Spiral steel staircase with glass balustrade as statement
2023, Rosenfeld
Premium architecture meets engineering excellence
In the new customer centre of Blickle Räder+Rollen GmbH in Rosenfeld, a self-supporting spiral steel staircase with glass balustrades stands out as a central architectural highlight. This sculptural staircase showcases sustainable engineering and aesthetic functionality, setting a benchmark for innovation and top-tier quality.
In perfect architectural form
At the site near Lake Chiemsee, around 150 employees develop collections for the international fashion label Marc O'Polo. The headquarters were expanded with the House of Product in 2023. The three floors of the innovative new buidling offer an open, light-flooded working atmosphere with flexible utilisation and right in the middle: the self-supporting steel staircase as a design sculpture. It appears as a twisted band of steel that seems to float through the space. Without wall contact, with a surrounding gallery and generous air space on both upper floors, the staircase offers a view of its full height. The underside and lateral stringers of the self-supporting steel staircase form a dark, monolithic contrast to the setting.
Elliptical work of art with contrasting materials
The self-supporting steel staircase follows an ellipsoidal geometry with three different radii and up to four radius changes per flight. Its soffit cladding made of flush-welded flat steel sheets provides structural support and optimises the vibration behaviour.
Light European oak wood for the steps and handrails provides a warm contrast to the black steel structure. Special design details such as the continued steel and wood elements on the ceilings and landings as well as linear LED handrail lighting emphasise the remarkable appearance of the self-supporting steel staircase.
METALLART coated the visible steel components with a fire-retardant fire-preventive paint using a roller process - including intermediate sanding for a refined surface finish.
Insights
Project details
- 6-flight self-supporting steel staircase with ellipsoidal layout
- 3 different radii, up to 4 radius changes per flight
- Parapet-high flat steel stringers (up to 1,120 mm) for fall protection
- Folded steel stair treads welded between the stringers
- Flight width: approx. 1,600 mm
- 6 landings (entrance, exit and intermediate landings)
- Structurally supporting soffit cladding made of 5-8 mm flat steel elements
- Anchored to unfinished floor with steel plates and dowel connections
- Structurally supporting soffit cladding made of inclined steel sheet: reduced material usage and improved vibration behaviour
- Angled design due to varying stringer heights: minimised exterior profile
- Integrated cut-outs and conduits for soffit lighting
- Provisions for sprinkler system in the steel bridge
- Curved, transparent glass balustrades for fall protection
- Horizontally continuous around floor voids
- Straight sections on both sides of steel bridge on floor 2
- Glazing bonded stress-free into the METALLART-certified frame profile system, sealed with EPDM gaskets or elastic sealant
- Project-specific approval based on General Building Inspection Certificate (AbP) due to lack of standard DIN conformity
METALLART handled all services for the spiral steel staircase with glass balustrade, including:
- Planning, structural calculations, vibration analysis
- Fabrication and installation
- Glass balustrade certification (AbP)
- Sustainable implementation to DGNB Platinum standard
Architecture
SCHMELZLE+PARTNER mbB Architekten BDA
Photos
Bernhard Kahrmann
