Volumetric Stair Elevation
Interior Stair Studies
2020 Built to alternative design.
TBS was Design Consultant for proposed conceptual design options of.an interior connecting stair. The project for a media technology company is within an existing Tokyo high-rise office building. Structural limitations, fire separations, and lease agreements limited the design to a fairly constrained floor opening size. Multiple options proposed ranged from a compact object like volume to a more expansive stair on an expanded podium designed for employee interaction. The built stair was designed by the architect of record and loosely related to the platform option shown below.
Volumetric Stair Plan
Volumetric Stair
The Volumetric Stair was based on the idea of a ribbon constructed of steel, possibly perforated and painted in the client’s signature red, and tightly wound to minimize the required floor space. The bright color and iconic geometric form provides a visual presence greater than it’s foorprint would otherwise suggest. Fire separations would be accomplished with overhead fire shutters integrated with the adjacent structural columns and walls
Platform Stair Alternate
The Platform Stair alternate is designed to maximize employee interaction. The stair landing expands where possible given the headroom restrictions with the structure above. The resulting platform is developed to encourage pausing to gaze on its elevated view, and space for casual sitting and informal meetings. It is meant to loosely recall the layered transitional entry areas of traditional Japanese architecture with the raised platform and changes in material, but does not depend on that interpretation and is found in other forms of contemporary Japanese architecture .
