“Trucked in” Effect Staircase, Tay Lane, Dublin

The client sought a signature architectural feature for their premises that would be more than just a means of vertical circulation. The brief was for a bold, industrial statement piece, which led to the ambitious concept of a staircase that visually emulates the powerful mechanics of a tipping truck.

This concept informed every aspect of the design and engineering, with the goal of creating a functional sculpture. Our design philosophy was to celebrate the raw beauty and versatility of stainless steel. The solution is centred around two monumental stringers fabricated from 12 mm stainless steel plate. These were not hidden but exposed as the primary design feature.

Large circular cut-outs were profiled into the stringers to reduce the visual weight, enhance the industrial aesthetic, and allow light to permeate the space, creating an interplay of light and shadow. The primary structural challenge was supporting the considerable weight of the steel structure and the heavy polished concrete infill treads while achieving the unique "tipping" visual.

Conventional support was rejected in favour of a more innovative solution. The key to the design is the series of angled floor supports, fabricated to replicate the appearance of hydraulic rams. These assemblies, made from steel rods and intricate bracketry, provide structural stability while being the centrepiece of the "truck tipping" narrative.

All components were modelled in Tekla 3D software by Ken McLoughlin, allowing for seamless integration of various materials. A key fabrication detail involved 3 mm folded stainless steel trays for the concrete treads, with tabs protruding from the main stringers into corresponding slots, allowing for "secret welding" to conceal the fixings.

The erection sequence began with the main stringers, followed by ram supports, tread trays, and finally the poured concrete and frameless glass balustrades.