Stairs

A narrow garden and climbing ivy soften and brighten the house’s blank front facade.

In the hallway another set of sliders shows off a mix of influences from shoji to Schindler, with multitoned wood reflecting the sunlight.

Looking straight up at the building's skylight, which illuminates not only the stairs but all the public upstairs spaces.

The stairway is an experience unto itself, condensing the light and the monochromatic wood-wrapped interior present in the rest of the dwelling.

Built-in shelving and integrated storage, like in this wall up the stairs, imbues Mouse House with layers of porosity.

A peek into the second bedroom, located on the third level.

Another look at the impressive staircase connecting the various floors.

"The ground floor is great for hosting; the concrete floors, glass walls, and front yard make these main living spaces feel inviting and casual,

One of the greatest design challenges, according to Franz and Paré-Mayer, was reimagining the dark, unfinished garage space in a way that would “establish [it] as primary, instead of an afterthought to the original floor above.” This was achieved by layering open, linked spaces on the ground floor and sticking to a few carefully selected materials for cohesion and fluidity. There are hardly any hallways in the home; every space serves a function. Polished concrete floors continue throughout the new living level, and a bent metal dining chair with a reclaimed Douglas fir backrest made by Scholz sits in front of an open white oak staircase.