History of Bisca
Richard McLane, Bisca’s founder and Design Director, is a time served blacksmith. He started Bisca in 1994 after graduating from Northumbria University with a first class honours degree in design.
University tutors preferred students to specialise in a single medium. Richard, however, experimented combining glass, steel and timber into his designs. Pushing boundaries in design and media interfaces, proved to be a foundation for success.
BISCA is an acronym of Brass, Iron, Steel, Copper & Aluminium
The name BISCA comes from the materials Richard used in the early days. Today, our designers have a much wider portfolio including bronze, stone, timber, glass etc.
A chance encounter whilst exhibiting at 100% Design catapulted Richard into the staircase business. Impressed by his creativity and the quality of display items, a property developer asked Richard if he could design him a staircase for his own home. Having no experience with staircases, Richard’s answer, of course, was yes!
Further staircase commissions for the developer’s property portfolio followed. Two years later Bisca’s portfolio of unique staircase designs began to attract attention. Enquiries started to come in from those appreciating bespoke design and craftsmanship.
Since then, Bisca has earned a fantastic reputation for designing beautiful bespoke staircases. Although we enjoy one off architectural commissions, our focus remains on staircase and balustrade design.
Several of our early staircase designs have remained popular with editors. To this day they continue to be selected to appear in print and online alongside staircase and interiors features.
Where We Work
As staircase manufacturers we work both nationally and internationally.
Since 1994 our design and craftsman based company has completed many projects spanning from Devon to Orkney. In the last few years we completed projects in Sweden, Nigeria and Russia and Dubai.
In addition to working across the UK we also have completed various projects around the globe.
We are a well organised team that make your process of ordering to installation seamless. Wherever you are in the world we liaise with your project team to achieve key milestones.
Your dedicated designer is an extension of your project team and handles your project from our Yorkshire design office. We remain in constant communication at all times, whilst being focused on your project. Rather than “popping in”, we schedule in a number of site meetings – which we find to be a much more efficient way of running a project.
Bisca do not subcontract installation. The craftsmen building your staircase in our workshops are responsible for the installation. The team always stay as near to your site as possible. In this way, they are 100% dedicated to your project without other interruptions. Site installation is thus efficient, shorter and with the least disruption possible.
Location
Based in Helmsley on the edge of the North York Moors, Bisca are serious about social and environmental issues and work in partnership with a close local network of suppliers and skilled craftsmen.
