecture;
general contractor: Jim Zack, AIA, Built Form Construction, San Francisco;
construction cost: $75 per square foot (staircase fabrication and installation only);
photography: Bruce Damonte
