CASE STUDY

BOCCACCIO

VENICE BEACH | LOS ANGELES, CA

The perception of what stairs mean in the sphere of architecture has been often defined as the artery of the building, connecting the threshold to the interior or exterior. The significance of the stairs has had its importance throughout history from religion to aesthetic connections it is meant to define a space of movement. Some of the earliest connotations of stairs can be seen in the ancient Maya’s stair design, which was decorated with heliographic symbols representing their captures, and enemies anointing Mayan people as superior as they climb up or down the stairs, they were stepping on them. Albeit the stair connection of the Mayans is a form of rising to the heavens as well that many secular denominations attach many of their beliefs.

Speaking about the ancient civilizations and religion Pallasma in Stair Ways of the Mind describes that many of the ancient societies were created to mimic a sense of elevation approached by many flights of stairs cumulating at a terrace. This same design approach has now been seen in modern architecture, where stairs are being used to recreate this effect of grandeur through artificial elevation for the aspect of power. A contrary example to this idea is Le Corbusier’s Chandigarh as the absence of stairs removes the animosity of power and brings it down to the level of the common man, allowing for people to have direct access to their government. Riving the ideas of how stairs could elevate the presumption of power or equated to those with less or none whatsoever.

The concept of the project looks at stairs as a form of space and indulgence of aspiring to be greater than what they are meant to be. To look at the past of what stairs mean and the goals for which they were made and reframe the dialog of what stairs are through top to bottom design which not only connects all the aspects of the household but as well it works to be social and programmatically aware.

The Meaning of Stairs

As an existential need to connect our world and our curiosity to get to higher elevations, humanity has endeavored new innovative ways to reach these new heights. The stairs which are as basic as a dwelling have characteristically allowed societies to give them representations of divinity, and even become a connection to monarchy and power. The stairs have become a culmination of society’s need to elevate important landmarks that have created a profound change in humanity’s history.

1. Acoma Pueblo Stairs

2. Acoma Pueblo

3. Limbourg Brothers - The Presentation of the Virgin

4. Master of Wilten - The Presentation of the Virgin

5. Teotihuacan

6. Mount Tai Steps

7. Heaven's Gate China

8. Water Temple

- 8. Source: Royalty Free Images

Boccaccio Avenue

Boccaccio Ave is part of the history of Venice Beach, traversing and connecting Oakwood Ave to the north and Abbot Kinney Blvd to the south. Being a historical location to many of the earlier establishments populated by a sea of modern architecture. This brought an era of experimentation which allow for color to be part of this exploratory outlet. This can be seen throughout the stretch as most of the residential properties have a touch of color that’s implicit in a pastel color. The project looks at these colors to start and delineate the differences in how color is used to accentuate or to make pronounced call-outs on the buildings.

Precedent Studies

Looking at what is built already, the concept of the stairs came to be from a collection of ideas. The bright colors of the Satwell House and its steel ornamentation also act as structure for the design, similar to the Palm Sophia Rooftop which celebrates the exposure of steel to give it a lighter essence to it. To Lebbeus Woods parasitic designs, allow questioning what the purpose of the stair really is.