Solar Stair

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Scope note(s)

  • The Solar Stair is exemplary of the multi-layered and complex symbolism present throughout the house, combining cultural and scientific references. This spiral staircase, at the physical and conceptual centre of the house, is at once a reference to the double helix of the DNA, the spiral movement of galaxies and of time, as well as to the Sun and solar system.As with the Cosmic Oval, Jencks consulted scientists and astronomers on the specifics of its design. The reference to solar energy was not merely symbolic. In the initial designs for the house the Jenckses hoped to incorporate a wall of solar batteries on the south-facing façade. On consultation with architect Terry Farrell, the plan changed and the façade features large conservatory windows, which allow for the light and heat of the sun to be absorbed through this south-facing wall. It was imagined that heat from the sun would accumulate at the reinforced base of the Solar Stair, then travel up the vertical shaft heating the entire house. While this hasn’t worked in practice, these ideas reveal an interest in environmental and ecological concerns, further developed in Charles Jencks’ later artwork and landscape work.

Source note(s)

  • https://www.jencksfoundation.org/explore/image/solar-stair
  • *A New Description of The Cosmic House* by Edwin Heathcote, The Keeper of Meaning, with Charles Jencks, The Critic, and Charles Jencks, The Architect, First Edition, 2021, pp.13-14

Display note(s)

    Hierarchical terms

    Solar Stair

    Solar Stair

    Equivalent terms

    Solar Stair

    • UF Solar Staircase
    • UF Sunwell

    Associated terms

    Solar Stair

      10 Archival description results for Solar Stair

      10 results directly related Exclude narrower terms
      [Solar Stair]
      -CJA-TCH-a-17 · File · 1982 -1984
      Part of Charles Jencks Archive
      Includes:
      -pencil and ink drawing of a spiral staircase with relationships to the seasons and calendar months indicated; includes dimensions.
      -annotated photocopy drawing of a spiral staircase.
      -copy letter from Charles to Lewis Design regarding the stairs, 2 Aug 1982.
      -pencil sketch of asteroids and planets.
      -pencil sketch of balustrade designs.
      -photocopy typescript document titled 'Solar Stairway' with annotations and sketches.
      -typescript document titled 'The Sun Stair' .
      -photograph of the Solar Stair.
      -sketch of a sun design on lined paper.
      -whiteprint section by Charles of the handrail (folded).
      -b&w photograph of the Solar Stair and Paolozzi's mosaic by Heini Schneebeli, 1984.
      -photocopy of Steelway brochure
      -whiteprint titiled 'Setting Out Steps' by Terry Farrell Partnership with a plan and section (folded).
      -Deconyl nylon colour card
      -letter on Terry Farrell Partnership headed paper from Simon Sturgis enclosing drawings of 'the sunwell top and the Jacuzzi stair rail', sent to Charles and Maggie in Los Angeles, 22 Jan 1982.
      CJA-TCH-a-16 · File · 1979-1982
      Part of Charles Jencks Archive

      Contents of a folder labelled '2nd (where are originals) Sunstairs/ Garden Outdoor Stairs'.

      Includes:
      -b&w photograph of the scaffolding used to construct the Solar Stair
      -whiteprint of Staircase Axon, Jul 1979 (folded).
      -whiteprint Staircase 2 - shell working drawing by Farrell/Grimshaw Partnership, Aug 1979 (folded).
      -xerox whiteprint Final Design Drawing Ground Floor Plan by Terry Farrell Partnership, 1 Oct 1980 with red pen annotations (folded).
      -photocopies of staircases from unknown publications.
      -photocopied pencil sketch labelled 'Underside of landing'.
      -whiteprint labelled in red ink 'Section thru Study and Stair' with further red ink annotations (folded).
      -whiteprint titled 'Cabinet + Kitchen' by Terry Farrell Partnership with pen annotations, (folded) [fragile]
      -whiteprint section and plan by Spiral Staircase Systems, 20 Sep 1981 (folded).
      -pencil sketches and photocopied sketches of staircases.
      -whiteprint section and plan titled 'Handrailing to Spiral Stair' by Steelway. 24 Jun 1982 (folded).
      -quotation from Spiral Staircase Systems, Jul 1982.
      -b&w photographs of a spiral staircase.
      -Steelway Handrails list of handrail dimensions.
      -pencil sketches of handrails.
      -b&w photograph of the spiral staircase by Heini Schneebeli, 1984
      -whiteprint section and plan by Spiral Staircase Systems, 20 Sep 1981 (folded).
      -compliments slip from Spiral Staircase Systems enclosing preliminary drawing.
      -sketch of the spiral staircase showing the number of steps and the relationships to the calendar.
      -spiralbound Steelway Catalogue and Metric Guide with Deconyl nylon colour card enclosed.
      -whiteprint titled 'Details of Stairs and Handrails to Balcony at Rear of 19 Landsdowne Walk' by Steelway, Apr 1982 (folded).
      -pencil sketches of stairs and handrails.
      -pencil and ink sketch showing the relationship between the spiral stairs and the seasons (folded).
      -pencil note on Air France notepaper.
      -pencil notes headed 'list of people and time and clothes and objects' on the back of photocopied star sign designs.
      -Spiral Staircase Systems brochure with glossy A1 folded poster, a typescript letter from Charles to Lewis Design regarding the stair rail (30 Jun 1982) and a letter from ARCAED regarding an invoice (22 Jun 1982) tucked inside.

