Stunning Double Helix Staircase for Fortnum and Mason

Haldane UK has played a key role in the delivery of one of the complex and challenging staircases in the UK.

The company was appointed manufacture and install all bespoke timber components for the stunning double helix staircase at the Piccadilly flagship store of Fortnum & Mason.

The staircase comprises two intertwined helical flights, rising in parallel while remaining visually and spatially connected throughout. The geometry is uncompromising. Each tread, riser and handrail section is unique, with constantly changing pitch, radius and rotation.

The project demanded exceptional coordination and collaboration with Littlehampton Welding, whose engineering expertise was fundamental to delivering the complex architectural and structural steelwork that underpins the staircase.

Haldane UK carried out the full manufacture and installation of all solid oak treads and risers, landings, winder treads, volute newel posts, and bespoke timber handrails. All components were individually manufactured for this project, with no repeatable elements.

Given the prominence of the staircase within one of the world’s most prestigious retail environments, quality expectations were absolute. Materials, detailing and finish had to reflect the luxury, refinement and heritage synonymous with the Fortnum & Mason brand.

The bespoke handrails represented one of the most technically demanding aspects of the project. Each rail required continuous curvature in both plan and elevation, with smooth transitions through varying radii and pitch.

Profiles were precision machined to maintain consistency while accommodating subtle geometric variation, ensuring uninterrupted visual flow across multiple store levels. Volute newel posts were developed as sculptural anchors, demanding complex machining and exact alignment with the supporting steelwork.

Manufacture was carried out using Haldane UK’s market leading 5 axis CNC timber machining capability, allowing long, curved components to be produced with exceptional accuracy. Components were dry-jointed and quality inspected prior to delivery, reducing site risk and ensuring dimensional integrity.

Installation took place within a live retail environment, requiring meticulous sequencing, progressive setting-out and continuous verification. The double helix form prevented reliance on conventional datums, demanding disciplined installation techniques and constant coordination between timber and steel trades to ensure the geometry remained true as the staircase rose through the space.

This project stands as a clear demonstration of what can be achieved when specialist joinery and structural metalwork are developed in true partnership.

It showcases Haldane UK’s capability to deliver architecturally ambitious, technically demanding joinery, and the importance of close collaboration with engineering partners to realise designs of this complexity at the highest level.

Images Courtesy and Copyright Fortnum and Mason