Beneath the Surface Blog

Staircases have become more than a physical connection between two floors; some of the most innovative stair designs around the world are architectural focal points created to evoke feelings of movement, fantasy, and even fear. We hope these whimsical creations will inspire you to skip the elevator, and take the stairs instead!

Sensualscaping Stair (above)

With the use of digital production and fabrication, Atmos Studio has transformed a residential staircase into a sculptural masterpiece. The stairs themselves are a “continuation and intensification of the simple graphic skirting board lines that trace their way through the house. As they turn the corner into the stair void, they expand like a genie released from a lamp, curling and separating and bifurcating from the wall to the delicate edge of the stair treads, lifting into the air to rise as the veil of the balustrade.”

TAF Stairs (above)

Between it's depth distortion, angled treads, and steep rise, this Stockholm staircase takes visitors from one floor to another without taking up a large amount of space. TAF arkitektkontor not only designed the residential stair to occupy a space smaller than a typical closet, but used pine wood as a primary building material, adding an additional level of sustainability.

Umschreibung Stair (above)

Olafur Eliasson used the architectural details of a staircase to create an inspiring steel sculpture located in Munich Germany. The 9 meter tall piece of art located in the courtyard of an accounting firm is just as beautiful as it is puzzling.

Bird's Nest Suspended Staircase (above)

Alluding to the confined nature of a bird cage, the haphazard pattern of steel bars act as a contrast to the monochromatic interior environment. While the metal elements draw attention to the intricate design, they also act as structural support for the delicate wood planks.

Ribbon Staircase (above)

At first glance, the fragile steps of HSH's Ribbon Staircase appear to defy gravity. Constructed of 10 mm thick sheet metal, the system relies on hidden brackets mounted into the wall to distribute weight down to the floor.  Form and structure merge in a winding ribbon with bold colors accentuating the sharp turns.

Image credits: Atmos Studio, Farm5 via Flickr, WebUrbanist

It's no secret that the sleek surfaces of touchscreens, tablets, and mobile devices have proliferated throughout society in recent years. While touch screens and interactive displays have become fundamental to modern communication, Corning believes that their custom Gorilla Glass will begin to impact the lives of people around the world in innovative yet unexpected ways. Imagine viewing your daily schedule on your bathroom mirror as you get ready for work, or using the kitchen counter to video-chat with your mother as you prepare dinner. Futuristic as these ideas may seem, Corning believes that it's only a matter of time before this technology reaches homes, schools, and community facilities around the world.

“Glass is the essential material enabling this new world. The displays and touch surfaces of the future will require materials that are tough, yet thin and lightweight; that can enable complex electronic circuits and nano functionality; that can scale for every large applications, and that also have a cool, touch-friendly aesthetic.”

While most glass surfaces are considered fragile, Gorilla Glass can withstand rigorous daily activity as a result of Corning's intense chemical strengthening process. By introducing large ions to the surface of the warm glass as it is molded, the cooled material can develop an additional layer of compressive stress. This unique defense mechanism allows the glass to maintain its sleek appearance while adding indiscernible strength and resilience.

Any surface clad with Gorilla Glass has the ability to project information from mobile devices, internet websites, and television channels, meaning that a person's schedule, weather, and even shower settings are just a touch away on the bathroom mirror. Though Corning is primarily using the material for experimental purposes on large-scale surfaces, Gorilla Glass is currently used at a small-scale in over 600 products on the market, including televisions, smartphones, and computers.

Despite the strength and technological capability of Gorilla glass, the material is a slim .5 mm thick and 100% recyclable.  Corning proves that sleek, interactive screens have the ability to impact more than just mobile devices and computers; combinations of surface and technology have the ability to revolutionize the way we live.

Image and Video Credit: Corning

The Straight Line Designs workshop in Vancouver is full of whimsy; we envision their studio bookshelves lined with Dr. Seuss and colorful children's books to release the imagination.  Creating custom furniture pieces that function equally as working furniture as they do decorative sculptures, the nine person studio has embraced the playful possibilities of furniture design.   We have the lead designer Judson Beaumont of Straight Line Designs with us today to discuss the ideas and process behind his furniture pieces.

   "Hollow Chair"

gpidesign: What is your general design philosophy? What do you believe is a good furniture design?

Judson Beaumont: Be different. You have to differentiate yourself enough to be able to compete in the design and manufacturing industry these days. There is always someone out there who can do it faster and cheaper, so you have to figure out how to do something nobody else is doing. A good design is one that sets itself apart from others. A design that challenges the norms of modern design and is still able to achieve a great level of functionality is a successful design.

   "The Apple Cabinet"

gpidesign: Your designs are fun, creative, and different. What’s your secret to keeping thinking out of the box?

Beaumont: The secret to our design process is to challenge ourselves as designer and as builders. We strive to design pieces that, while they might look interesting on paper, they are actually quite complicated to materialize into fully functional pieces of furniture.

   "Tear Away Bench"

gpi design: Take "Tear Away Bench" for example, could you elaborate on what your design inspiration is and what the typical design process is like?

