Client: Littlehampton Welding LtdArchitect: Ben Pentreath StudioLocation: London, United Kingdom
Date: 2025-11-01 00:00:00 +0000 UTCTags: Steel, Refurbishment, Digital Design, CNC
Fortnum & Mason double helix staircase
We have worked with specialist steel fabricators Littlehampton Welding on many challenging staircases since the inception of the practice. Our expertise in dynamic movement and structural analysis means that we can take a proposed stair geometry and highly refine its structure but still obey comfortable user movement criteria. The Double Helix staircase at the iconic London store Fortnum and Mason was one of our most challenging yet but one which was highly rewarding.
Quoted by Fortnum and Mason as the “centrepiece of their most ambitious architectural project since 1707” we took over as stair Engineers from Stage 4 onwards, changing the original concept of part hung flights with visible to that of an unbroken clear span. This allowed complex finishes to be omitted and has resulted in a lean and elegant form which could be celebrated as an Engineering art rather than hidden behind cladding.
Our analysis included a detailed appraisal of the filigree forged balustrades, a successful combination of 21st century engineering with traditional craftsmanship.
Photos 1,2,3 & 4 - Fortnum & Mason. Photo 5 - Littlehampton Welding Ltd