Completed: September 2014
This cantilevered wooden staircase’s effectiveness is in its simplicity and elegance.
All treads are manufactured in Imbuya which is a tropical wood completed with a fine spindle balustrade in black and bronze finish.
The stair consists of a structural steel spine concealed within the core of the stairs.
The wood treads are fabricated in modules to encapsulate a steel core and give the appearance of a solid piece of wood and as to appear as if it was a stacked chucky block effect.
Due to the character of the wood, all boards were carefully book batched by our joiners to best manufacture each treads while maintaining consistency and a clear contrast in pattern and color to each board.
Completed: March 2013
Elegant simplistic stair to complement a minimalist interior penthouse
The brief was to create clean sleek cantilevered stairs with glass box treads.
Treads are a concealed box made out of glass and high-diffusion opaque fiber glass.
The treads enigmatically reveal themselves as a luminous box set off a white wall floating seemingly and defying gravity
The fabrication is a combination of a steel structure to provide structural integrity with the cleverly and delicately detailed and implemented glass boxes blending into the composition of space and structural reliability. The glass balustrade to stairs and landing is free floating to the edge of the glass boxes.
Through extensive testing, development and consultation with various trades (fiberglass/ lighting/ engineers), the stair in its hidden complexity has become a visually pleasing and focal feature.
Completed: July 2014
The brief was to create a sculptural monolithic look with an emphasis on a sticking zigzag soffit and linear shapes.
The emphasis is on the use of raw and unpolished material to reinforce spatial perception.
Monolithic and linear wood and steel balustrade contrast and add warmth to the slick interior.
Concept developed with Paul Crofts Studio
Completed: February 2014
The main feature of the stairs consist of building up layers of CNC cut laminated timber to form a monolithic stepped soffit, which gives the stairs a unique beautifully sculptured feel.
Chinese puzzle OR precise engineering While the stepped ply soffit and form could have various geometry and interpretation, the stairs comprise of a complementary steel frame to allow its structural integrity and allowing for the wood soffit to be fitted with acute precision.
Who said it doesn’t get more Complex To tackle the complexity of the transition detail of the steeped ply soffit at the winders a sweeping interlocking solution coupled with clever engineering has allowed a CNC laminated process to drives the overall design and construction of stairs, this process has formed an essential part of the geometry and finish product.
and it gets more exciting The stairs is completed with a continuous blackened patinated steel balustrade to contrast the wood soffit and emphasis on its sculptural impact
Completed: April 2013
Diapo has been commissioned from the early design development stage thought to the manufacturing of this unique feature central staircase.
The Brief _ was to create a sculptural monolithic look with an emphasis on unconventional forms and shape. This stunning feature stair is a self supported scissor stairs in quarter moon shape features curved natural stone and exotic wood to provide a luxurious and exquisite finish. Emphasis is mainly on creating a continuous and homogenous flow throughout the intricate details of the whole entity. Features also include full height glass balustrade recess handrail and hidden lighting.
Manufacturing _ Stairs steel structure consists of continuous steel folded plates braced between Zig Zag stringer creating a steel mono-coque structure which would act as an inner core to be fully clad. At its widest point the stairs is a grand 3.5 meters wide down to 1 meter While the internal run of treads is to be top clad in curve natural stone the under soffit in contrast would be in hard wood. Once again whether the challenge in manufacturing, our well considered and carefully dedicated team tallied with a good network of suppliers Diapo has elevated itself beyond the expectation.
Completed: August 2013
Doh Ho Suh red hanging staircase floating high up in a gallery at Tate Modern “Staircase-III” was the inspirational brief.
Tasked with creating a staircase for a split level property, our team was set the challenge to produce a staircase completely hanging off the existing building structure.
Material _ Firstly our choice of material had to echo the lightness, the flexibility, translucence and porous contrasts with the solidity of the original architectural structure which Suh has emulated through his work.
Perforated Steel Sheet as our choice of material provided both the contrast in transparency and structural integrity required.
The transparency becomes very evident as the perforation and light condition gives a different experience at different times of day.
The sense of space and gravity is experienced by the viewer as a stair hanging and floating in space. Furthermore for the user, seemingly floating as their silhouette floats up and down the stairs.
The Color Red remained true to Suh choice of color which works predominantly as a means of removing the structure from its original context, and “heightening the dream-like intensity of a recognisable structure that appears to hover and float overhead”.
Completed: January 2013
A minimal yet warm staircase with slim stringer an open wood treads was carefully designed and configured for the conversion of a split level duplex flat.
We introduced a staircase which is incredibly light visually with an elegant use in natural materials.
Stairs sub frame and stringers mild steel powder coated. Treads clad with smoked oak as to appear as if a solid piece giving a modern crafted feel to it.
Glass balustrade to stairs and landing is free floating acting as a screen to provided a sleek solution to landing as well as staircase balustrade
Completed: January 2013
Designed to seamlessly link the living room and newly excavated basement kitchen this cantilevered wooden staircase effectiveness is in its simplicity and elegance.
