The staircase has always been an integral part of the design, functionally and aesthetically. It is no doubt that Architects all around have been experimenting with staircases. After all, it is the core of the internal circulation. Regardless of lifts and escalators, Architects tend to provide such innovative staircases as it’s not about the destination but the journey of getting there.
1. Vreugdenhil Dairy Foods in Netherlands by Maas Architecten and EeStairs
Dutch practice Maas Architecten was appointed to design the head office of a Dutch dairy manufacturer, which has been awarded five-star BREEAM-NL outstanding building design certification. In the center of the massive atrium stands a visually striking staircase in a crisp white helical spiral design. The material and high-gloss paint finish to it adds even more drama and durability providing high reflectivity and scratch-resistance.
2. Freestanding staircase in Itamaraty Palace in the headquarters of Brazil’s Ministry of External Relations by Oscar Niemeyer
The Itamaraty Palace is the headquarters of the Ministry of External Relations of Brazil and was designed by the late Oscar Niemeyer. The graceful and freestanding helical staircase is constructed from reinforced concrete. It links the floors and indoor garden designed by the landscape painter Roberto Burle Marx. It is considered to be a masterpiece of contemporary architecture.
3. Floating staircase in the art gallery of Ontario’s Walker court by Frank Gehry
Ontario’s Walker court is Gehry’s first building in the city he was born in. The south wing of the building has two cantilevered serpent-like staircases on both sides. Gehry believes they work beautifully on gray days. The staircase features windows on all sides with large skylights and funnel light on the top floor. The whole gallery is unified with a harmonious flow.
4. Sculptural steel staircase in MAXXI Museum of Contemporary Art in Rome by Zaha Hadid
The Museum as said by the architect is ‘not an object-container but rather a campus for art’. The sculptural steel staircase flows and connects the overlapping pathways thus giving the whole museum an interactive and dynamic look. The contrast black color of the suspended staircase is designed to embody the ‘chaotic fluidity of modern life’ to the white museum walls.
5. Coiled staircase in London City Hall by Norman Foster
Architect Norman Foster, designed an intricate coiled staircase for his design for London’s City Hall in 2002 on the south bank of Thames. The entirety of the structure is accessible by the staircase that runs 500m to the top floor.
6. Dongdaemun Design Plaza by Zaha Hadid and Samoo
DDP is the first public project in Korea to utilize the 3-D BIM in its construction. The whole project is designed to define social interactions and inter-related spatial relationships. The stairs have now become a tourist and Instagram worthy spot for its unique shape and minimal aesthetic beauty.
7. Innovative Space Asia Hubby WOHA
A 40,000 sq ft Space Asia Hub is the latest addition of Singapore to its design landscape. In the contemporary design of the building, the bridges, stairs, and removed walls connect the ensemble through its dynamic experiences. The contrasting black and white staircase is one of the famous photography spots of the building.
8. Pompidou Centre by Renzo Piano
The famous Centre Pompidou by Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano, known for its inside-out landmark seeks global attention in the heart of Paris. The six-storey staircase outside provides a clear space inside the museum with no vertical movements on the inside. It runs with a giant diagonal escalator on the facade thus, creating a dynamic ever-changing design.
9. Casa G by Francesco Librizzi
Francesco Librizzi designed this staircase which consists of platforms and wood boxes on a metal framework connecting two floors of a Sicilian fisherman’s cottage. The box-like staircase gives a minimal style with its contemporary elements. It is one of the unique modern staircases designed.
10. Ribbon Chapel by Hiroshi Nakamura
The Japanese wedding chapel is wrapped with two spiral staircases at the exterior facade covering a 15.4m tall structure and meeting at the rooftop lookout point. The cladded in vertical planks of white -painted wood with zinc alloy hand rests to avoid erosion in the middle of grassy hillside gives a calm effect of unity with the views of Seto Inland Sea. The staircase crosses paths at several points and hence provides support.
