Sculptural staircases are a design category usually reserved for the indoors, however, Dutch studio Architectuur Maken takes this aesthetic potential to the outdoors with De Niewe Herdgang. Situated in the Netherlands, just outside the city of Tilburg, the structure rises to 25 meters and acts as a watchtower for individuals to enjoy the surrounding landscape. The structure acts to "mentally reconnect" three surrounding regions: Moerenburg, Koningshoeven, and the Oisterwijske.
The sculptural staircase, which looks like a triangle from an aerial point of view, was a design intervention to "restore a neglected patch of land." Its shape is intentional and it ties to the heritage of the region. It references "the historical herdgang, a triangular intersection where shepherds gathered cattle and founded settlements."
Image Credit: Stijn Poelstra
What's Driving This Trend
- Outdoor Sculptural Architecture
- The trend of designing sculptural staircases outside of traditional indoor settings has potential for disruptive innovation in landscape architecture and outdoor recreation.
- Heritage References in Modern Design
- The trend of incorporating nods to local history provides opportunities for disruptive innovation in architecture and urban planning.
- Mental Restoration Through Design
- The trend of designing structures with the intention of mental restoration has potential for disruptive innovation in the wellness and mental health industries.
Who This Affects Most
- Landscape Architecture
- The use of sculptural staircase design in outdoor settings creates opportunities for innovation in the field of landscape architecture.
- Urban Planning
- Incorporating heritage references in modern design offers opportunities for innovation in urban planning and community development.
- Tourism and Recreation
- Designing structures for mental restoration offers potential for innovation in the tourism and recreation industries to attract customers seeking unique experiences with the added value of wellness benefits.
