Weland Next Step – the competition for architects, designers, and creatives
What happens to a spiral staircase when you push the boundaries of colour and pattern and place it in an unexpected setting? Weland AB once again invited architects, designers, students, and creatives to take part in a competition where tradition makes room for imagination and the unexpected.
For the second time, Weland is organising the competition “Weland Next Step”. In this year’s edition, participants are encouraged to challenge the conventional by transforming the appearance of the staircase through colour, patterns, and placement in an unexpected environment. It could be a public space, an artistic setting, or a conceptual context where the staircase becomes more than just a functional element.
“It is often the unexpected that opens our eyes to new perspectives. When the spiral staircase is removed from its usual context and instead becomes a carrier of ideas, a focal point, or an artistic element, new perspectives on the staircase’s potential emerge,” says Mattias Andersson, Marketing and Sustainability Manager at Weland AB.
The spiral staircase has a unique ability to combine function with a strong visual presence – it connects different levels while also becoming an expressive feature that captures attention and gives character to both the space and the environment in which it is placed. It is precisely this versatility that Weland wants to highlight.
“With Weland Next Step, we want to encourage people to think beyond the obvious – and see what happens when creativity is given free rein,” says Mattias Andersson.
About the competition
• The competition ran from 1 October 2025 to 14 December 2025.
• The winners were announced at Nordbygg 2026, taking place 21–24 April at Stockholmsmässan in Älvsjö.