Jonathan Cai

BOKEH.
Staircase + Breakaway Space
Multilevel

Bokeh is defined as the effect of a soft-out of focus background, as the stairs lead you to different levels that allow users to tuck themselves away onto different floors of the building. The stairs and platforms seemed to be floating within the space utilizing light weight carbon fiber and glass to create reflections.

The different levels can be used for seating, observing and overseeing the entire exhibition space from above.

Paired with the stairs and different levels are 2 towers that house elevators for ease of access to the different floors, the black screens cover the entire towers illuminating it when there is no natural light.

Below each of the levels of the staircase is black glass that reflects the exhibition space below it.

PROCESS

This idea of creating multi-levels to create different 'roosting' areas where people could look at the exhibition from above as well as break away from the main areas of the space came initially from my exhibition design. Which was abandoned due to the lack of connection to the site.

I wanted to create something that would link back to the first things I noticed about the site. Which was the verticality of the space and to bridge that connection I wanted something that seemed more weightless.

This quickly developed into a much more open design that allowed natural light to break through the floors. However the idea of trying to be weightless backfired with the multiple poles that gave a heavier look to the stairs.

However I wanted to keep the idea of connecting the floors so I kept the glass flooring and openness of the design in my next idea.