How Did Benson & Forsyth Do This?
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Is norman foster best practice? about that handrail in the middle?
@wearnicehats wrote:
I knew this had been brought up before
https://archiseek.com/content/showthread.php?t=3690
this is also relevant
http://historical-debates.oireachtas.ie/D/0620/D.0620.200605300173.html
Thanks wearnicehats, should have looked properly for that.
Somehow I don’t think B&F would be likely to have a chat about the issues raised if I were to call them.
Its interesting though:
“the Commissioners of Public Works requested a detailed report from the Gallery’s architects, Benson & Forsyth who advised that the stairs were in compliance with the relevant building regulations”.Simple really.
Just depends on your attitude to risk.missarchi noted earlier: “everyone so worried about not getting sued these days there is not much room for architecture…”
I think on balance I would be prepared to take a risk and go with more than 16 risers if I felt there was a justifiable design reason and I had taken some form of compensatory measure(s).
However, shouldn’t the question really be whether my client wants that risk of a resultant claim thrust upon him?
He may be supportive of my design intentions, but I am certain he will have no appetite for even having to defend against a single claim from that inevitable chancer.
As an architect it is my duty to not place him in that potential position.
Four little spills on the Gallery stair already. The big one will come one day after a few glasses of vino in the upper restaurant (when it reopens).
I doubt whether a presiding judge would accept B&F’s reassurances.Rock on Siza:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpmm/502049647/
…You can imagine what the stair up the bell tower is like!
I climbed it. Then crawled back down.@missarchi wrote:
so gaudi should should never have been allow to build the Sagrada familia?
mulp answered that one for me…
@missarchi wrote:
You still have not answered the place of assembly question? 12 rises only?
what question?
12 rises in a flight…the B+F stair could have been split into two 10 step flights with an intermediate landing…
or any combination that wouldnt result in a flight with more than 12 risers…. i cant see where the confusion lies…fair enough, B+F have made a conscious decision (i hope!) to design something that is outside of normal compliance, and they (should) feel strongly enough to be able to argue its merits should the need arise………
i do not know the details of the construction that could make that argument valid… as mulp has alluded to earlier, perhaps they feel a nearby lift negates the need for an intermediate landing….. i dont know….
try this for a dubious stairs (artwork at Kroller Muller Museum in Arnhem).
i started to go up but got too freaked out and had to come back after a few steps.
a visitor was seriously injured a few years ago- interesting comment on the nature of risk from the museums director here: http://www.kmm.nl/column-archive/3/Kijk-Uit-Attention-van-Krijn-Giezen?lang=en
The museum stood and continues to stand by the conviction that there is no danger whatsoever if the stairs are climbed and descended in a calm manner: the many tens of thousands of visitors who have safely climbed the stairs since they opened are proof of that. But the museum now knows that there is a risk. Although the museum does not consider itself liable for what happened on 24 May – because we believe that every visitor must take responsibility for themselves and others – it does feel responsible. On the basis of this responsibility we have decided to investigate which additional measures are desirable and possible.
Krijn Giezen and the museum’s staff were shocked by the accident. The artist sees the current closure of the work as a component of its functioning within time. One of the dilemmas we face is that fundamental structural changes will alter the work’s character and thus raise questions as to its legitimacy as a work of art in the sculpture garden.
“don’t risk your life”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melalouise/299222606/sizes/o/
I’m pretty sure a few people have died on this but that’s the risk you take.
I’m sure it’s more dangerous cycling that using the stairs at the national gallery.
They should have some car doors on the side that open randomly when the fire alarm goes off… j/kSpanish steps used by millions
http://www.flickr.com/photos/curreyuk/1455491506/sizes/o/
La Defense is new 18 steps? no hand rail
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pensiero/217713887/sizes/o/
and
@missarchi wrote:
“don’t risk your life”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melalouise/299222606/sizes/o/
I’m pretty sure a few people have died on this but that’s the risk you take.
I’m sure it’s more dangerous cycling that using the stairs at the national gallery.
They should have some car doors on the side that open randomly when the fire alarm goes off…I’m pretty confident I speak for most readers of this forum when I say. What the F*** are you on about you total nutcase?!
They could have a sign on the stairs
“Don’t risk your life take the elevator”
30 people have died climbing Uluru and its still possible to climb it.
..We have our own version! Two deaths in recent years.
Do we close it or make it safe?
[ATTACH]9782[/ATTACH]@missarchi wrote:
30 people have died climbing Uluru and its still possible to climb it.
..you’ve made your point. Save the rest of us and send your opinions directly to John Gormless
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