1.2 1.3 Rashtrapati bhavan(1929) Baroda museum(1942) Art Deco staircases in Budapest
1.1
The Boston public library is a confluence of Renaissance Revival and Beaux-Arts style of architecture.
Monumento Nazionale,Rome(1925) Boston public library (1895)
1.4 1.5 House by G.B. Mahtre A.G. teachers' clg.
The ornamentation in the staircases and also the central bay of the buildings designed by Atmaram Gajjar were heavily influenced by Indo Deco style. style(confluence of Art Deco and Indo Saracenic).
1.13
1.8a
POST MODERNISM (1972-present)
1.8b
Bauhaus, Dessau Germany, Walter Gropius (1925)
Modernism was marked byAsymmetrical compositions an openness to structural innovation and the elimination of ornament.
Through the location of the staircase and the stair towers, the symmetry in the buildings was enhanced.
BUILDING SECTIONS SCALE - 1:750
Increasing height of the buildings
In the past, there was a ceremonial progression right from the entry of the building up to the staircase and the staircases had a spatial and symbolic meaning.
1.7
A.T.I.R.A. by Achyut Kanvinde (1952)
Mill owners association building - Le Corbusier (1954)
L.D. institute of Indology - B.V. Doshi (1956)
STAIRCASES SHAPED BY PRAGMATICS
MODERNISM (1900-present) 1.6
The positioning of the staircase is dominated by functioning of it. Frequently it becomes a part of a service spine that remains constant on all floors.
FUNCTION
CONSTRUCTION
USER RESPONSE
The detailing scale, width and ornamentation, materials, response to the function, every aspect imparts to the user response.
The bare minimums are mentioned in the byelaws which dominate the distance between two staircases.
The very fact of ease in vertical transition encouraged the buildings to go high. In turn , the use of lifts and escalators have become more convenient alternatives than staircases. Today, the novelty in going up is lost.
TRANSITION OF THE STAIRCASE PROPOSITION: The design of a staircase is a by-product of its times.
REGULATION
Anandniketan Sughad and Satellite A formative design or shaped by form
1.9
But post 1950's, the ornamentation and the embellishments got translated into varying shapes of the staircases.
The structure of the staircase and the materials used vary according to the type of building.
In the past the staircases were metaphorically driven, but today, the pragmatics have dominated the form of the staircase. For attaining a metaphoric expression, colors, shapes and details are explored upon. The purpose of the staircase and the user response is taken specifically into consideration, thereby the level of abstractness and complexity is decided.
IIM Ahmedabad (1961) -Louis I. Kahn
In the past, a space was designed worthy of a stair (a casing for the stairs), whereas today, stairs are placed in a space corresponding to certain specific functions.
But the location of the staircase is the most critical aspect which can determines how confirmative or how disruptive it is towards the building.
1.14
Staircases are a feature, which can tell us about how the architect approaches a building design, and how design ideas prevalent at that time might have influenced the architect. The staircase has been a fundamental component of architecture since Neolithic times, but with the passing of time the approaches towards this architectural element have changed in a phenomenal manner. The activity of vertical movement in the staircases has been given different meanings by representing them through themes like hierarchy, transcendence and a sense of exploration. The key factors that need to be focused so as to make the staircase as a metaphor in the building are size, form and Location of the staircase in the building. DYNAMIC CONTEMPORARY STAIRCASES
1.18 Green acres academy, Mumbai (I.N.I.)
1.10 C.E.P.T. Ahmedabad (1962) - B.V. Doshi
Then it slowly started getting bifurcated into two different staircase on either side of the building.
1940 - 1950
11 12 13 14
6
1.19 University of IOWA, Steven Holl
Today the position of the staircase is prenominated by its relationship with its function.