      CJA-TCH-a-43 · File · nd
      Part of Charles Jencks Archive

      Contents of a folder labelled 'Plans - Designs - Sketches: Lily's Room - Lilies; Bathroom; Floor plans'.

      Includes:
      -whiteprint plan of Lily's Room, coloured in with coloured pencil (folded)
      -whiteprint plan of Nan's Room, coloured in with coloured pencil (folded)
      -photocopy design for the Room of Doubles with pen annotations
      -whiteprint plan of the kitchen with appliances indicated (folded)
      -photocopies plan of Nan's bathroom with pencil annotations
      -pencil perspective sketch of the Bathpool
      -photocopy sketch of decorative elements of Indian Summer
      -photocopy perspective sketch of Winter and Spring
      -photocopy sketch designs for furniture in the Architectural Library
      -photocopy sketch of designs for the Moonwell
      -photocopy sketch of designs for Jacob's Ladder labelled 'CJ Dressing Room'
      -pencil and coloured pencil sketch with measurements of the Sundial Arcade
      -photocopy plan by Terry Farrell Partnership titled 'Main Bedroom Plan' dated 20 Apr 1982 with detailed list of work to be done across the house handwritten in pencil on reverse and titled 'Punch List'.
      -photocopied designs for Lilies by various artists from an unidentified publication
      -pencil sketches of lilies
      -pencil perspective sketch of the Bathpool with design for bathroom cabinet
      -pencil design for a mirror and sink titled 'Shower bathroom'
      -pencil plan titled 'MK's Study'
      -pencil design with measurements for a bookcase
      -bundle of papers with a sheet labelled '2 Themes and an Allegory: The Thematic House'. Includes photocopy typescript document titled 'The Thematic House - The Matic How See' regarding the passage of time and listing 15 themes in the house; pencil manuscript notes titled 'Foursquare Room'; typescript notes on Los Angeles; School of Architecture and Urban Planning notepaper titled 'Allegory: MK. Architecture Defeated/Architecture Triumphant'.
      -pencil drawings of birds and flowers
      -pencil plan of the Bathpool titled 'Main Bedroom Bathroom'
      -pencil design for the bed and desk in Lily's Room
      -whiteprint by Terry Farrell Partnership titled 'Cabinets & Kitchen' Aug 1981 (folded)
      -whiteprint by Terry Farrell Partnership titled 'Final Design Drawing First Floor Plan' Oct 1980 (folded)
      -whiteprint by Terry Farrell Partnership titled 'Final Design Drawing Second Floor Plan' Oct 1980 (folded)
      -whiteprint by Terry Farrell Partnership titled 'Final Design Drawing Lower Ground Floor Plan' Oct 1980 (folded)
      -pencil and coloured pencil sketches of the Sundial Arcade with notes; one page is on the reverse of a draft submission to the International Design Yearbook [submission date 1 Dec 1984]
      -pen sketches of Egyptian wall paintings titled 'Sun well'
      -pen sketch plan on tracing paper showing the ground floor
      -photocopied final drawing for Lily's Room, Spoonglyphs, Architectural Library and Bookhouses
      -biro drawing
      -pencil notes and sketch titled 'Lily's Room' with names of lilies
      -pen and pencil plans and sketches for Lily's Room, including measured plan dated 31 July 1982 and initialled 'M'
      -biro sketches for intertwining C/J/M/L initials
      -photocopied lily designs from unknown publications
      -pencil sketch on tracing paper labelled 'Lily's Room'
      -sketches for lilies [ON LOAN]

      1 Thematic 1979-81
      CJA-TCH-b-2 · File · [1979-1983]
      Part of Charles Jencks Archive

      Contents of a box labelled '1 Thematic 1979-81 '.

      Includes colour slides of Nan's Rom, the Architectural Library, Indian Summer, the Solar Stair and the Winter fireplace during construction, as well as photographs of people on the roof of the Architectural Library, one of which is labelled 'Marcia'. Many of the slides are annotated 'Terrace Hse' with one labelled 'Jencks elev.'. There is also a slide of Ulysse Pagliazizi 'Before The Fall' 1983.

      Stairs + Moon
      CJA-TCH-b-21 · File · 1984
      Part of Charles Jencks Archive

      Contents of a box labelled 'Stairs + Moon'.

      Comprises colour slides showing the Solar Stair, the Moonwell, the Black Hole and 'Joseph with Jacob in Egypt' by Pontormo.

      Sunwell
      CJA-TCH-b-7-1 · Item · [Jan 1983]
      Part of Charles Jencks Archive
      Colour slide, taken looking up the solar stairs. Card mount annotated in pencil 'Sunwell' and stamped 'Jan 83H4' and '18'.
      Lansdowne Walk [illegible]
      CJA-TCH-b-7-3 · Item · [Aug 1982]
      Part of Charles Jencks Archive
      Colour slide with an exterior view of the Solar Staircase. Card mount annotated in pen 'Lansdowne Walk [?Easter]' and stamped 'AUG82N5' and '33'.
      Sunwell
      CJA-TCH-b-7-31 · Item · [Jan 1983]
      Part of Charles Jencks Archive
      Colour slide showing the Solar Stair. Card mount annotated in pencil 'Sunwell' and stamped 'JAN83H4' and '16'.
      Sunwell
      CJA-TCH-b-7-33 · Item · [Jan 1983]
      Part of Charles Jencks Archive
      Colour slide showing the Solar Stair. Card mount annotated in pencil 'Sunwell' and stamped 'JAN83H4' and '17'.