Spiral stairs in striking design
Self-supporting spiral stairs
Since May 2017 there is the PANEUM – the house of bread – in the Austrian municipality of Asten. The building was planned by the architects of Coop Himmelb(l)au.
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Project description
Spiral stairs in the PANEUM in Asten
The base of the angular building serves as venue and customer information centre. On top there is the Wunderkammer des Brotes, a museum which highly fascinates due to its outstanding architectural design. The self-supporting spiral stairs with parapet-high stringers represent the heart of the museum. Walking on the spiral stairs the visitors have a perfect view on the floating objects referring to bread and baking. The natural light shining from the roof onto the spiral stairs creates the unique atmosphere. Apart from this, the museum is only sparsely lit.
The company offers the entire engineering – 3D construction, static calculation and production – in a one-stop-shop. For the spiral stairs the design engineering was completely realised with CAD. This enabled various displays from any perspective requested.
It was extremely challenging to mount the spiral stairs as it was transported in large sections (approx. 4,5 tons each) with a building crane from above via the open roof. By means of a concrete collar the stairs were finally installed. Beside the verifiable structural calculations for the spiral stairs MetallArt was responsible for the complete mounting construction.
The spiral stairs were awarded for the “staircase of the year 2017”.
Project details
Spiral staircase
The five flights and the conical design of the spiral stairs lead to its imposing character. The flight width from the bottom to the top of the stairs varies from 1,475 mm to 2,500 mm and the amount of steel used for the outer and inner stair stringers rises in accordance with the increasing height.
Stainless steel handrail of the spiral staircase
The handrail is made of a stainless steel tube. It was welded on the outer and inner balustrade stringer of the spiral stairs. A notch at the bottom of the stainless steel tube allows for the LED lighting. The handrails were all finished in an evenly ascending and rounded design.
Balustrade stringers of the spiral stair
The MetallArt experts realized the spiral stairs with steel treads and landings welded in between the stair stringers. The stringers themselves were fastened at the top and the bottom to the load-bearing concrete stairs in a force-closed manner.
Soffit cladding of the spiral staircase
It is however not only the shape that makes the stairs an eyecatcher. The structurally supporting soffit lining made of steel has become a crucial element of interior design. Even for this staircase, placed in the middle of the room, the underside cladding is the key element for its sculptural appearance.
All-glass balustrades
Transparent all-glass railings at all three levels and the illumination along the outer handrails produce a striking interplay of materials and light.
Architects
COOP HIMMELB(L)AU Wolf D. Prix & Partner ZT GmbH, Vienna
