Vertebrae Staircase: Design, Materials, and Aesthetic Analysis Report

This report provides an analysis of the Vertebrae Staircase, a unique design inspired by a whale's spine, created by Andrew McConnell. The report focuses on the staircase's key components, particularly the landing and guardrail, detailing their design aspects and aesthetic intentions. It examines the structural capabilities of the staircase, highlighting the use of steel and composite materials to ensure load-bearing capacity and visual appeal. The report also explores the materials used, emphasizing their durability and contribution to the overall aesthetic. The spiral arrangement and anchoring to the floor are discussed in terms of stability. The design's aim is to create a unique staircase, with the connections enhancing stability and load transfer. References to key articles and publications are also included.

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Vertebrae Staircase / Andrew McConnell
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Vertebrae Staircase / Andrew McConnell
Vertebrae Staircase / Andrew McConnell
The staircase is one of the interesting components of a house. From the uses, the staircase
has turned to be a key element, which designers must pay close attention to. The design changes
to suit different aspects keep on happening on different parts of the construction industry. The
staircase is not an option and this has witnessed different designs being presented and done. One
of the interesting staircase which I enjoy designing is the Vertebrae staircase, which is
represented on the article by Karissa Rosenfield. Andrew McConnell first did the design of this
staircase. It is known that the design of the staircase was inspired by whale spine, where the stair
is able to represent the organic form of the animal (Rosenfield, 2013 and Rust, 2005). This
article will represent to major key parts of the staircase, which include the landing and the
guardrail components. In details, the paper will talk about the design aspects and the intended
aesthetic factors of the parts. Lastly, this paper will look at the different materials, which are
used, and their intention in the staircase.
The landing is a key component of the staircase since it is able to bear the completely
moving weight. During the design of the staircase, this part must be strong enough to be able to
bear the load and withstand the forces, which are applied. Floor plates are used in this type if
staircase as the main landings. The landings, which are the floor plates are only attached on one
area, which connects to the guardrail. This is done to bring out the aesthetic part of a whale
spine. The lack of double support on both ends makes the staircase interesting and worth
enjoyable in designing (BD & L (Firm), 2011). Moreover, the beat part of every design design
relies on the structural capability to be able to carry the design load. This is well taken care of
since different materials with different strength are used to ensure that the staircase does not fail

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Vertebrae Staircase / Andrew McConnell
under the load. The design uses steel in order to take care of the structural capability to carry the
design load. Steel firing are used in the staircase in order to the required strength capability
(Rosenfield, 2013). Different connections are made inform of structural spirals, which are able to
run through the vertebra and the handrail. In addition, structural foam and the network of the
steel connections are used in the design to attain the required strength of the staircase (Caswell &
Recorded Books, Inc., 2012). The different parts are unified by the vertebra section and therefore
increasing the aesthetic part of the staircase. The interlocking of the parts is rigid and self-
supporting to ensure that the staircase is able to meet the different aspects of design. In terms of
materials used, the staircase utilizes the durable layer of fiber materials, which is able to enhance
the appearance and aesthetic of the staircase. The design of the landings is done to ensure that the
landing will not fail under loss (Rosenfield, 2013). The connection s of steel to the vertebra and
structural spiral are well connected to ensure that the design parameters are met.

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Vertebrae Staircase / Andrew McConnell
components making the landing
The networks of steel rods are able to enhance the structural requirements and enhance its
ability to withstand forces. Steel plates are connected and modified well at the floor. This ensures
that the staircase is well anchored to the floor and provides required stability (Rosenfield, 2013).
The loads on the staircase are directly transfered to the floor section. The modifications of the
vertebrae staircase are done in such a way where there are no hidden supports. The connections
are done well to ensure that they transfer the loading and do not fail under them. In addition, the
plates are design to resist the twisting and rotational forces which can be resulting from the
cantilevered spiral or the steps (Hirato et al, 2017b). The steps arrangement is done to ensure that
additional weight is not applied on specific steps.

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Vertebrae Staircase / Andrew McConnell
The handrail is designed to ensure that the safety measures are closed looked at. The
staircase is able to provide the handrail on one side. The design is able to represent the whale
vertebra part and thus increasing the aesthetic look of the staircase. The composite material is
used to enhance the aesthetic factors of this part. This creates a much admirable look of the
staircase from different perspective. The handrail must have the design capability to resist
different forces, which are available when exerted (Masubuchi, 2010). The arrangement if the
staircase landings and handrail are able to enhance design and appearance conditions. The major
layout of the staircase starts from the floor arrangement. The spiral arrangement of the staircase
is able to enhance the aesthetic factor of the staircase (Rosenfield, 2013). The arrangement is
able to follow the spine of the staircase and therefore enhancing the appearance. The different
material used in the design and construction of this staircase is able to enhance the structural and
aesthetic factor of the staircase. The stell and other hard components are placed inward to
enhance the structural design capability of the staircase to carry the loadings (Hirato et al,
2017a). Additionally, the use of the composite on the outerwards enhances the aesthetic factor.
The composite use is appealing in nature and therefore able to to enhance the attraction.

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Vertebrae Staircase / Andrew McConnell
Spiral nature of the handrail
In conclusion, different designs of staircases are able to emerge to meet the aesthetic
factors. The Vertebrae Staircase is one of the staircase, which is gaining fame and designed a lot
nowadays. With the representation of a whale spine representation is able to enhance the key
design feature of the staircase. The material used, that is the steel and composite materials are
able to take care of the structural capacity and the aesthetic factors respectively. The spiral nature
of the staircase is able to enhance the stability nature of the staircase. The anchoring to the floor
is done to enhance the stability and transfer to loading from the staircase to the floor. The design
intentions are to create a unique staircase design, which beats the norm of design. Using
connections enhances the stability and load transfer.

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Vertebrae Staircase / Andrew McConnell
References
BD & L (Firm). (2011). The Big book of small house designs: 75 award-winning plans for
houses 1,250 square feet or less. New York: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers.
Caswell, J., & Recorded Books, Inc. (2012). The eon staircase. Place of publication not
identified: Whiskey Creek Press.
Hirato, R., Sugita, S., Selland, E., Pourian, P., Bogden, K., Ugly Duckling Presse,, &
McNaughton & Gunn,. (2017a). Spiral staircase.
Hirato, R., Sugita, S., Selland, E., Pourian, P., Bogden, K., Ugly Duckling Presse,, &
McNaughton & Gunn,. (2017b). Spiral staircase: Collected poems of Hirato Renkichi.
Masubuchi, M. (2010). Staircase as a lightweight structure: Architectural and structural
analysis and design. Place of publication not identified: Vdm Verlag.
Rosenfield K. (February, 2013). Vertebrae Staircase / Andrew McConnell.
http://www.archdaily.com/330589/vertebrae-staircase-andrew-mcconnell
Rust, G. (2005). Revisiting the painted house: More than 100 new designs for mural and trompe
l'oeil decoration. New York: Bulfinch Press.