The Institute of Molecular Genetics in the Czech capital has not only received numerous research accolades and helped win Nobel prizes; in 2008, it was also honoured with the country’s National Architecture Award. Nearly four hundred staff, including a hundred or so scientists, currently work at the institute. The outstanding feature of this contemporary building is the central staircase: reminiscent of rainfall, it descends in a vertical line – supported by 114 I-SYS stainless steel cables – from the skylight all the way down to the basement.