Contemporary Shallow Pitch Staircase – Uffington, Oxfordshire
Zakuna was invited to collaborate once again with Damon at Bear & Ball Architects to create a staircase that would push the boundaries of shallow-pitch design while maintaining a refined, minimalist aesthetic.
The architectural intent was clear: maximise spatial efficiency, maintain strong visual lines, and deliver a staircase that feels both light and substantial. From concept through to fabrication, this project was a study in refinement.
A Collaborative Design Development Process
A series of collaborative video sessions with Bear & Ball Architects enabled the team to explore proportions, geometry and detailing in depth. Through iterations of refined fabrication drawings, the final design fully realised the architect’s vision before any manufacture began. This upfront investment in detail development is a hallmark of Zakuna’s bespoke staircase service — the full design is locked down on paper before a single component is cut.
Ultra-Shallow 32-Degree Pitch with Deep Treads
At just 32 degrees, paired with deep 340mm treads, the staircase redefines comfort and movement. The shallow angle makes ascending intuitive and comfortable, while the generous tread depth retains a sense of openness and calm. It rewrites what a staircase can feel like underfoot, turning a functional transition into a slow, deliberate architectural promenade through the home.
Reverse Bird’s-Beak Ceiling Detail
Where the steel string meets the ceiling, a bespoke reverse bird’s-beak detail was introduced. This careful touch creates the illusion that the staircase passes effortlessly through the structure — a quiet yet remarkable visual moment. It’s the kind of concealment detail that only becomes possible when a joinery manufacturer and an architect are able to work on geometry together from the earliest design stages.
Minimal Single-Piece Glass Balustrade
By using single-piece, full-height glass panels per stair section, visual continuity and purity of sightlines were preserved. The absence of visible joins or heavy framing allows the staircase to feel virtually transparent, emphasising the surrounding architecture rather than competing with it. Every detail was engineered to disappear into the geometry it supports.
A Breathtaking Architectural Element
The completed staircase is a breathtaking architectural element: elegant in proportion, intuitive in movement, and understated yet impactful in presence. It speaks to what is possible when design and engineering are fully aligned from the first conversation — a collaboration between architect and maker where every millimetre is considered.