1.21Gallery- Midwest Commodity Exchange
J. & K. designed by architect Surya Kakani L. & M. designed by architect Pratik Soni
15 16
3
17 18
2
19
1
-centrally located in asymmetrical plan
4
-Peripherally located
A. TO I. designed by late architect Atmaram Gajjar
-peripherally located in asymmetrical plan
5
-off centered (asymmetrical)
1960 - 2000
A single staircase was positioned so as to form an asymmetrical building plan.
2000- 2017
9
-Cenrtally located
1950 - 1960
8
During this time period the staircase was mostly positioned in the central bay.
Exceptional staircases by prominent architects
7
1930 - 1940 “Passing upwards through space on a
ART DECO (1925-1937)
INDO SARASCENIC 1800's -1920
BEAUX ART (1895-1925)
10
STAIRCASES SHAPED BY INFLUENCES
NEO CLASSICISM (1730-1925)
20
staircase; looking around, perceiving the BUILDING PLANS SCALE 1:1000
UP
1.17a
1.17b
1.17c
J.
K.
L.
M.
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
27
26
25
24
20 19
23
22
UP 4
3
2
9
8
7
6
5
1
+0.0\ LVL -
UP
20
21
15
14
13
12
11
10
26
25
24
23
22
17
16
28
27
32
31
30
19
29
24
32
31
UP
18
34
33
DN 19
5
6
4 34
33
St. Xavier's Loyola (1973)-Primary - H.C.P. +2.85\ LVL
+0.6\ LVL
17
18
15
16
12
13
14
10
11
7
8
9
21
20
23
26
22
28
27
30
29
25
1.11
27
26
25
24
23
22
21
20 19
20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10
UP
2
M.G. SCIENCE INSTITUTE (1946)
4
L.D. ARTS COLLEGE (1937)
6
H.L. COLLEGE (1936)
E.
1
C.N. VIDYALAYA (1933)
D.
3
C.
5
9
B.
B.
8
A.
7
CHANGING POSITIONING OF THE STAIRCASE
1
3
2
9
8
7
1.17
1.20 Seattle public library, Rem Koolhaas
PU
TRANSITION OF THE S T A I R C A S E
6
the still photographer.” - Richard Neutra
5
quality which can never be replicated by
1.16 4
space as they unfold is a unique human
1.15
F.
L.M. PHARMACY(1947)
G.
L.D. ENGINEERING(1948)
H.
A.G. TEACHERS(1952)
I.
1.12
ST. XAVIER'S LOYOLA-HIGH SCHOOL (1956)
Cida de Goa (1983) - Charles Correa
ANAND NIKETAN SCHOOL,SATELLITE (2005)
KAIROS COMMERCIAL COMPLEX (2014)
5 4 3
2 1
7 6
10 9 8
12 11
14 13
15
16
19
18 17
15 16 17 23 22
UP 21 20
LIFT
5.4 M
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
UP
UP
DN 13 14 25 24
18 19
11 12 27 26
29 28
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
5.1 M
8 9 10
4 5
6 7
31 30
34
33 32
5 4 3 2 1
21 20
23 22
25 24
27 26
29 28
31 30
34
33 32
UP
9 10 14 13 12 15 16 17 18 19 20
21
25 24 23 22
1
2
7
6 5
4 3
8
9
7 6
7 8
6.3 M
6.3 M
11
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
5.7 M UP 1
2
3
4
8
9
9 8
4
5
3
6
2
27
26
23
24 25
26 27
21 22
27
28
29
31 32
30
21
22
26
24 25
23
19 20
8.8 M
UP 3 2 1
9 8
7 6
5 4
12
17 16 15 14 13
11 10
7.2 M
4.4 M
3.1 M
26 27 28 29 30
19 20
18 28 29
25 26 27
23 24
30 31
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
7
17
6 5
15 16
10
18
21 22
CAPSTONE COMMERCIAL COMPLEX (2015-uptil now)
31 32
20
14
7.5 M
22 19
UP
23 21
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
13
3 2 1
24
12
5 4
26 25
35
10 9 8 7 6
27
34
12 11
28
32 33
15 14 13
29 31
17 16
10 9 8
UP
20 19 18
ANAND NIKETAN SCHOOL,SUGHAD (2016) 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Imperial staircase
Open well (quarter-turn stairs)
30
UP
23 24
DN
17 18 19 20 21 22
25 26 27
28 29 30
