To be honest, the best way to talk about this stair is to talk about the tension between the machine and the hand, because this semi-freestanding curved beauty at the Forest House really demanded both to even exist. Working alongside Otis Construction, Jessica Helgerson, and Yianni Doulis was a masterclass in what happens when everyone is operating at the top of their game, resulting in a piece that feels like it’s floating through space rather than just sitting in it.

To achieve the design intent we married 21st century digital design and fabrication techniques with ages old traditional hand-carving. Beginning with a full site 3D scan, we drew each component individually to the precise locations of the framing and the future locations of all finished materials. After much back-and-forth with the team we were able to finalize a model and a drawing set that perfectly captured the feeling being chased, while still holding all the technical needs for execution.

We started the process by letting the CNC handle the heavy lifting of the initial math to make sure the foundation was structurally perfect, but the soul of the project didn’t show up until we turned the machines off. We spent countless hours refining every joint and hand-sculpting every transition to make sure the oak didn't just meet the steel, but flowed into it in a way that felt completely intentional and organic.

A true thank-you also needs to be given to Tice Industries for machining the custom newel posts and balusters in solid steel. With our blackened finish, they are the final pieces that make this stair more a piece of furniture than an installation.

In the end, it’s the kind of silhouette that stays with you long after the tools are put away, and I’m incredibly proud of how we managed to bridge that gap between modern precision and the kind of "old-world" craftsmanship that you can only get by actually getting your hands dirty. It was an honor to be part of the team that brought this to life, and it’s easily one of the most ambitious and rewarding builds we’ve ever taken on.