While spiral staircases have an elegance and grace as they wind their way up from one floor to the next, they are often impractical – luxury items displacing more space than they actually use. Something else was required here, maintaining the magical essence of a twisting stair while fitting it to a new form and function.

This rather more robust and rugged-looking contemporary design has an element of heavy craft to it, floating though it may be, along with rectilinear shapes and stark contrasts of light-stained rails and trim alongside dark-stained (black velour laminate finish) sides and black (rubber) treads and risers.

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DO-Architecture in Glasgow developed these custom stairs to accommodate an awkwardly low-height door while connecting the main level to a walkway and rooms above. Quite fitting, really, for a modest rustic forest residence.