 The design concept for this stair arose from the functional requirements: 1. Creating access to the green roof level garden terrace. 2. The client wanted the stair to be a sculptural object within the space. 3. The design should act like a lantern, allowing light from the roof access to filter down through the stair and into the main space of the loft. With the building’s proximity to the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes, the concept began with the metaphor of water. An image of water was abstracted to a series of pixels that were translated into a series of varying perforations, creating a dynamic pattern. The stair itself is constructed with a painted steel substructure, which is then overlaid with perforated steel stair treads and risers. The exterior panels are composed of 17 individual stainless steel panels, each of which was laid out with a careful system of perforations. The result is a stair that creates a sensory exciting path of movement and light. The sculpted response allows the user to move up and down through the dramatic shadow patterns that change with the position of the sun, transforming the light within the space. |
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