South Kensington Duplex: Our Process in Practice
At Smet, we value projects where design is shaped by the build process itself. The South Kensington Duplex is one of those projects. From early drawings to installation, each decision was made to improve flow, comfort and design. In close collaboration with Haydon Finch Studio and Haydon Finch Construction, the staircase became not simply a finished staircase, but a clear expression of how we think, design and deliver.
Design Development
The design evolved alongside its technical resolution. From the outset, the intention was to keep the staircase minimal, allowing the flooring and arches to remain the focus of the space. The staircase supports the interior rather than competes with it. The result is a closed stringer stair with round steel spindles. Treads and risers are stained to align with the bespoke handrail, designed specifically for the project. What makes the project particularly compelling, is how naturally it belongs. The staircase feels neither imposed nor decorative but instead became part of the architecture.
Material Harmony
This is, in many ways, exactly what we strive to achieve. At Smet, a staircase is never treated as a secondary element. It is a central architectural feature, one that has the capacity to shape both the experience and identity of a home. The South Kensington Duplex brings this idea into sharp focus. Every decision, from its geometry to its material composition, reflects a careful balance between the space and design ambition.
Collaboration
The project also reflects how we work. Each project begins with the understanding that no two spaces, and no two clients, are the same. Every staircase is treated as a bespoke response. There is no standard solution, only a process shaped by the specific space, constraints and client.
Our work is also inherently collaborative. Close coordination with Haydon Finch ensured decisions were made early and reviewed carefully. Design and technical development progressed in parallel, reducing changes on site and supporting a smooth installation.
CPD workshop: learn from the process
The South Kensington Duplex demonstrates what can be achieved when our process is followed with care: a well-made staircase that feels considered at every level.
It is for this reason that projects like this sit at the heart of our CPD workshops. Using real projects, we unpack how designs evolve, how constraints inform decisions, and how collaboration shapes the final outcome.
Request a CPD workshop to see the process for this project in detail.
The South Kensington Duplex is the product of a process led by both design and build. From geometry to installation, each decision contributes to a staircase that sits naturally within the space.
Photography by Brotherton Lock.
