This staircase project was fabricated and installed during the construction of this glass enclosed vacation home on the Oregon coast. The staircase and guardrails have a combined weight of over 7,000 lbs. of steel alone. The exposed components are all 3/8″ thick hot-rolled steel plate, laser-cut to size with all welds concealed and edges honed, polished and hand filed.

Boora Architects designed this home. Flux Design collaborated on this project with Master Woodworks of Salem who fabricated and installed all of the wooden components. Together we compiled a detailed set of shop drawings to ensure that our components (fabricated in different shops) would mesh together perfectly when combined on site. Similarly, the installation of each component had to dovetail in planned stages with the work by MWW, the stone masons, and the finishing of both the wooden and steel components.

The mill scale patina on the faces of the hot-rolled plate was left unaltered and intact. Through our careful selection of stock, painstakingly careful handling and the exceptional finishing by Sheryl Andrist, of She-Metal, the industrial steel plate became a  finish material of the highest quality. The plates were gun-blued and clear coated leaving dark blue-black finished steel surfaces with subtle but rich variations in color and texture.

More images detailing the assembly, installation and concealed structures of the staircase and guardrails are archived on the current work blog.

Flux Design completed several other projects within this home, including the media room cabinets.

These are two fireplace screens of a similar design built for 2 different fireplaces in the same home. Each has its own custom log cradle with twisted heavy steel andirons that protrude through notches in the screens. It is a subtle interaction that is nicely highlighted when the fire is lit.

The steel is gun-blued and waxed.

This is a 14′ long steel frame to support a stained glass ceiling and pendant lights. It is situated over the dining table in a Portland home. There are skylights above that bring natural light down through the stained glass and electric lights recessed above the glass for nighttime illumination.

This staircase was built and installed during an extensive gut / remodel of a 100 year old home in Portland. The form of this staircase was designed by  John Forsgren. The staircase has two landings and turns 270 degrees as it ascends from the entry foyer to an open mezzanine level above. The guardrail plates and stair risers are hot-rolled 1/4″ steel with the edges honed and a clear finish.

The plates interlock and bear on each other as the stairs ascend. The steel takes the form of a continuous plate lining the inner surface of the staircase.

The rolled tube handrail sweeps up around the outer wall of the staircase in long flowing radiuses. The pipe is blackened and waxed and mounted to the wall on custom fabricated wall brackets. Internal couplers allowed the railings to be installed with no visible welds.

The riser details and handrail design continues on the stairs to the lower level.

This library was built to display an extensive collection of books in a Portland home designed by Tom Kundig. The steel shelving covers the entirety of a 100′ long wall. The vertical dividers are attached to the concrete wall and float above the concrete bench. The shelves rest on ledgers and can be rearranged to accommodate larger books and artwork.

Images of this project and the residence are featured in the recently published Tom Kundig: Houses 2 c. 2011 Princeton Architectural Press.

This handle and latch was made for the wine cellar door. It is a 200 year old oak door acquired in New Orleans that lacked hardware.

This glass wall creates the partition between the master bed and bath in an industrial warehouse space converted to a loft. The obscured glass provides privacy while allowing the spaces to be well lit.

The steel frame was designed to look old and repurposed. It stands over 13′ tall, reaching all the way to the ceiling. The T-profile of the window jamb is custom built assembly with a through-tenon detail that reads on the flat face. The glass is held in place with steel angle frames and exposed fasteners on the opposite side.

This rolling fireplace screen is installed on the mantle of a family room fireplace. The fireplace is frequently used for cooking and this screen was designed to allow easy access to the fire without intruding on the living space or damaging the cork floors. The screen balances directly underneath the track and rolls smoothly without any additional guides.

The woven wire screen is a beautiful industrial product that works wonderfully as fireplace screen. The frames display discrete hand-forged detailing and hammered brass rivets. The wheels were fabricated specially to add an ornamental touch. All the steel is treated with a gun-blue oxide and clear coated.