neri&hu completes staircase of encounters connecting bloomberg's office in hong kong

occupying a typical skyscraper tower in central hong kong, neri&hu has completed the design for an internal office staircase of the bloomberg office and through enhancing this central circulation space, this vertical connection aims to encourage employee interaction.

all images courtesy of neri&hu

as part of the brief, neri&hu was requested to respond to the context of hong kong to establish a link to the city. the existing spiral staircase was sculpturally iconic but the geometry was not supporting for the high volume of movement.

rising at three levels, the new staircase integrates elements of platforms, landings, built-in seating and strategic window framing. with each of the three levels created with different functions to accommodate a diverse set of vertical programs. expressed as a wooden box insertion, the staircase massing actively denies the view to victoria harbor  and instead, focuses on framing activity within the office. the material chosen was a light ash wood massing, complemented with exposed fine aggregate concrete treads and bronze metal railing accents. the staircase winds and turns to offer unexpected views – through windows, up double height cuts, down large voids and across to surrounding programs.

continuing up to the 26th floor where the bloomberg recording studios are located along with conference rooms; the idea was to create a more introverted space to address issues of acoustic containment and visual privacy. the massing is divided into two boxes, allowing the landing to become the threshold zone that visually looks onto the harbor. the visual framing also satisfied the client’s request to provide a controlled glimpse or ‘borrowed scene’ of the activated staircase from the recording studio as a filming background. the more quiet nature of this floor capitalizes built-in seating provided for a peaceful respite.

lastly, on the top 27th floor, the staircase opens up and is reduced further in scale, punctuated with larger openings and clear glass to provide expansive views. a cantilevered viewing podium is designed as part of the auditorium break-out space to provide dramatic views down the multiple levels and the journey ends in a lounge space.

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