Beaumont: The tear away bench was to create a sense of discovery in the user. With traditional wood benches, you accept that it has a flat top, flat sides, legs, etc. The Tear Away Bench is the answer to our question “What is actually underneath these solid, rigid surfaces?”. It is not exactly a correct answer, it is more about the discovery of other possibilities that lie under the surface.

   "Squiddy"

gpi design: Your bio expresses that your rule is: “if you can draw and design it, you can build it.” It seems to be quite a bold statement. Have you ever designed something that is technically impossible to build? Take Squiddy for example, how did you balance between aesthetic and functionality?

Beaumont: That rule still stands true for us to this day. We always try to maintain that old “sky is the limit” methodology that designers use in our fabrication methods. Although something might seem quite simple once you see the final product, the process used to create this final piece may include countless hours of testing and tweaking which actually give it more value. If your design can’t be produced by someone else, you maintain your unique place in the market.

With Squiddy, we sought to give a solid material, Alder wood, a life of its own that seemed other-worldly. Each Squiddy is thought to be an individual creature that only sits still long enough for the user to exit the room, after which it is free to roam around and explore.

Each leg is hand shaped from a solid 2”x2” piece of Alder and finished with a low-gloss clear coating.

   "Cracked Cabinet"

gpi design: If you were given the chance to incorporate lighting into one of your furniture pieces, which one would it be and what would the design look like?

Beaumont: We would be interested in incorporating lighting into our Cracked Cabinet. We are thinking maybe the inside surfaces of the cracked area can be illuminated behind opaque white plastic as if the light is coming from within.

Many thanks to Judson for opening up our minds to the playful side of design!

They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In the case of artist John V. Muntean’s unique sculptures, beauty may be in the eye of the flashlight holder. Unlike traditional sculptures where "what you see is what you get", these carefully crafted wooden blocks are instead, only a piece of the puzzle. The real picture comes to life when the secret ingredient (light!) is added, taking you beyond the strange and jarring visuals of the surface.

Upon first glance, Muntean’s sculptures appear as a jumbled and chaotic mix of various shapes. Interesting, yes, but rather difficult to interpret and comprehend. However, when the sculptures are lit from above at a 54.7 degree angle, the crazy shapes and slopes begin to make sense. In the cast shadows, hidden images – the true visual goal of the sculpture- are revealed. As the sculpture turns, new images take form in the cast shadows, piquing thought, curiosity, and interest.

We can’t help but think of our own work when looking at Muntean’s sculptures. Often times we encounter a surface that appears quite flat, non-descript, uninteresting. To be blunt, it’s just boring. But once we use our lighting systems to illuminate the surface from behind, all sorts of hidden characteristics come to life. Subtle veins, color shifts, and pattern depths that were once invisible, instantly highlight and enhance, truly changing the appearance, and more importantly, our minds. It reminds us that the best visual is not necessarily what is on the surface. Latent beauty often lies hidden within, revealed through the precise execution of arrangements and technologies.

Can you think of any other instances similar to Muntean’s sculptures? Has light ever enhanced or revealed something more to you?

Image credits: John V. Muntean

Unless you have been hiding under a rock, you probably already know that Tangerine Tango is the 2012 Pantone Color of the Year.  Popping up all over Pinterest in paint swatches and as demure sundress colors, Tangerine Tango has been on the visual radar.  Yet with interior designers seeming to embrace it only as an accent color, we yearned to see how the world of the avante garde is putting its twist on this year's hue.

As fashion and architecture can be mutually inspirational, we enjoy this compilation of images as reminders to push the boundaries in all aspects of design.

Above: Craig Lawrenc

Above: Betty Jackson

Above: Chikashi Suzuki for Dune Magazine

Above: Narciso Rodriguez

Above: Alexander McQueen

In these fashion pieces, color, texture, shape and pattern are manipulated in bold moves. Though we continue to see Tangerine Tango being used at a smaller scale as interior accents and in product design, few architectural designers have yet to embrace the full potential of the color without apology.

Is the architectural world too boring? Why haven't we seen any sculptural building facades splattered in Tangerine Tango yet?

Image credits: Elle, DesignerHK, Washington Post, Tumblr, Searching for Style

We love discovering designs that are not only visually appealing, but also exciting and intriguing to our other critical senses. It makes the entire design more dynamic, interesting, and real when it can be experienced and interpreted from various modes of perception (things you can't experience in a Sketchup or Revit model). So it’s no surprise that when we came across the Aeolus, an installation that combines design, sensory perception, and a little bit of physics, that we simply couldn’t take our eyes (or ears) off of it.

Named for the mythical rulers of the wind in Greek mythology, Aeolus is a giant perforated metal arch with 310 stainless steel tubes of varying proportions affixed to outer portion of the arch. Created by Luke Jerram, multiple senses are impacted as one moves through the Aeolus, making the installation both physically and intellectually stimulating.

From an optical point of view, the perforations and metal tubes act as framing elements to the surrounding landscape. As one changes their position in and around the arch, and as time passes through the course of the day, different scenes and light levels are framed through each viewport. Each opening creates a unique focal point that highlights the fleeting surrounding elements (like clouds in the sky), amplifying their beauty and reinforcing their transitory nature.

