PROJECT 09
Ecopark Apartment
PROJECT / 09
Form follows functional logic. The new staircase sits within the existing void and is made of perforated steel, forming a structure clear enough to guide movement while still letting light and views pass through.
SOE is a two-storey duplex apartment on the top floor, with a superb view over the Red River, within the Ecopark urban area. The apartment was handed over as a bare shell by the developer, with technical positions and the stair void already fixed in the plan. This was exactly the point that made us rethink the layout for a more sensible functional arrangement. The old stair void was relocated and the floor slab filled back in to increase usable area; shared living spaces were gathered onto one level, allowing private spaces to concentrate on the other. The new staircase sits within the existing double-height void, so it had to be treated so as not to block the valuable view while still fulfilling its function. We chose perforated steel for the stair because its permeability and reduced apparent thickness create a light, streamlined feel — function generates form, so everything stays simple and logical.