04 • ARCHITECTURE
Modular Concrete Staircase
An on-site stairs intervention at Loma Residencial serving as the new main entrance to the 4-story-apartment building
Overview
After the three residences at Loma Residencial were sold (formerly known as Artiga’s Golf Club house), the original property faced a new challenge: it lacked a main entrance for the upcoming 4-story apartment building. Since story the existing construction was built one below street level, a new communal staircase was urgently needed.
The apartment building lies one story beneath street level with no current entrance. The street dividing wall is the only possible point of access to the private property, meaning a new doorway and staircase have to be built urgently.
Challenges
Build a new concrete staircase that beautifully merges with the preexisting volcanic stone grand staircase running in opposite direction.
Objectives
1. Build a new external door granting access to the building through a modular, industrial-like, reinforced concrete staircase 2. Add hidden LEDs lighting to each step, as well as a dividing wall for improved privacy 3. Achieve comfortable treads on a reduces space, while keeping a modern, concrete-exposed appearance
Approach
Site cleanup had to be performed, since there were palm trees and a basement ventilation duct invading the area destined for the staircase. Wooden ramps made of boards and timber poles were used as the main formwork, and 1"ø rebars were utilised as the main railway.
Section Cuts
Construction Details
Results
A comfortable, formwork-modulated straight concrete staircase with 12 steps that serves as the main entrance for the apartment building.
Learnings
• The staircase used the standard formwork measurements on its design to avoid waste costs • Junction boxes and stair nose moldings had to be accurately designed • The existing retaining wall provided a useful structural support, reducing the amount of rebar needed
Next steps
• Build the partition wall either with bricks or volcanic stones to properly divide one parcel from the other • Add stone cladding and anti-slip flooring to each tread
Gallery
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