Taking Steps

TYPE: Intervention

YEAR: 2009-10

LOCATION: London

Photo of a wheelchair user using a new lift on the Duke of Malborough steps in London. Behind them is someone carrying a child, and to the left is a person holding the door to the lift open.

As part of the 2010 edition of the London Festival of Architecture, Architecture Inside Out (The fore-runner of The DisOrdinary Architecture Project) and the Royal Engineers supported Matthew Lloyd Architects and disabled artist Tony Heaton to build a prototype access lift on the Duke of Marlborough steps in London, a key heritage and tourist site.

Rather than make a separate access ramp that tried to be as inconspicuous as possible, the team decided to celebrate the act of inclusive moving up and down the steps (a very useful short-cut in this area). They did this by making a prototype water-powered structure on one of the landings, which aligned centrally with the column and statue at the top. The aim was to deliberately slow down, and make enjoyable, the process of vertical movement, so that this would appeal to everyone, not just disabled people.

Gallery

Illustration of the lift, showing how it works using the water and solar systems, and labelling each part, such as the ‘lift pulleys’ and ‘solar panels’.
Photo of a landscape showing St James Steps in London, with an added white metal and glass lift to allow for more accessibility.
Photo of a group of people standing or sitting in wheelchairs using a white metal and glass lift at St James Steps.
Photo of a group of people standing pushing a buggy exiting a white metal and glass lift at St James Steps.

Related Projects

Photo of a group of people sitting around a series of table and chairs in Postman Park in London, as part of the Seats at the Table project for LFA2023.

Useful Links

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Making Dis/Ordinary Spaces (2017)
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Architecture Inside Out (2008)