Marquette Court stairs, Beulah, Michigan
A daily-use stone stair and paved approach with cheek walls, built for comfort, drainage, and regularity rather than ornament.
The brief was not drama. It was to replace an awkward, temporary stair with something that could be used every day in ice, rain, and carrying tools.
Even riser height matters more than anyone notices until it is wrong. Decorative variation in steps is just another name for a tripping hazard.
The treads sit on a compacted aggregate bed and pitch away from the house. That decision matters more than almost anything visible from the top of the stair.
Cheek walls retain the hillside and tie into the existing field wall at the head. They are freestanding-built, because someone will eventually dig there and discover whether the structure was honest.
Considering a project of your own? Start with a few photos and a short description of the site.