_ the look out
This procedural spiral staircase is a sculptural architectural installation designed as both a circulation element and an experiential lookout structure.
_Design
Modelled in Rhino 3D and generated through a fully parametric Grasshopper system, the staircase is driven by algorithmic controls governing its height, curvature, step distribution, structural lattice pattern, and platform spacing.
Every component of the form — from the organic cellular support framework to the continuous helical walkway — can be modified in real time through parametric inputs, allowing the structure to adapt seamlessly to site conditions, terrain constraints, and design intent.
_Key Design Decisions
The staircase emerges from the rocky landscape as a single continuous ribbon, spiraling upward through a series of suspended platforms that function as viewing terraces.
An intricate biomorphic structural lattice supports each level, blending computational design with natural aesthetics and creating a visual dialogue between engineered form and surrounding forested terrain.
An intricate biomorphic structural lattice supports each level, blending computational design with natural aesthetics and creating a visual dialogue between engineered form and surrounding forested terrain.
_Parametric Design
The result is a structure that feels simultaneously futuristic and grounded — a fusion of parametric architecture, computational design, and immersive visualization.
This project demonstrates a complete workflow from procedural generation to photorealistic architectural visualization, highlighting the power of algorithmic design when paired with advanced rendering pipelines.
_Rendering
For visualization, the model was rendered directly from Rhino 3D into Nonbanana, achieving high-end photorealistic imagery that captures material behavior, atmospheric depth, and environmental lighting with cinematic realism.
_In Motion
using Runway ML
