Client | ARUP
Program | Vertical Communication System
Status | Shortlisted
Location | Arup Atrium at No.8 Fitzroy Street, London

‘"No.8@Arup’ is an annual competition, now in it's fourth year, that shines a spotlight on innovative installations and sculptures from talented designers and architectural practices. The idea is a simple one, we want to encourage emerging architectural practices to provide an opportunity to showcase their creativity in Arup’s London office.

This year, entrants have been asked to explore ideas for a vertical communication system; by creating a stairway installation for the atrium space within the No. 8 Fitzroy Street, London office."

In SJJ’s proposal the role of the atrium as a light giving device is merged with the performance of vertical connections, by imagining a light-weight and light-emitting, central spine staircase that tapers as it ascends the atrium, whose surfaces invite break out, meetings and new connections.

To express this vision of light & movement, we propose a kinetic installation; a series of tapering rotating panels, one face mirror, one face light. The light source is programmable allowing mix-matching of RGB, light level and white colour temperature and the angle of each panel is adjustable. By programming these variables we are able to create sequences that offer reflections and light to all levels of the atrium and geometric arrangements recalling a central spine staircase.

To test out the programmatic aspect of the vision we propose to mock-up an inclined surface in the basement and provide plug in prism elements dimensioned as “tread”, “bleacher”, “bench” that can be located onto the incline to create stairs, meeting areas and bleacher arrangements.

The surface of the basement stair will be seen, at certain angles, in the reflection of the mirror panel above. A moment designed to represent the future as both components are merged into one surface.

During the period of installation we imagine a series of choreographies can be planned. From stillness, to hourly changes, to “ARUP world” to “sequence of the week”.  

Design Team | Jenny Jones, Leon Kacinari, Paddy Austin, Nic Tuft
Structural Engineers | Arup, Christian Dercks, Rachel Ngu, Raquel Dias
Mechanical Engineer | Arup, Alisdair Muir, Barrie Daniel
Electrical Engineer | Arup, Jerry Kuo
Cost Consultants | RLB
Event Consulancy | Creator
Model Making | Millenium Models
Photography | Paul Raeside

To express this vision of light & movement, we propose a kinetic installation; a series of tapering rotating panels, one face mirror, one face light. The light source is programmable allowing mix-matching of RGB, light level and white colour temperature and the angle of each panel is adjustable. By programming these variables we are able to create sequences that offer reflections and light to all levels of the atrium and geometric arrangements recalling a central spine staircase.

To test out the programmatic aspect of the vision we propose to mock-up an inclined surface in the basement and provide plug in prism elements dimensioned as “tread”, “bleacher”, “bench” that can be located onto the incline to create stairs, meeting areas and bleacher arrangements.

During the period of installation we imagine a series of choreographies can be planned.
From stillness,
to hourly changes
to “ARUP world”
to “sequence of the week”

The surface of the basement stair will be seen, at certain angles, in the reflection of the mirror panel above. A moment designed to represent the future as both components are merged into one surface.