Sculptural outdoor stairs with flat-steel stringers at the Steinwies school
2024, Schwerzenbach near Zurich
The sculptural outdoor stairs at the Steinwies school building in Schwerzenbach is an architectural masterpiece made of steel. With its striking spiral shape and dimensionally stable soffit cladding, it is the highlight of the new building - both functionally and aesthetically.
Architectural showpiece of character
The extension to the Steinwies school building in Schwerzenbach, Canton Zurich, which was completed in 2024, presents itself as a compact, three-storey new structure. One outstanding element is the sculptural outdoor stairs, which not only functionally connect the storeys, but also serve as a striking design element. With their expressive, spiralling shape, they create an exciting contrast to the clear, linear architecture of the school building.
The dark façade design, which continues right up to the stairs, gives the new building a striking presence. Inside, the contrast continues with light colours and warm wooden elements - an architectural interplay of opposites that gives the building vibrancy and character.
Sculptural outdoor stairs as accessible art in steel
The free-standing spiral stairs connect the ground floor with the first and second upper floors via a sheltered entrance on the south side. The even curves, generous dimensions and high-quality finishing make it a real architectural highlight - functional and at the same time dominant in terms of design.
Insights
Project details
- Self-supporting box-type stringer construction of welded rectangular H-sections to accommodate the glass railings
- Spiral layout, ground floor – 1st floor
- 1 intermediate landing
- Steel tread steps in folded design, welded in between the box-type stringers
- Spacious effective width of 1,600 mm
- Smooth soffit cladding made of steel sheet
- Flush welded in between the stringers, according to the ascending spiral run of the steel stairs
- Structural advantage and improved vibration behaviour
- Homogenous look for the steel stairs
- Rolled stainless steel round tubes, ascending run
- Diameter 48 mm
- Fixed by means of a neoprene intermediate layer, top-attached onto the glass railing
- According to the structural requirements of the steel stairs and the glass railings
Architecture
Schmid Ziörjen Architektenkollektiv, Zurich
Photos
Losys GmbH, Glattbrugg
losys.ch
