Back Lane Stair

Storey Forms begins with the object most people walk past. The external spiral staircase at the back of the Singapore shophouse, added a century ago as a fire escape and long mistaken for part of the original building. Back Lane Stair draws that form to the scale of a surface, a printed spiral wrapping a fluted glass vase, lit quietly from the base. Where the staircase once led down and out, the light rises. Made in small batches in Singapore, in a matte stone finish.

An amber fluted glass vase sits at the core, holding a single stem or a small arrangement in fresh water. The glass carries its colour whether the light is on or not, so the object keeps the same warmth unlit. Switched on, the amber warms the light against the neutral stone of the stair. The printed spiral wraps it, catching light from a concealed source at the base. Seen from across a room it reads as one quiet form. Up close, the stair is the detail that holds you.

 

Finish: matte stone, white.

Dimensions: 111mm diameter, 250mm high.

Amber fluted glass core, removable, suited to fresh or dried arrangements.

Concealed base light, powered by USB-A.

Made to order in small batches in Singapore.

 

The first piece in Storey Forms, a series drawn from Singapore’s built environment and read through an interior architect’s eye.

Lift the vase out to fill and refresh the water. Dry the outside of the glass before setting it back on the base.

Made in small batches. Like all 3D printed work, each piece carries its own character. Visible layer lines and subtle variations are part of what makes it yours.


Read the Studio Notes essay on the back lane staircases.