artificial architecture creates translucent, flexible staircase made of polyurethane foam

french studio artificial architecture creates sculptural, translucent staircase made of a soft, shock-absorbing material that caters specifically to the needs of the owners’ children. the whimsical object is covered in a polyurethane foam that is flexible, soft and bouncy, similar to memory foam that sinks under pressure and then resumes its original shape.

the studio used a polypropylene honeycomb and composite fiberglass to create an unusual object that changes color at different hours of the day. its material absorbs light and reflects it, becoming less obvious or brighter according to the intensity of ambient light while its surface feels silky and smooth to the touch at times, and rougher like the surface of an orange peel at others. the staircase is finished with a fluid selection of dripping colors, mixed according to their weight to produce random spilling patterns similar to those made by children playing with paint.

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: sofia lekka angelopoulou | designboom