Elvaston Place
Tags: private homes, steel, stairs
- Client: Private
- Architect: Michaelis Boyd
- Fabricator: Diapo UK
- Photography: Agnese Sanvito
- Completion: 2018
- Value: Confidential
- Expertise: Structures
Inspired by Staircase III, Do Ho Suh’s 2010 installation for Tate Modern, this staircase is suspended from the ceiling creating a striking architectural form that appears to float in the space.
The stair flights and balustrade panels are formed from 5mm pre-galvanised mild steel. These were perforated and then power-coated in bright red to echo the transparency, porosity and distinct colour of Suh’s installation.
Lateral loads on the balustrade are resisted with a combination of plate bending and membrane action generated by tension forces in the hangar panels.
The result is a structure that is practical that achieves a surreal artistic aesthetic without losing sight of its practical purpose.