Eleven Eastern

Iconic Curved Glass Staircase Energizes Workspace

Situated at a prominent crossroads in South Melbourne, Eleven Eastern is a dynamic 14-storey commercial building celebrated for its innovative design. Designed by Rothelowman Architects, the building’s striking free-form architecture embraces movement and light. Nowhere is this more evident than in the double-height lobby, where a sweeping curved glass staircase serves as both a functional link and a sculptural centerpiece. The staircase itself embodies a sense of kinetic energy, drawing the eye upward and enlivening the space.

From the outset, the vision for Eleven Eastern’s lobby was an open, contemporary space defined by clean lines and transparency. A curved glass balustrade wrapping the spiral staircase was essential to achieve this goal, providing safety without sacrificing light or visual connectivity. The challenge lay in realizing a bent glass staircase that perfectly matched the complex curvature of the built structure, with no gaps or misalignments. Every glass panel on the balustrade needed to contour seamlessly along the twisting stair, maintaining crystal clarity and structural integrity throughout the ascent.

Glasshape worked in tandem with Arc Metal Group – the specialist metal fabricator responsible for the staircase’s structure, to ensure seamless integration of glass and steel. Arc Metal Group provided the stainless-steel stair framing and handrails, coordinating closely with Glasshape during the measuring and installation phases to guarantee each glass panel fit perfectly into the framework.

The end result is a curved glass staircase that truly marries form and function. It provides a safe, code-compliant balustrade for users while maintaining a sense of openness and modern elegance in the lobby. The clear TemperShield glass allows light to flow freely between levels, preserving sightlines and accentuating the building’s airy, innovative atmosphere. The combined dedication of Glasshape and Arc Metal Group to precision and quality ensured the installation not only met design expectations but surpassed them. Eleven Eastern’s lobby now features an eye-catching centerpiece that delights visitors and exemplifies the possibilities of advanced glass fabrication in architecture.

Glasshape was engaged to turn this ambitious design into reality through precise engineering and fabrication. The process began with an expert site measurement of the staircase during construction. Using advanced digital field measuring (3D laser scanning), Glasshape captured the exact geometry of the spiral in its as-built state. This accurate 3D model became the template for fabrication, ensuring each panel would be a perfect fit.

Glasshape then custom-manufactured 24 individual pieces of its TemperShield safety glass – a combination of curved and flat panels – tailored to the staircase’s form. TemperShield is Glasshape’s signature toughened and laminated glass product, known for its exceptional strength and clarity. Each curved panel was bent to precisely match its required radius, while flat panels were used where the design straightened out (such as at landings or transitions). All pieces were fabricated to tight tolerances based on the digital measurements and templates, resulting in a balustrade where every piece aligns flawlessly upon installation.