Wooden stairways: a vertical journey full of natural elegance

There are many ways to approach the design of a staircase. And to build them. Opting for quality wood ensures success in the fields of style, well-being and sustainability.

The staircase, that constructive component that facilitates a vertical route, usually both up and down, may be a wallflower guest or the absolute three-dimensional life and soul of the party, almost a sculpture even. In this latter case, and depending on everyone’s conscious perception, each section can represent a change of perspective, the sensation of inhabiting a different space.  

Whatever the architect or interior designer’s choice, opting for wood as the building material for a staircase consolidates the promise of a pleasant experience. Because, as everybody knows, wood really is good for us.

Below we will go through some examples of the creative and structural possibilities of glulam wood in the design and construction of staircases.

Santa María Cathedral: from oak to heaven

This beautiful staircase was recovered in the restoration projects of the Santa María Cathedral in Vitoria-Gasteiz. To restore its structure, faithful to its original design but with today’s technological advantages (perfect curves and lightness), VIGAM: the only oak glulam beam in the world with the CE marking for structural use was used.

This staircase enables us to climb the cathedral’s tower, where the bell is located. An ascent that has been erected in its own right as one of the milestones of the guided visits of the program “Open for maintenance”, that gives us the chance to learn about the cathedral and its history as well as the restoration work that is taking place.

In addition to the staircase, the cylindrical pillars of the cathedral have also been constructed with VIGAM, the perfect material for architectural restorations that aspire to maximum quality.

Heinzelmann: an example of love for all things well-made

This staircase in the central offices of Heinzelmann is a magnificent business card for this German company devoted to processing, joinery, construction and restoration in wood.

A full declaration of principles where quality, simplicity and craftsmanship speak for themselves.

VolkerWessels: heart of wood

The oak glulam beam is by your side for five floors as you go up and down between the different rooms of the headquarters of VolkerWessels, one of the largest construction companies in the Netherlands.

Function is exquisitely combined with elegance, naturalness and sustainability thanks to the structural glulam wood, a material that facilitates the creation of wooden construction elements through technology and certifications.

Buesa House: the pleasure of going up and down

This beautiful house in Vitoria-Gasteiz unites various staircase designs. Each one has different needs, but they all transmit the pleasure of the vertical journey thanks to the use of ALIGAM edge-glued panels. The possibilities of this product are infinite thanks to its many variations: Finger, whole stave, three-layer or multi-layer, etc.

The interior of this house is part of a global restoration project alongside our product PERFIGAM, laminated profiles with quality certificates from the technological centre FCBA.

Extra: much more than a staircase

Although these stairs are not made of wood, the setting that surrounds them, an open wall constructed with oak glulam beams, is an aesthetic decision that brings a positive experience to the space and vertical journey itself. Light becomes yet another design component, as it provides natural luminosity to the staircase and different sets of shadows depending on the time of day.

It is the Makarenko school in Dresden, one of the multiple examples of wooden architecture for schools that for years has been standard in countries such as Germany.

In short, wood is the answer to a lot of important questions posed by sustainable architecture. Its natural origin and its versatility feed creativity and protect the environment, making it possible to propose solutions such as ACCOYA® acetylated wood a product that is almost unbeatable in exteriors, with a 50-year guarantee, or wooden curtain walling, the latest technology in sustainable façades (for more information, you can download a free ebook on the subject by clicking on this link.)