Physic Place: Bespoke Wooden Handrail Design
Commercial Property
For the headquarters of luxury fit-out company Finchatton in central London, Handrail Creations designed, manufactured and installed continuous sapele wooden handrails across four floors. The handrails were designed to cap a continuous solid-wall balustrade, creating a clean architectural detail that follows the staircase through the building.
The project required an exceptionally precise approach due to the complex profile of the handrail and the need for a seamless fit against the wall. Combining 3D scanning, advanced 5-axis CNC machining and traditional finishing techniques, our team produced a bespoke handrail designed specifically around the building’s existing geometry.
Bespoke Timber Handrails Across Four Floors
The continuous timber handrails were manufactured from sapele, selected for its rich colour, natural grain and suitability for a high-quality interior finish. Rather than producing a series of standard straight sections, the handrail needed to follow a complex profile continuously through four floors. This required careful coordination between the existing staircase, solid-wall balustrade and the handrail itself. The finished design creates a strong visual line through the building, while the warm tones of the sapele contrast with the off-white plastered walls.
Precision Wooden Handrail Design
The complexity of the wooden handrail design presented one of the main challenges of the project. The handrail needed to fit precisely against the wall, with no visible undulations or gaps along the underside.
Although our 5-axis CNC machinery provides a high level of manufacturing precision, achieving the required result also relied on detailed surveying and the experience of our design team.
Our 3D scanner was used to capture the geometry of the staircase and surrounding wall. This information could then be incorporated into the digital design and manufacturing process, allowing the handrail to be produced specifically for the space rather than relying on assumptions or standard measurements. This combination of digital surveying, 3D modelling and precision machining is particularly valuable when manufacturing continuous handrails for complex architectural spaces.
5-Axis CNC Machining for Complex Handrails
The sapele handrails were manufactured using our advanced 5-axis CNC machinery. Five-axis machining allows the cutting tool to approach a component from multiple directions, making it possible to manufacture complex three-dimensional forms with a high degree of accuracy.
For Physic Place, this capability was essential to achieving the handrail’s intricate profile and maintaining consistency across the four-storey installation. However, CNC machining is only one part of the process. Once the components had been manufactured, they were carefully inspected and prepared before the finishing stage. Our approach combines modern manufacturing technology with traditional woodworking expertise to ensure that precision and craftsmanship work together.
French Polished Sapele Handrail
The completed handrail was French polished in situ and stained dark to create the final finish.
The dark sapele provides a deliberate contrast against the off-white plastered walls, allowing the continuous wooden handrail to become a strong architectural feature within the space.
French polishing is a traditional finishing technique that can produce a deep, smooth and highly refined surface. Applying the finish in situ allowed the final appearance of the handrail to be completed as part of the installation, ensuring the finished timber worked seamlessly within the surrounding interior.
A Bespoke Staircase Design for a Luxury London Headquarters
Physic Place demonstrates how a bespoke staircase design can be developed around the architecture of an existing commercial interior. The staircase itself was not treated as an isolated feature. Instead, the continuous handrail was designed to interact with the solid-wall balustrade and surrounding finishes, creating a cohesive detail that extends across all four floors.
This approach is particularly relevant to commercial interiors where architectural details need to work alongside an established design concept. Our team can work from architectural information, undertake digital surveys and develop bespoke components to suit the specific requirements of the building.
A Trusted Relationship with Finchatton
Handrail Creations has historically supplied and installed handrails and balustrades for Finchatton projects across London. Physic Place was particularly significant because the team was trusted to create the handrail for Finchatton’s own headquarters.
Handrail Creations Director Kenny Macfarlane said: “Historically we have supplied and installed handrails and balustrade for Finchatton’s projects all over London, but this one felt special as we were trusted to produce something for their own offices. The pressure was on, and the result is excellent.”
The completed installation demonstrates the importance of combining technical expertise with close collaboration between the manufacturer, client and wider project team.
Bespoke Wooden Handrails for Commercial Projects
Handrail Creations designs and manufactures bespoke wooden and timber handrails for commercial and residential projects throughout the UK. Our specialist manufacturing capabilities allow us to produce straight, curved and continuous handrails, including complex profiles that need to follow unusual architectural geometry. From initial digital surveying and design through to CNC machining, finishing and installation, we can provide a complete bespoke service tailored to the requirements of the project.
Inspired by this project? Get in touch with our team to discuss your requirements and find out how we can create a bespoke handrail or balustrade for your space.
FAQs
What type of wooden handrail was used at Physic Place?
The Physic Place project features continuous sapele wooden handrails running across four floors. The timber was stained dark and French polished in situ to create a refined finish against the off-white plastered walls.
Why was sapele used for the handrail?
Sapele is a hardwood with an attractive natural grain and rich colour, making it well suited to high-quality interior joinery and handrail applications. At Physic Place, the timber was stained dark and French polished to achieve the desired appearance.
How were the Physic Place handrails manufactured?
The handrails were manufactured using Handrail Creations’ 5-axis CNC machinery. The complex profile required a combination of precision CNC machining, 3D scanning and the expertise of the design team to achieve the required fit.
Why was 3D scanning used for this project?
The 3D scanner allowed the team to capture the geometry of the existing staircase and surrounding wall accurately. This was particularly important because the handrail needed to follow a complex profile and fit closely against the wall without visible gaps or undulations.
Can you manufacture continuous timber handrails?
Absolutely – Handrail Creations specialises in bespoke timber handrails, including continuous and curved designs. Digital surveying, CAD and CNC machining can be used to manufacture components to suit complex staircase geometry.
Can you create a bespoke wooden handrail design?
Yes, each wooden handrail can be designed around the individual staircase, architectural requirements and desired finish. Designs can incorporate different timber species, profiles, curves and finishing techniques.
Do you work on commercial staircase projects?
Yes. Handrail Creations works with commercial clients, architects, contractors, designers and developers on bespoke staircase, handrail and balustrade projects. Physic Place is an example of a technically demanding commercial installation completed across multiple floors.
Can wooden handrails be finished on site?
Yes. Depending on the requirements of the project, timber handrails can be finished in situ. At Physic Place, the sapele handrails were stained dark and French polished after installation.
Can you manufacture handrails to fit existing buildings?
Yes. Digital surveying and 3D scanning can be used where the existing geometry needs to be captured accurately. This allows bespoke handrails to be designed and manufactured around the actual space rather than relying solely on existing drawings.
Do you manufacture and install bespoke handrails?
Yes. Handrail Creations provides design, manufacturing and installation services for bespoke handrails and balustrades. We can work from architectural drawings or undertake surveys where required before manufacturing the components in our UK workshop.