Tokyo
Case Studies
Living arrangements and floor plans
Staircases are an important part of the living line. The relationship between the staircase and the floor plan is very deep, and where it is placed can significantly change the line of flow and the impression of the room. Staircases placed in the centre of the building can be accented and create the look of a family gathering place due to their proximity to the living room and kitchen. In a custom-built house, the staircase itself can be made exactly as you have imagined it, so it can function as an ‘icon’ that exists inside the very house. At the same time, safety performance is essential. If they are not treated during installation and construction, or if they are not strong enough as a structure, it can lead to accidents. No matter how beautiful a staircase is, it is completely useless and meaningless if it does not create security. Therefore, if you are particular about the design, you must also be very particular about how you realise this safety performance.
Beauty and strength
As a matter of fact, our feeling that a beautiful staircase is only as good as the realisation of its strength is still based on the human intuitive need for safety in staircases. For example, if a staircase has a really beautiful finish but is questionable in terms of weight and safety for humans, people may see it as an object, but they may not recognise it as a safe staircase. There are often stories about glass suspension bridges overseas, and I think this is a typical example. People are intuitively concerned about the strength of the glass, which is why they are only able to cross with trepidation. The staircase we created for this project has both strength and a sense of object. The beautiful shape and the fact that it is easy to use even in a limited space make it attractive, while the texture of the steel gives it a sense of weight and reliability, and the coating gives it a graceful and elegant impression. The use of different materials in the treadle part also emphasises this presence.
Pre-construction temporary assembly
Now the first photo shows the temporary assembly of this staircase before construction. The second photo shows the temporary assembly after the first decorative treatment. What is particularly important about this staircase is that we have spent a lot of time on the repeated verification of the finished product. There is almost no need to worry about the strength of the staircase, as this is verified both during the design and during our manufacturing process. What is important in this case is the beauty of the finished image. This requires verification of the beauty of the lines and the presence of the product. We always finish the work by repeating temporary assembly. It is only when we work with a consistent philosophy, from the decorative treatment to the actual installation, that the product is sublimated into an original product with reliability and elegance. This project is a good example of the culmination of all these elements.
