Tommy Rand's self-build house features a CNC-cut spiral staircase

Danish architect and developer Tommy Rand designed and built a minimalist, two-storey house for his family in Aarhus, Denmark. The house is characterized by five rectilinear blocks of varying sizes and proportions, clustered together. A central feature is a spiral staircase made from 630 pieces of CNC-cut plywood, assembled by hand on-site, which provides a striking visual contrast to the surrounding cast concrete walls and Norwegian slate floors. The design emphasizes a dichotomy between the grey tones of the concrete and slate and the warm, golden-brown hues of wooden elements throughout the interior, with the staircase serving as a prime example of this contrast. The project was a deeply personal undertaking for Rand, spurred by a motorcycle accident in 2018 that left him in a wheelchair. During his recovery, he dedicated his time to developing the design for his dream home, drawing inspiration from an old house he had seen on a picturesque site. This period of reflection allowed him to meticulously consider every detail, aiming to create a modern and unique residence that diverged from conventional designs. His vision focused on maintaining a consistent aesthetic and high level of detail throughout the building. Beyond the architecture, Rand also designed most of the furnishings, which were custom-made from oak by a local cabinet maker. These custom pieces complement the oak-framed windows and doors, and oak slats covering the ceilings that discreetly conceal lighting, ventilation, and audio systems. Rand highlighted his appreciation for the combination of concrete and wood, noting how it imbues the house with both a sense of rawness and softness. The layout of the house is dictated by its five structural volumes. On the ground floor, these volumes house a living room, a kitchen and dining area, the stairwell, a garage, and a children's suite comprising two bedrooms, an office, and a bathroom. Upstairs, only two of these volumes extend, accessible via the spiral staircase, leading to the main bedroom with an en-suite bathroom located above the kitchen. A roof terrace, positioned above the living room, provides an outdoor space. Both the ground-floor patio and the roof terrace are west-facing, designed to maximize exposure to the evening sun. The integration of indoor and outdoor spaces was a key design consideration, evident in the slate flooring that extends from the interior onto the patio. Rand's primary lesson from the project was the importance of unwavering commitment to design principles and material choices, expressing daily satisfaction with the outcome of his uncompromising approach. The house serves not only as a personal residence but also as a showcase for his property development company, Markholt & Rand. Mia Mortensen captured the architectural photography. #ResidentialArchitecture #SelfBuild #CNCmachining #SpiralStaircase #DanishDesign #PlywoodConstruction #ConcreteAndWood #MinimalistDesign #InteriorDesign #ResidentialArchitecture #SelfBuild #CNCmachining #SpiralStaircase #DanishDesign #PlywoodConstruction #ConcreteAndWood #MinimalistDesign #InteriorDesign

56 months ago

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