The stairs

Located within an art museum, this staircase embodies the dynamic spirit of the space and enhances the experience for visitors.

Anchored within a massive wall that lines the exhibition area, the staircase’s airy design disrupts the heaviness of the structure, offering a striking contrast.

The interplay between the cantilevered wooden steps and the weighty base and walls creates distinct pathways and visual cues, guiding a phenomenological architectural journey. Like a ribbon weaving through stone, the passage from one side to the other provides a unique vantage point for observing the artworks flanking the staircase.

The staircase’s base doubles as a museum bench, transforming it into a dynamic and static observation point. The glass balustrades highlight the lightness of the cantilevered design, ensuring an unobstructed visual experience for visitors. Meanwhile, the black steel handrails accentuate the staircase’s form, providing clear visibility in the public space. The wall-side handrails are embedded within the walls, freeing up circulation space and minimizing spatial impact.

The steel structure features thin vertical plates recessed from the wooden steps, emphasizing the staircase’s lightness and contrast with the walls. The interplay of colors between the walls, steel, and wood enhances the readability of the space and the steps.

With its thoughtful design and placement within the art museum, this staircase itself becomes a sculptural work of art among the exhibited pieces.

 The team: Albert Assy & Karen Berbari

Supervised by Stephane Chevalier