An unusual arrangement of pine boards forms a spiraling core for a sculptural staircase that stands as the centerpiece of a dome home in China. Designed by British furniture manufacturers Timothy Oulton, the cylindrical home and the charming handmade village that surrounds it are made primarily of reclaimed materials. Taking its inspiration from spiderwebs, the structure itself is a stunning model of wooden craftsmanship, but the staircase takes the cake.
Graduating in height all the way up to the railing of the loft, the vertically-installed pine supports a set of floating treads that spiral from the living area up to a quiet workspace. The result is visually stunning from every angle, but especially when gazing down from the upper level.
The design team used custom steel plates and fittings to support the staircase as well as the loft, which takes up half the footprint of the house. Perpendicular planks punctuated by curving vertical ribs create a series of concentric circles on the ceiling, drawing the eye upwards.
