How can a staircase become something more than simply a means of moving from floor to floor? Paul Cocksedge has answered this question with his project, “The Living Staircase”.
The London-based designer was commissioned by Resolution Property to create a swirling staircase that will be the focal point of Ampersand, a state-of-the-art creative office development in London's Soho area.
After examining the structure of a staircase, Cocksedge discovered that by expanding its diameter and removing the traditional central, load-bearing pillar, a new hidden space could be revealed at its centre. As people emerge onto the staircase from each floor, they are able to enter the centre of the spiral and into social spaces devoted to a specific activity: a place to draw, to read a novel or to pick fresh mint for tea.
Everything about “The Living Staircase” relates directly to the people using it, including the plants along the balustrade, which are not intended as mere decoration but envisaged as a working garden. Individual members of the Ampersand team will care for each of the plants.
The four-storey structure is lined with lush plant life that infuses the modern interior of the office with greenery.