STAIRCASE PLANS SCALE 1:400
UP UP
DN
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
1
UP
17 18
19 20 21 22
23 24 25
26 27
28 29
30
Open well (half-turn stairs)
3.8 M
7.5 M UP
12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
9 8
16 15 14 13 12 11 10
7 6 5
4 3 2 1
15 14
13 12 11 10
9 8 7
6 5
Steven Canara Pa104816
4 3
M.Arch,1st year
2 1
H.T.C. Studio
21 22 23 24 25
ST. XAVIER'S COLLEGE(1956)
DN
1.12a National institute of Immunology (1988) Raj Rewal
Dog leg staircase
Cantilevered dog leg staircase
Open well (quarter-turn stairs)
UP
6.2 M
1.22 St. Peter's Basilica museum
References: - (all drawings and graphics, except referenced are produced by the author)) - Book -”STAIR” by Rem Koolhaas (Venice biennial 2014) 1.1 https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/2d/8b/46/2d8b46670a5bd0af49e0ccca7574f008.jpg 1.2http://rashtrapatisachivalaya.gov.in/rbtour/sites/default/files/content_images/lutyens/original/SK4_0957.jpg 1.3 - Archdaily Budapest Art Deco staircases 1.4- book - buildings that shaped Bombay (works of G.B. Mahtre) 1.5 - picture curtsey - Shreya Gambhir 1.6 -https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/76/31/bb/7631bbe2d038bb67b6667b8085dde0e1.jpg 1.7 -Plans redrafted by Bahar Patil 1.8a, 1.8b - Plans redrafted by Bahar Patil 1.9 https://web.iima.ac.in/assets/templates/mytemplates/iima/images/gallery/VikramSarabhai%20Library2.JPG 1.10 - https://evgoesindi.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/mg_51801.jpg 1.11 - http://hcp.co.in/project-details/61/67/94/st--xavier-s-primary-school--1970 1.12 - http://cms.boloji.com/articlephotos/Charles%20Correa%20%20The%20Traditional%20in%20the%20Modern9.jpg 1.12a - pg. 197- Contemporary Indian architecture after the Master- Vikram Bhatt and Peter Scriver (book) 1.13 - Section provided by Shikha Desai 1.14 - Section provided by Somya Mahlawat 1.15, 1.16 - Plans provided by Dilip Patel 1.17 - Organization and coherence in contemporary schools - Saurabh Gajjar thesis (cept) 1.17a - Provided by Mr. Manish Bokadia 1.17b, 1.17c - D & C developers website - http://dandc.in/ 1.18 - http://www.inidesignstudio.com/webcontroller/subproject/the-green-acres-academy 1.19 - http://www.archdaily.com/796941/visual-arts-building-at-the-university-of-iowa-steven-holl-architects 1.20 - http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3045/2364691021_947064eb4e.jpg 1.21 - https://in.pinterest.com/pin/515028907373007610/ 1.22 - http://www.weinerelementary.org/uploads/2/2/8/6/22867982/510373085.jpg
This monograph is an attempt to decode and understand the factors that have shaped the staircase and thereby the buildings in the past and present times. Thereby realizing the factors that have changed, those which have accented through the past and that have come into existence in the present. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: I would like to thank - Professor Gauri Bharat for guiding us throughout this studio. Professor A. Srivathsan and architect Surya Kakani for their inputs. Architect Girish Mistry, architect Dilip Patel, GICEA, for references.
M. ARCH STUDIO - 2: HISTORY, THEORY AND CRITICISM
26th APRIL, 2017