Escher-esque enough?

[Gummy_Void]

:o :o Hi folks,
I'm currently working as part of a team involved in a large office / headquarters for a financial giant in New Zealand. I was assigned the task of designing the bridges and stairs that bisect the atrium space at each level.
Our office has previously achieved success with something similar, and this is to be an evolution of the concept.
My brief was one word. Escher.
Initially I was met with some resistance when I suggested using SketchUp as the design tool. Partly because I started using it three weeks ago in my ‘down time’, but mostly because of the “cartoon’ misconception I’m sure most of us enthusiasts encounter from time to time.
I’m quite proud of the result, but I’m not sure if it’s because I filled the brief, or because I did it in SketchUp
Be gentle, I am a newbie.
Gummy

[{erik}]

Looks great. I have been putting my CAD plans underneath my models and they really help give some extra information you don't expect sometimes. Also it promotes the working design tool representation.

Looks Nice

[sigue2000]

It looks very promising. I'd go a step further and ad a simple rail and maybe a few people to add to the depth of the perspective. I'm looking forward to the evolution of the project. :clap:

Of course Escher would be changing the direction of gravity with every stair. ;)

[franjayo]

How about designing the underneath of the stair slab as steps that follow the top steps, instead of a flat slab as shown?

This would enhance the stair feeling when looking from below.

[primocordara]

There is a good reference for you in Buenos Aires, the Xul Solar Museum by Arch. Pablo Beitia.
I remember having trouble finding out if pictures of it were upside down...

I had trouble finding photos of it, here is one, but perhaps someone has better ones? eh cacapisss:)

[digdoi]

It looks very promising. I'd go a step further and ad a simple rail and maybe a few people to add to the depth of the perspective. I'm looking forward to the evolution of the project. :clap:

Of course Escher would be changing the direction of gravity with every stair. ;)

That's exactly what I thinked.
If Escher is your brief, you should really dare and play a little more.

[cobberman]

How about designing the underneath of the stair slab as steps that follow the top steps, instead of a flat slab as shown?

Adding a railing on both sides would enhance the effect even more.

[danbush]

You really need to spend some time thinking about what part the railings are to play in your scheme (should they be transparent like glass, or verticals or more of a scrim such as perforated metal or what). The drawing you show has merit, but as everyone else is saying - go the extra step now and design the rails and stringers and such.

Looking at that old hand drawing with the rails seemingly on the underside of the stair made me think of the stair in the Solar Umbrella house by Pugh+Scarpa recently shown in these pages...

http://www.arcspace.com/architects/pugh_scarpa/solar_umbrella.html

Also, think about how wide each run needs to be: the lower runs will have more traffic than some of the upper runs. Think of them in terms of brooks to streams to rivers to oceans...

Can you post images from the previous installation that you are evolving from?

[Richard]

Gummy

I like it mate, I can see some opportunity though for cantilevers that add dead end or point of reflection / observation of the space where one may stop and ponder this space rather than the need to feel rushed and a want to move on.

Cheers mate, Richard

By the way anyone seen the movie Gummo (must see on my list)!!!!

[imasayer]

I can't say I agree that their should be railings on the underside of the stair. It seems to be a waste. However, if one wanted that feel, the railing could become the structure, a truss that could become a railing on the top side, extend beyond the treads and a reverence Escher on the bottom. If you used a stair bent from a single piece of steel, the stair would read the same from top or bottom.
I think that you are headed in a great dirrection, keep exploring. I would love to see a picture showing more of the atrium, just to see come context.

[Gummy_Void]

I really appreciate your input. As a number of you have commented on, this is still very much a work in progress. I am currently taking the next step and designing the bridge and stair structure, and adding the necessary detail to the model.
This was really a play on geometry, meeting the brief requirements to miss the columns and have a single spring point.
I'll keep you posted. I do like the idea of expressing the tread / rise to the underside, using folded plate as the substrate. The treads themselves will have to be timber for slip resistance and acoustic friendliness.
I’m thinking of making the bridge beams glulam timber beams, with a polished concrete deck. The use of concrete is predicated by tying it to the beams to form a monolithic structure – and that points towards steel. Suffice to say, I’m all over the mofo.
Gummy.
:D

[Richard]

Interesting material choice, check the engineering though! Timber creeps with time / concrete doesn't. Also water loss from concrete to the timber and composite connection might also be of concern. It maybe a consideration to do a steel / concrete composite and clad the steel with a timber face. Not sure but just wanting to echo some concerns and considerations.

[sigue2000]

I found this on Archinect. Maybe the stairs can hang also?

[Marr]

Looks promising mate! Just one queston: Who the *%#@ is Echer? :confused:

[digdoi]

Looks promising mate! Just one queston: Who the *%#@ is Echer? :confused:

Who's M.C.ESCHER (http://www.mcescher.com/)? ;)

[Marr]

Obrigado, meu irmao!

Of course, I've seen some of his pictures a million times, just didn't know the name. :cheers:

[Gummy_Void]

I found this on Archinect. Maybe the stairs can hang also?
Sigue,
that's the structural solution I'm currently exploring. The engineer came back with a slab thickness of 250mm, and beam depth of 1200mm! They are ha-uge! (which I’m sure you’re all aware, is like, huge x 1.5).

The stairs are now going to read as solid objects, white ploy balustrades, exposed folded plate soffit, with timber treads. The micaceous oxide painted steel beams will still be substantial, in the order of 700mm deep – but that’s pretty good when they span up to 27m. The depth is reduced by introducing the hangers.

I’ll post some context pics when I get a chance. I’m flat out like a lizard drinkin’.

Thanks for the reference image though, I really like the paired hangers. Will explore that option.

Take it easy, and if you can get it easy, take it twice!

Gummy