In defense of 33 stairs
Written by Steyn Viljoen on 25 Jun 2026
A couple of months ago we shared the first version of Stilkrans, and we got a lot of criticism about the number of stairs. Comments ranged from “That’s a lot of stairs for a small house!” to “Kitchen, lounge, up and down, up and down”, and a more subtle one: “The house isn’t very kids friendly, is it?”
I deny none of these.
In fact, there will be at least 33 stairs in total at Stilkrans. Some shallow, some deep, some higher than standard. Brick, tile, screed. Sets of two or three, never more than five.
Not one is accidental.
On arrival, you park at the highest point. From there, you slowly drop down with three low-rise steps to the front door; shallow enough to ride a horse up. Not that you'll want to, but you get the idea. You'll hear a suitcase wheel go cluck, a little run across the long tread, then a soft drop to the next. Think walking pace, not climbing.
Walk through the front door and the spine of the house drops down five stairs. They're intentionally steeper as we follow the contours of the land. Paved with natural slate, they'll make for a cool place to sit when the days are hot.
As you continue to descend to the end of the corridor, two sets of stairs sink the kitchen and lounge deeper into conversation pits. Ceilings are now lower, with your back covered. Every up or down lets your body pay a little attention.
Stairs are friction, on purpose.
Stilkrans is not a house for walking with a full mug of coffee, thumbs glued to a phone. It's a house for two. Yes, you'll take the stairs slowly, but that's the point.
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