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Article from issue 7+8/2007 »Steel Construction«

Emergency Staircase at the Palazzo della Ragione in Milan

documentation p. 796 - 797
Architect Marco Dezzi Bardeschi |

Drafts
1:20 Section
1:250 Floor plans

The Palazzo della Ragione is in the heart of Milan’s mediaeval centre. In this project to build a second emergency exit and new access point, the challenge was to create a lightweight structure which would fit the restricted space and not detract from the historic context. The resulting suspended staircase in stainless steel has the playfulness and airiness of a mobile. The tilted angle of the pylon, the diverse twists and turns of the flight of steps and the overall transparency promise an interesting experience for those who ascend. Each step is made up of 116 vertically aligned sheets of glass threaded onto three pretensioned stainless steel rods and bolted to the steel string.