case study The staircase was cast in reinforced concrete and clad with Tuscan limestone
20
structural engineer recommended the use of in-situ concrete floors, roof and balconies which incorporated an insulated connection bar system to avoid cold bridging. Steel supports were easily integrated into the ICF design. The feature staircase was also constructed in concrete. “We’d had a timber staircase in our previous home but considering the need to cast a curve it seemed logical to go with reinforced concrete,” says Tony. “It was cast in situ, with the walls wrapping around the staircase in a curve.” “It was built on site, the timber helter-skelter was put up first with ring beam and mesh, and then the concrete was poured. It’s a self-supporting structure.” The stairs are covered in Tuscan limestone. “Our supplier recommended we buy the same stone for all of the tiled areas of the house, so we put them in the kitchen and hall too, and I do think it works really well. We’ve also put them outside for continuity.” Further enhancing the connection to the landscape and to the views is the use of frameless glass guardrails. “The issue in terms of cost was getting the right balustrade and handrail for the staircase, you can spend a fortune on things like that. I went looking online and found the Prince de Galles hotel in Paris had a style we really liked, and we copied it – it looks like narrow slits of windows. Our project manager found someone local who could do it and the result is a lot more impressive than what it cost us.” For the roof, a concrete ring beam was placed on the ICF walls to act as a support for the flat roof deck, which was made of waterproof
concrete. “I was more nervous building this house than the timber frame one but it all went like clockwork,” enthuses Tony. “Another plus when it comes to building with concrete as opposed to timber is the upper storey – noise doesn’t travel between floors.”
The complications of simplicity
The art deco style of the house dictated some of the finishes. “The rooms are 10ft tall downstairs, upstairs 8ft, and you’ve got this line in the hall going straight to the roof so we had to put in a
SelfBuild & Improve Your Home