From an auditory perspective, the Aeolus seems to give life to the surrounding wind and landscape. As wind moves through the arch and tubes, vibrations resonate creating a singing-effect similar to a finger moving around the rim of a crystal goblet. Depending on the intensity and direction of the wind, different combinations of tones and pitches are emitted, embodying nature itself in its own unique and ever-changing song. And just how the human ear can decipher the direction or general area from which a noise originates, the same can be done with the Aeolus. The acoustic dynamics inherent in the arch make it possible to track the wind’s direction and it’s usually silent shift, just by following the sound.

This installation makes us wonder what other instruments could be adapted to a giant scale that interacts with Mother Nature. Maybe some kind of giant drum that creates noise when branches blown by the wind rap upon the stretched membrane? Or maybe a string instrument where strings are plucked by weather, like raindrops falling from the sky? What ideas do you have?

Image credits: Luke Jerram

Interior designers who earned their stripes by purging and organizing the fabric sections of material libraries can relate to this one! Or would hanging these images on your wall drive you crazy? Inspired by the layering and weaving patterns inherent in textiles, this graphic art series Sample Sample begs for interpretation. To create the 2D images, the elusive Zeitguised studio expertly conducts color, texture, form, and shadow in their representations of woven textiles.

Portrayal of Argyle

Each block of color is given its own space, and that space seems to undulate in and out, forming peaks and valleys that appear to have been photographed from an object in real life.

Portrayal of Plaid

Portrayal of Tartan

What makes these images so compelling to us is that they defy scale; the interpretations can range from the weave of carpet, scaly snake skin, stacks of legos, or the massing of an urban space. How do you see it?

Image credits: Zeitguised

You blink for a moment. As your eyelids lift to reveal the scenery again, you thought you just missed witnessing a flock of huge birds shining with light storm through the hotel lobby. Their tails left traces that were still sparkling in the thin air. But when you close and open your eyes again, they are still there.

That’s the dramatic illusion artist Ayala Serfaty created with her light design, Nana 200. The Nana 200 is part of her Jewel Collection, an arrangement of elegant and lyrical suspended kinetic mobiles intended for public spaces. The mobile structure allows the creation of variable composition of shades. The shades sway as if blown by a breeze and their movement creates a magical environment.

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The lamps are covered in textiles of various hues and illuminated with compact fluorescent light fixtures.

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The shape and free-style arrangement of Nana 200 set it apart from other mundane and motionless pendants.

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Apparently free from the grips of gravity, these lighting creations animate spaces with their fleeting expressions of permanent memories. How would you design an interior lobby space to adequately respond to and create a home for these unique creations?

Image Credit: Aqua Gallery, Planhomedesign

When we are developing custom lighting pieces for our clients, one essential question we always ponder is: what does lighting mean to the space?. Should it be functional, mood-setting, or decorative? Today, we have the Stuart Hill, the Creative Director of 44th Hill brand environments agency to talk about the design process for the lighting at the 52 North Soho project.

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The design brief for 52°North Bar & Kitchen was to create a 'home from home' at the heart of Soho in London. The relaxed atmosphere and touches of classic Eames furniture gives the feel of comfort and luxury. The walls have a feathered-like design of wood panels, the furniture is a mix of wooden chairs and lavish leather Chesterfields with soft lighting throughout. A feature wall of painted graphics dominates the stairwell wall capturing the style of 52°North Bar & Kitchen.

“Upon entering, from the front door to the bar area are 600 light bulbs overhead (as a runway of lights) which give the bar and restaurant the creativity and uniqueness that Soho deserves, giving 52°North Bar & Kitchen a distinct design feature which also enhances its ambience", the restaurant describes the atmosphere.

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gpidesign: The "runway of lights" is a brilliant idea. It leads people's focal point directly to the bar. What was your design inspiration?

Stuart Taylor: 'The bright lights of Las Vegas', making people feel special when the bright lights are shining. It draws you in from external views.

gpidesign: How was the strong axis of the “runway of lights” reinforced by the remainder of the space?

Stuart: I kept the rest of the space more minimal to make sure that the focal point was the runway.....all of the other elements were soft and comforting.

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gpidesign: How significant of a role does lighting play in creating the "home away from home" atmosphere for 52 North?

Stuart: The dimming capability of the lights allows the whole bar to create the required mood.....you can turn the lights down near to off, this really brings the comforting feel that we were after.

gpidesign: Often in design, lighting sources are concealed or disguised. In your application, the fixtures are stripped down and raw. There's no smoke and mirrors here - you see the socket and bulb immediately as part of the interior. How do you think this honest approach to the lighting affects the aesthetic of the space? Do you think its more difficult to design using this type of strategy?

Stuart: The mix was to create a contemporary space with some traditional, industrial aspects, the exposed batten fittings gave this feel, whilst adding a focus and a 'home' for the light bulbs, there was certainly no hiding 600 lights..., so I wanted to celebrate the fact and over express their application.

A special thank you to Stuart Taylor and 44th Hill! You can check out more of their immersive brand environments on their website: 44th Hill