What happens when a seemingly simple staircase brief turns into a complex three-level engineering puzzle?

Multi-level staircases in tight spaces demand more than standard solutions. Every connection, every load path, and every design detail requires precision, foresight, and collaboration.

In this showcase project, we balanced structural requirements with the architect’s vision, navigating unusual geometry, unique connections, and site constraints to deliver a staircase that works flawlessly and fits seamlessly into the home.

Designed Built

Where Architecture Meets Engineering

When our Client set out to modernise their apartment and complete a full internal upgrade, the goal was simple: to bring light, warmth, and personality into every corner of the space. At the heart of the design was a sculptural feature staircase, a centrepiece connecting all three levels of the home.

The architect included a new feature staircase in the proposal and had a good vision of what she wanted it to look like. The staircase featured exposed steel flat plate brackets to support the treads winding down from level 3 to level 1, as well as selected and finished timber treads with a tempered glass balustrade. This allowed natural light from the roof-level skylights to descend all three levels of the staircase.

A key feature was the bookcase on the side of the staircase with custom LED lighting to display personal items and artwork. But behind this architectural beauty was a complex engineering story — one that required precision, collaboration, and creativity.

Behind the Design: Making Structure Invisible

As structural engineers, our brief was clear in scope but complex in execution:

• Make sure the staircase is strong, stable, and comfortable to walk on.

• Keep the design sleek and minimal: no bulky brackets or intrusive supports.

Designed Built

Projects like this demand more than just calculations. With specific structural requirements need a high level of consultation.

It is easy to throw structure at a problem, but when the outcome we are looking for is a sleek, exposed, and functional structure, we need to sharpen the pencil.

We worked closely with the Steel Fabricator, Builder from JBL Builders Ltd, Architect from Clare Bush Architects, and Client to ensure the structural components wouldn't ruin the project vision. For example, we couldn't utilise large conventional brackets to connect all the parts of the stairs together.

It took a few iterations of design solutions to arrive at solutions that met the project and structural needs.

Solving the Complexities

Every beautiful structure hides a set of engineering puzzles.

This staircase had three key challenges:

1. Complex Staircase Geometry

The stairs wrapped around the existing walls in a 'spiral' like way. Almost nothing lined up across the floor levels, making the calculations tricky to follow the load path all the way to a support.

Designed Built

2. Unique connection details at every step

Usually, structural engineers are able to design a connection detail that is used in multiple locations of a building project. This usually simplifies the construction phase and reduces cost.

Not this one.

For this project, most of the connections were unique at every point of the stairs; this meant we needed to draw and design several connection details. On top of that, we knew all of the connections were to be exposed. So, we wanted to minimise the visual impact as much as possible, which took a bit of trial and error.

We developed multiple custom connection details, ensuring each one was both beautiful and buildable.

Understanding the abilities of the construction team was essential. Knowing what is and isn't doable from the constructor's view is the key to designing solutions that work for everyone.

This also ties into the construction sequence, where engineers often 'wish' a new structure into place. This project needed a good understanding of how the stairs would be installed so we could design it in a way that each component could be brought and assembled on site.

3. A clash at the top

Near the top of the stairs, we knew we were going to have some trouble with an existing brace that was part of the superstructure. This brace cut right through a key structural element of the stairs. We needed to decide how we were going to deal with this.

We first looked to adjust the stair landings to avoid the clash, but it wouldn't suit the functionality of the stairs. Instead, we carefully looked at strengthening around the clash, and we were able to make it look like it seamlessly integrates with the new structure.

Designed Built

The Result: Balance between form and function

What began as a striking design concept became a study in precision engineering and collaboration.

Every challenge: geometry, connection detailing, and existing clashes was met with a problem-solving mindset and close teamwork between everyone involved.

The final staircase doesn’t just connect three levels; it connects design ambition with buildable reality. The structure is as strong and stable as it is light and elegant.

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Bringing Architectural Vision to Life.

At DTCE, we help architects and builders bring complex design ideas to life — from feature staircases and bespoke homes to hillside developments and heritage refurbishments.

If your next project demands both design sensitivity and structural performance, we’d love to collaborate.

Get in touch to see how we can help bring your next project to life.

Contact us today