To overcome the transition has no wall the stairs extends into a freestanding cranked steel stinger, hard wood treads, complimented with an internal glass balustrade.
With The absence of any side fixings it is an effective way to give the whole staircase the impression of floating within its environment.
The structural stringer is concealed within the wall for treads made from folded steel trays fully clad with American white oak so as to appear as if a solid piece,
Along with the glass clamped to edge of treads its transparency blends into the wood
and its surroundings
Completed: March 2012
Tasked with creating a staircase running up five flights from the basement to the roof in a luxury Mayfair property, the team were set the challenge of producing a set of cantilevered stairs that had no direct bearing on the side walls.
The final solution was this visually stunning set of stairs, comprising of a freestanding cranked steel stinger, hard wood treads, complimented with an internal glass balustrade. The absence of any side fixings giving the whole staircase the impression of floating within its environment.
The treads are made from folded steel trays and along with the glass clamps fully clad with American white oak so as to appear as if a solid piece, the zigzag box steel stringer sprayed white to blend harmoniously with its surroundings and subtle low level lighting used to help highlight the path.
Completed: January 2012
This light an elegant internal cantilevered staircase is constructed from mild steel plate
While the treads are cantilevered from the wall, the strength came from the balustrade structure which acts primarily as a barrier and a stringer to the treads.
The treads and half landing (W3500xD1500) are constructed as a mono-coque internal structure with a depth of 50mm giving the whole structure a slim look.
The manipulation of steel combined with engineering and high end craftsmanship makes this a seamless piece and a sculptural clean and fluid feature
Metal – Mild steel raw steel finish
Black wax polish finished applied (heat process) to even out surface color
Completed: February 2011
Elegant simplistic stair complements a fully converted terrace house with a brief to create a light frame stairs with an open look.
This feature staircase is a scissor type cantilever structure with open risers and solid oak steps
The stairs is set within a double height fully glaze atrium extension to rear face of the building and offer a generous array of luminosity to this open plan space
Stairs is fabricated in mild steel powder coated. Glass balustrade to stairs and landing is free floating secured within a pocket system.
Completed: July 2011
Two feature glass staircases set within a double height glaze atrium of a newly built modern development
The glass staircase floating across the atrium provides transparency, luminosity
and lightness to this open space.
With a light steel frame the stairs consist of two offset cut stringers acting as a support frame structure for UV bonded glass treads and risers fixed to the frame in a continuous run.
Its transparency is maintained with toughened glass panels side mounted that form the balustrade /with the handrail wall mounted.
JK Chartered Architects http://www.jkarchitects.co.uk/
Completed: February 2011
Elegant simplistic stair complements a fully converted terrace house with a brief to create a light frame stairs with an open look.
This feature staircase is a scissor type cantilever structure with open risers and solid oak steps
The stairs is set within a double height fully glaze atrium extension to rear face of the building and offer a generous array of luminosity to this open plan space
Stairs is fabricated in mild steel powder coated. Glass balustrade to stairs and landing is free floating secured within a pocket system.
Completed : December 2010
This cantilever glass helical stair has been developed by Diapo’s design team over many weeks before finalising this stunning architectural feature.
Through extensive testing, development and consultation with our structural engineers, we were able to put all of our knowledge and experience to dramatic effect
Each glass tread was cantilevered 1300mm and weighed over 80kgs. Amazingly this is only supported by a 80mm wide stringer and was tested to take 1 metric ton at its tip.
The entire stair coil around a 4 meter diameter fish aquarium at 15 meter high, each tread suspended 40mm from its face. Gallery balustrade were also commissioned to complete the circular atrium surrounding the Aquarium. With sweeping glass balustrade around the two upper levels, while the building offers 360˚ views of Gleneagles’ Queen’s Course and the countryside beyond.
To see more on the development of this stair please go to
http://diapo.co.uk/news/gleneagles-glass-test-rig.html
http://diapo.co.uk/projects/julian-hunter-architects-gleneagles-scotland.html
Julian Hunter architect http://www.jharchitects.co.uk
Completed: August 2009
Two spectacular feature sweeping double helical staircases set within a double height gallery entrance of a newly built luxurious and contemporary regency style villa. Stairs are fabricated in mild steel, finished with white coat, inlaid with stone treads and risers and rendered under soffit to create a perfect monolithic entity. Glass balustrade to stairs and landing is free floating finished with a fluid sweeping Oak handrail.
Courtesy of the Hyatt Group – http://www.hyattgroup.co.uk/
Completed: September 2011
This minimal yet warm staircase was carefully configured and constructed for a mews house following the removal of an existing stairs.
We introduced a staircase which is incredibly light visually yet remain strong and rigid. The rough sawn smoked oak then clad the frame giving a modern yet crafted feel to the elegant over all form.
It is structurally a Mild steel sub frame incl. slim stringers, fully clad in wood. The large glass panels provided a sleek solution to landing as well as staircase balustrade.