Living Staircase / Paul Cocksedge

Living Staircase / Paul Cocksedge - Image 2 of 12Living Staircase / Paul Cocksedge - Chair, Handrail, DeckLiving Staircase / Paul Cocksedge - Chair, Garden, CourtyardLiving Staircase / Paul Cocksedge - Stairs, HandrailLiving Staircase / Paul Cocksedge - More Images+ 7

Text description provided by the architects. A living spiral staircase with open spaces for reading, drawing, relaxing and drinking tea forms the centrepiece of a newly created workspace in London’s Soho district.

Living Staircase / Paul Cocksedge - Handrail
© Mark Cocksedge

Designed by Paul Cocksedge Studio and completed this week, the unique sculptural staircase is a showcase feature of a contemporary office development by Resolution Property known as Ampersand. At 12.5-meters high, the staircase provides a dynamic connectivity between the building’s four office floors within a curvilinear atrium, embodying Ampersand’s creativity-meets-commerce brand.

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Detail

Paul Cocksedge’s design removes the load-bearing pillar from the centre of a traditional staircase design and replaces it with a series of zones for relaxation, creative thinking and informal workplace interaction. Planting along the entire balustrade forms a ‘flying’ garden which can be tended by the building’s office community and there is potential for the staircase to include edible planting such as fresh mint.

Living Staircase / Paul Cocksedge - Handrail
© Mark Cocksedge

On the first level of the staircase a Zettel'z 6 light designed by Ingo Maurer hangs on wires creating a place to draw or leave messages. The second staircase houses a library of source books for creative thought.

Living Staircase / Paul Cocksedge - Garden
© Mark Cocksedge

The staircase is of timber and steel construction, using Forest Stewardship Council compliant American white oak. Paul Cocksedge worked in partnership with Arup during the 13-month build programme.

Living Staircase / Paul Cocksedge - Stairs, Handrail
© Mark Cocksedge

Paul said: “If a staircase is essentially about going from A to B, there is now a whole world living and breathing in the space between the two. I hope the Living Staircase will be used in ways we hadn't at all expected! This is the beauty of it: it allows so much space for all kinds of activities. I'm really looking forward to Ampersand's staff taking over the structure and making it totally their own."

Living Staircase / Paul Cocksedge - Image 12 of 12
Detail

Designed by architects Darling Associates, Ampersand provides 64,000 sq ft of high specification office space in a substantially remodelled and refurbished Soho building, with a roof terrace and new entrances on Wardour Street and Hollen Street. Developers Resolution Property adopted a designer-led ethos in their bid to create a stimulating and unusual workplace for prospective occupiers.  

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© Mark Cocksedge

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Address:Soho, London, UK

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About this office
Cite: "Living Staircase / Paul Cocksedge" 17 Jun 2015. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/642612/living-staircase-paul-cocksedge> ISSN 0719-8884

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