An escape stair enclosure becomes a demonstration facade. Horizontal sheet metal lamellae with individually shaped edge profiles together form the silhouette of a mountain range.
From a distance, the image reads as landscape. Up close, the system logic becomes visible: each lamella is a single laser-cut part whose profile shape and shadow produce the depth effect.
The system wraps two faces of the stair tower and forms a clear contrast to the triangular facade of the main building.
Challenge & Solution
Challenge
Escape stair enclosures are functionally necessary but rarely treated as a design opportunity. The task was to develop a facade system that creates a clearly legible image with manageable fabrication complexity.
Solution
A mountain photograph serves as direct input. Its brightness values control how far each lamella projects forward and thereby generate the silhouette. Each lamella is a single sheet metal part with one bend - no custom parts, standard fabrication.
Gallery
Scope
Algorithm development, fabrication data generation, detail design, and coordination through installation.
Technologies
Outcomes
Functional stair enclosure becomes a legible architectural element