Spinning Stairs

A Direct Translation from Concrete to Paper

The challenge I set for myself with this piece was to see if I could reproduce one of my concrete works in paper. For this exercise, I chose my piece Spinning Stairs. Here is the original concrete version.

It’s quite detailed, with a large number of stairs and arches, elements that come up often in my architectural sculptures. But at the same time, there’s a simplicity and symmetry that comes from the repetition of elements

A Simplified Complexity

It is actually made from a single module repeated four times, each one rotated by 90 degrees, like a pinwheel. This becomes much more apparent when building the paper version, which is constructed in exactly the same way.

How to Assemble the Sculpture

1. The Base Module

Start by assembling each of the four base modules. I designed them in the same spirit as the Archetypes 02 set, using a single rectangular sheet with no material loss, assembled with slots.

2. Bringing It Together

Once the four modules are completed, you can start assembling them together. They are held in place using the same slot system.

The assembly can be a bit tricky. Some slots may come loose as you add the next modules. Align and connect the main slots of the four modules first, and once the structure starts holding together, reinsert the more stubborn parts to secure everything in place.

A Concept in Color

You can see how the perception changes depending on whether the piece is made in a single color or with different colors. I usually prefer a monochrome approach, but in this case, using different colors makes the underlying structure easier to read.