Florian Markus

This impressive timber staircase is located at the entrance of 3D-milling expert Doornekamp Woodspecials in Waddinxveen. Parametric tools are very suitable for designing organic staircases. For this project, I made a Grasshopper script to generate the steps and balusters, transforming them from top to bottom. Rhino SubD functionalities made it possible to create a polysurface with this bespoke shape. Parametric design and digital fabrication are in symbiosis in the making of this staircase. The spline modeling with SubD matches the 5-axis milling machine's capabilities seamlessly. The staircase is supported by a steel frame inside the wooden envelope. Despite its slender shape, this staircase is very stiff and does not vibrate when walked upon.

The staircase has a parametric design approach. Every step is morphed according to a curve to make the staircase flow. The staircase becomes more dynamic, because of these organic curved shapes. Modeling this slender shape was a fine line between overall stiffness of the staircase and weightless appearance.      

The timber staircase is suported by a steel frame. It is anchord in a steel plate inside the wall. All the steps are connected trough the ballustrade to increase the stiffnes of the structure. Wallking on it creates almost no vibrations because of this extra fixation. All steps are different size and therefore the connection at the ballustrade is also in different angles. This was no problem for the parametric design workflow and automated milling works.