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In November 2025, King Charles III visited Fortnum & Mason in Piccadilly to officially open the store's most significant structural change in over twenty years: a bespoke double helix staircase. Designed by Ben Pentreath Studio, the structure is an elegant solution to a long-standing circulation issue, blending classical geometry with the precision of modern parametric modeling.
Fortnum & Mason (The Heritage Portal)
The practical success of the design is best felt on the shop floor. During a visit several years ago in the lead-up to Christmas, I remember the previous staircase as a persistent log jam, where the sheer volume of shoppers turned vertical movement into a struggle. Returning this December, the experience was a joy. The double helix—two independent spiral paths intertwined within the same central atrium—effectively doubles the capacity for movement. By separating those going up from those coming down, the design replaces the old bottlenecks with a continuous flow that feels effortless, even during the peak festive rush.
The double helix staircase from above (The Heritage Portal)
The concept is a nod to the sixteenth-century double spirals at the Château de Chambord, a design often attributed to Leonardo da Vinci. While it appears as a singular, sculptural ribbon of wood and metal, it is actually a complex assembly of over 3,000 hand-forged components. The three-storey staircase features oak treads and thousands of hand-cast brass scrolls and rosettes, with discreet lighting tucked into the handrails to keep the profile clean and uncluttered.
Double helix staircase at the Chateau de Chambord (Wikipedia)
A complex assembly of components (The Heritage Portal)
The technical execution required a high degree of precision and coordination. Extensive digital modeling allowed for the components to be fabricated with extreme accuracy before being brought into the building. The installation itself was a delicate nocturnal operation; large sections were transported and carried over the shop floor at night, then reassembled behind hoarding during the day. This allowed the store to remain open throughout the process, an impressive intervention in a sensitive heritage environment.
Sustainability was also central to the project’s ethos. Materials from the previous staircase were carefully salvaged and repurposed, ensuring the new addition carries forward the material history of the building. Beyond its visual appeal, the project demonstrates how a clever rethink of a layout can fundamentally improve the way people move through a busy commercial landmark. The King's official opening of the staircase highlights its status as a landmark of contemporary craftsmanship, bringing a sense of calm and order back to one of London's most historic interiors.
James Ball is the founder and editor of The Heritage Portal
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