Contemporary forged steel and bronze balustrade
Presentation drawing of railing
The Brief – A Bespoke Forged Steel Balustrade with Minimal Impact on Sight Lines
When working on a bespoke commission, one of the first challenges is understanding the client’s priorities and how the finished metalwork should respond to its surroundings. In this instance, the contemporary interior was filled with natural light and carefully curated with a number of distinctive sculptural pieces.
The brief was to create a bespoke steel balustrade providing the required guarding while preserving the open character of the interior and minimising its impact on important sight lines.
To achieve this, the upright steel bars were individually forged with a gentle taper, becoming both visually and physically lighter as they rise. This gives the balustrade a delicate appearance while retaining the strength and functionality required of an architectural railing.
The balustrade was completed with antiqued bronze top rails and handrails, introducing warmth and contrast against the forged steel. The bronze provides a tactile surface in the hand while creating a subtle visual highlight throughout the installation.
Assembly in the forge using traditional mortice and tenon joins
In the Forge - celebrating the process within the design
Rather than concealing the construction, the prominent connections were created using traditional blacksmithing techniques, including forged rivets and tenon joints. These details provide subtle points of interest that reveal themselves when the balustrade is viewed at close range, celebrating the craftsmanship behind the finished piece without overwhelming the overall design.
Finished Balustrades in situ
The Finished Project – A Bespoke Balustrade Designed for the Space
With underfloor heating beneath the floor and newly rendered, undulating stone walls surrounding the installation, this project presented a number of challenges that could only be properly resolved through an accurate site survey and a truly bespoke balustrade design.
Working closely with the client’s building contractor, we established the construction and fixing details beneath the finished floor before developing a carefully considered installation plan. This allowed the forged steel balustrade to be securely fitted while protecting the underfloor heating and accommodating the irregularities of the existing stonework.
Careful planning in the workshop resulted in a smooth installation on site, with the completed balustrade fitting comfortably and naturally within the surrounding architecture.
The finished bespoke forged steel balustrade, with its antiqued bronze handrails, combines traditional blacksmithing, contemporary design and specialist architectural metalwork. The result provides the necessary guarding while preserving the light, open character of the interior and demonstrating the value of designing and manufacturing bespoke metalwork specifically for its setting.