Suspended or Floating Staircases

July 18, 2019

Suspended or Floating Staircases

In collaboration with the architects, Kikukawa implements various designs including staircases that appear to be floating.

Kikukawa has a history of consulting and providing solutions in the construction methodology, fabrication methodology, the selection of the material and in installation.

The following pictures are two staircases with intriguing structures that contribute to the creation of open space.

The "staircase of dreams" of 'Palaceside building" upon completion — The ‘Staircase of Dreams’ of ‘Palaceside building’ upon completion in 1967

The first staircase is within ‘Palaceside Building’ named the ‘Staircase of Dreams (Yume No Kaidan)’ after its unique structure and design ahead of its time.

The handrail of "staircase of dreams". The balustrades are made from woven stainless steel round bars. — The handrail of ‘Staircase of Dreams’. The balustrades are made from woven stainless steel round bars.

The staircase connects the central corridor of the first floor and the underground atrium. The 60mm HL finished stainless steel round pipes and 6mm stainless steel round bars, that are woven into a net, support the aluminium-casted stair-boards.

The stairs from the first floor. The woven balustrades allows a B1F view. — The stairs from the first floor. The woven balustrades provide a visual of the underground atrium.

The ‘Palaceside Building’ itself is highly regarded within the architectural industry, receiving various awards since its completion such as the 9th BCS award (by the Japan Federation of Construction Contractors) or being selected as DOCOMOMO’s Top 20 modern architecture.

Completed in 1967, the staircase now has extra handrails to further support climbers.

The "staircase of dreams" in 2019. — The ‘Staircase of Dreams’ in 2019.

The next staircase is from our very own office in Tokyo.

The staircase of Kikukawa Tokyo Office — The staircase of Kikukawa Group Tokyo Office

The 216mm PHL finished stainless steel round pipe functions as the handrail and supporting structure for this staircase that connects the 2nd and 3rd floor. The 10mm randomly placed PHL finished SUS round pipes connect the handrail and the glass stair-boards.

From the staircase landing, the clear view of the randomly placed suspension round bars is available. — From the staircase landing, a clear view of the randomly placed suspension round bars is available.

The handrail’s L-shaped detail was implemented by drawing and welding.

The L-shaped design of the extraordinarily large handrail

Implementation of floating staircases requires careful planning in installation methodology and the clarification of factory and on-site fabrications. Therefore, Kikukawa’s ability to undertake consultations from feasibility, detail designing to installation was key to the realisation of this structure.

Looking down the stairs from the landing. The glass stair-boards and the see-through balustrades create a transparent space — Looking down the stairs from the landing. The glass stair-boards and the see-through balustrades contribute to the creation of an open space

As shown, Kikukawa realises metal constructions with unique structures or designs with its expertise and craftsmanship from consultation to implementation.

Please do not hesitate to consult us with difficult projects or in fabrication feasibility of architectural metal constructions.

Click here for more information on Palaceside building.

Click here for more information on Kikukawa Group Tokyo Office.
*Kikukawa Group Tokyo Office functions as a metalwork museum that showcases our various metalworking abilities in details and creations such as the bead-blasted stainless steel walls with 5mm joints, 6mm aluminium with square perforations and aluminium expanded metal facade and more.

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Suspended or Floating Staircases