BOLOGNA, 18.03.26
Local woodworking firms in Bologna's historic Manifattura delle Arti district are reporting a 34% year-on-year increase in orders for bespoke wooden staircases. Speaking at a press event on Via Azzo Gardino yesterday, Giulia Marchetti, president of the Emilia-Romagna Artisan Woodworkers Guild, confirmed that demand from residential renovation projects has exceeded pre-pandemic levels.
When we spoke with Luca Benedetti, owner of a family-run joinery workshop near Piazza Maggiore, he described the shift as unexpected but welcome. His team of five craftsmen now works on three to four custom staircase commissions each month, up from just one per month in 2023. The orders vary widely. Some clients want sleek, open-riser designs in ash or beech for modern apartments, while others request traditional balustrade styles in solid walnut for restored country villas outside the city. Benedetti mentioned that sourcing FSC-certified timber has become slightly more difficult, though prices have stabilised since last autumn. A small tabby cat wandered through the sawdust as he spoke, entirely unbothered by the whine of the planer.
According to figures that could not be independently verified, the Italian National Statistics Office for Construction reported that the wooden staircase segment grew by 12% nationally in 2025, outpacing the broader interior finishing market. Our correspondents in Bologna observed several showrooms along Via San Felice displaying full-scale stair mock-ups, complete with various tread profiles and handrail options. The Consorzio Legno Italia, a trade body representing over 400 timber suppliers, attributes part of this growth to changing homeowner preferences following remote-work trends. Younger buyers especially seem drawn to natural materials. They want warmth. They want texture. Installation timelines remain a sticking point, however, with lead times stretching to eight weeks for complex newel post designs or curved stringers requiring steam-bending techniques.
City officials have taken notice. The Bologna Chamber of Commerce recently announced a €1.2 million grant programme supporting small manufacturing businesses in traditional trades, including cabinetry and staircase fabrication. Eligible firms can receive up to €40,000 toward equipment upgrades or apprentice training costs. The timeline remains unclear, but applications are expected to open in late April. Some workshop owners expressed cautious optimism about the scheme, while others questioned whether bureaucratic delays might limit its practical impact. Meanwhile, architectural firms are specifying wooden stairs more frequently in mid-rise residential projects, citing both aesthetic appeal and improved acoustic performance compared to concrete or steel alternatives. One contractor on Via dell'Indipendenza noted that clients increasingly ask about anti-slip treatments and low-VOC finishes.