A bespoke staircase project made in Somerset by Exmoor based West Country Blacksmiths has been shortlisted for the Architects’ Journal Architecture specification award 2019 in the category of ‘Stairs and Lifts’. The staircase was created for a property in the nature reserve of Sartfell Mountain on the Isle of Man
The project is a real Somerset based collaboration. The house was designed by Foster Lomas, a London based architects practice which was originally founded by friends Greg Lomas and Will Foster who both grow up in Somerset and visit family in Somerset regularly. The metalwork design concept was developed between architects, CAD Designer John Hesp of Porlock and West Country Blacksmiths based near Minehead.
The central feature of the property is 8 tonnes worth of bespoke metalwork all made by West Country Blacksmiths at their historic National Trust Forge on the Holnicote Estate near Minehead. The metalwork which includes two staircases and walkways made from steel and perforated stainless steel and also incorporates steel bookshelves which span over two floors.
The metalwork has been finished with a unique antiquing acid etch treatment with a protective lacquered finish with exception of the handrail which has been hand polished prior to the protective lacquer finishing. The treads and walkways have been made from perforated stainless steel which has been grain polished finished.
The team took over seven months to develop the design and produce metalwork which was sent from Somerset to the Isle of Man on two Lorries with the team’s tools. The craftsmen of West Country Blacksmiths flew out to meet and install their metalwork which took over seven days to install.
West Country Blacksmiths co-founder said, ‘We were privileged to be given the opportunity to work on this project and we’re extremely proud of what the team involved in the project have produced. We are so proud that the quality of design and execution of this metalwork has been recognised by industry experts and shortlisted as one of the six best ‘Stairs and Lifts’ projects in the country’
The awards will take place on the 15th February in Manchester and will be attended by the team involved in the project…
The building was also shortlisted in the AJ Architects ‘House of the Year’ category for 2018.
Photography by Edmund Sumner.
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