Client: Studio Boum
Date: 5 January 2019
Project Overview
For Khalid Qasimi’s Autumn/Winter collection, presented ahead of London Fashion Week, Studio Boum invited Event & Media Structures to design and deliver a dramatic three-storey scaffold staircase. Installed inside the raw, concrete shell of Collins Music Hall in Islington, the structure served both as a functional access route and a striking feature that echoed the show’s dystopian aesthetic.
Scope and Challenges
The setting and concept brought unique demands to the project:
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Blending form and function: The staircase had to deliver full stability and safe use, while also amplifying the industrial, urban atmosphere of the venue.
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Working within a fragile building: Collins Music Hall, an ageing and partially derelict site, required careful design and installation to avoid damage to the existing fabric.
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Fast turnaround: Timelines were tight, with the scaffold needing to be in place and ready ahead of London Fashion Week events.
Our Approach
Using Layher system scaffolding, our team designed a modular staircase that combined robustness with visual impact. Key steps included:
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Tailoring the design to the unique spatial constraints of Collins Music Hall.
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Building a safe, multi-level staircase that could accommodate heavy foot traffic from models, crew, and audience.
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Completing the installation quickly and efficiently to align with the event programme.
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Working closely with Studio Boum to ensure the structure enhanced the creative direction of the show.
Outcome
The staircase became an integral part of the production, reinforcing the dystopian theme while providing secure access across three levels. The installation demonstrated how scaffold structures can move beyond pure functionality to become part of the visual storytelling of fashion events.
This project strengthened Event & Media Structures’ reputation within the fashion world, where our temporary staircases and specialist scaffolding are increasingly sought after to bring both practicality and atmosphere to high-profile showcases.
