Staircase as sculptural marketplace | Stadtwerke Willich
2023, Willich
Dynamic staircase with contrasting materials and designs
METALLART designed a sculptural staircase for the new headquarters of the public utility unit in Meerbusch Willich, which impresses with its sophisticated steel and wood elements. With its strongly dynamic design, it connects the foyer with the two upper floors of the administration and customer centre.
Asymmetrically curved staircase with powerful presence
The public utility company Stadtwerke Service Meerbusch Willich is a service provider committed to regional energy and water supply. At its new location in the post-industrial business park, it employs 110 people in a 3,500 square metre space. Flexible ceramic façade elements, large glass surfaces and the open design offer innovative office environments and versatile workplace options. In the invitingly designed foyer, the asymmetrically curved staircase impresses with its generous width, asymmetrical floor plan and striking material design.
Strength of contrast with steel and wood
Reflecting the company's philosophy, the staircase was designed as a sort of marketplace, serving as both a communication area and a connecting element between the lobby and the two upper floors. Its organically curved shape and contrasting materials give the self-supporting staircase a powerful presence. Together with our partner company Holz in Form Niedermeier, we created an aesthetic symbiosis of steel and wood that is not only functionally impressive, but also creates an extraordinary ambience with a feel-good atmosphere thanks to its inviting character.
Insights
Project details
- Steel stringers at balustrade height, four flights of stairs, straight & curved
- Asymmetrical floor plan, flight width up to 2,350 mm
- Smooth-surfaced, structurally supporting soffit cladding made of flat steel, welded flush between the steel stringers and the landing soffit
- Closed steel steps in folded construction
- 3 intermediate landings, 2 stair head landings
- Steel substructure and cover profiles for the stringers cladding of the staircase
- Flat-steel construction including substructure as fall protection
- Along the edge of the ceiling, 1st + 2nd floor, straight and curved horizontal course
- Flat steel, 50 x 10 mm, spacing between filler bars 120 mm
- Attached to reinforced concrete ceiling
- Double-sided interior stringer panelling, European oak
- Designed with a radius and in line with the curvature for a seamless finish and homogenous appearance
- Stair treads milled out
- Top layer, front and rear side veneered lengthwise, vertical, sanded, matt lacquered
- Handrail as rectangular profile, seamlessly integrated on both sides
- Solid oak, laminated, sanded and matt lacquered
- Stair treads with folded covering, 44 pieces
- Lacquered oak, oak laminated wood panel with continuous slats
- Sanded surface, matt lacquered, slip-resistant, chamfered edges
- Wood thickness of treads, risers and landings: 19 mm each
- Steps: Expansion joint on both sides as cork insert (3 mm) for stringboard cladding
- Landings: Multi-part covering with expansion joint and tongue and groove connection to prevent stress cracks
The entire woodwork for the staircase, including the wood assembly, was carried out to the highest standards of craftsmanship by our partner company Holz in Form Niedermeier. The verifiable structural analysis of the staircase and railing system was carried out by METALLART.
Further project information on this staircase can also be found here in our news article.
Architecture & Photos
Schrammen Architekten BDA GmbH & Co. KG, Mönchengladbach
