Extraordinary Residence with Stair Railing Made of 20,000 LEGO Blocks

Jun 19

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I-BEAM Architecture have designed the interior of an apartment in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan that features a stair railing made of LEGO. The renovation of Melissa Marks and Vicente Caride’s Chelsea loft is the result of a thorough collaboration. Melissa and Vicente are creative professionals who were very involved in the design process of their space. The architects and owners worked together to develop a plan that would remain open while creating order amongst a variety of domestic and professional activities. A series of sliding walls each weighing over 500 lbs serve as alternating studio and exhibition walls that reveal or conceal different areas (studio, office and living room) according to the time of day and who is using the space.

The most unique part of the apartment is the stair railing made of nearly 20,000 LEGO® blocks. I-Beam designed the stairs, structure and Mondrian inspired openings based on LEGO® dimensions (measured by dots) while the Marks/Caride family worked with Sean Kenney, one of two licensed LEGO Artists based in New York City, to create a flow of receding or intensifying color up and down the stairs. The final design is composed of an evolving series of additions made by the people who live, work and play in the space.