Stair Ways

Staircases have often added a dramatic touch to a house, but in recent years architects and designers have discovered that there is also a practical and very important use for the contemporary floating version. Floating stairs can be very dramatic, says architect Jonathan Feldman, principal of San Francisco-based Feldman Architecture. But because they float, he adds, light can filter through them. It's one of the great architectural opportunities in a building. The problem for some builders, however, is that floating stairs are not easy to execute. They require real skill, they need good structural support, and because of the codes, they usually require tight tolerances, says Feldman.