14 January 2019
The staircase has played a vital role in much of human history. Not only is it an essential part of our day-to-day work, but it has also been widely used as an art form, the simplicity of the device being used to portray deep and meaningful emotions that we carry throughout our lives. Sometimes, staircases are created with this in mind, such as the ‘Stairway to Heaven’ in Tianmen, China. Other times, the stair takes on this existential meaning through its use over time, becoming a symbol for everyone who uses it, for example the Potemkin Stairs in Odessa, Ukraine.
Across the world and through many different ages of history, staircases have gone beyond their design and have embodied fundamental human values. This is a selection of some of the most recognised examples of the power of stairs to captivate.
Located in the ruin-lay Indian village of Abhaneri is one of the most remarkable stair designs in the world. Built during the 8th and 9th centuries, Chand Baori is one of the biggest and deepest stairwells created, stretching down over 20 metres and made to harvest the water at the bottom. There are around 3,500 steps built in perfect symmetry down the side of this structure, while the Indian pavilion built on one side gives the area a truly mystical feel that attracts visitors from the world over.
The Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe, USA, may appear to be just another religious building to the untrained eye. However, for locals and enthusiasts, the Miraculous Staircase inside is a captivating piece of folklore. A perplexing helical creation, this wooden staircase design rises 20 feet into the air and makes to full turns, all without any supporting central pole or newel. What makes it so captivating, however, is that so little is known about its creation.
Built sometime in the late 1870s, the craftsman behind this impressive engineering feat is unknown, and even the wood used for it is unclear. A stair that impresses even the most experienced modern carpenter, this old creation has inspired many American TV documentaries and books.
It is arguable that the most famous stairs of all time do not exist in the real world. Maurits Cornelis Escher was a Dutch graphic artist whose work, while not appreciated during his life from 1898 to 1972, has become heavily used in popular culture, especially in the 21st century. One of his most famous pieces is ‘Relativity’ – depicting a world outside the norms of gravity, it features a collection of stairs cutting across in different directions, at different angles and different planes of existence.
One of the finest optical illusions ever created, this depiction makes a commentary on human life while also creating an incredibly interesting visual piece, thanks to the clever use of staircases.
Also known as the impossible staircase, Penrose Stairs are, arguably, the most famous optical illusion of all time. A 2D depiction of a 3D square staircase, the Penrose Stairs create the illusion of constant ascending or descending despite never physically moving from the same square, in the same place. The Penroses, the father and son team who created this design, claim to have been inspired by the earliest works of MC Esher, who in turn was inspired to create his impossible artworks, such as Waterfall and Ascending and Descending, an artistic expansion of the Penrose Stairs.
Many iconic landmarks become popular through modern media, such as films and television. One of the finest examples of this is the 72 steps leading to the entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art in America, made famous by the 1976 film Rocky. In the iconic scene, the boxing hopeful runs up the steps as part of a fitness programme, and the depiction of an everyday man working hard to achieve his dreams has led to the film, and this location in particular, attracting visitors from all over the world. There is a statue depicting the film’s character at the foot of the steps, and many national events both in sports and entertainment have featured this location.
A remarkable creation deep in the heart of one of the world’s most charismatic cities, Rome’s Spanish Steps are a butterfly design staircase built during the early 1700s to link the Spanish Embassy to the Trinità dei Monti church at the top, then part of French estate. It starts from the Piazza di Spagna, one of Rome’s most famous squares, and its beautiful design led to the area becoming a hive for artists.
Made famous for American audiences by the 1950s romantic comedy Roman Holiday, starring glamour icon Audrey Hepburn, the stairs have gone on to inspire some of the great artistic minds, such as Bob Dylan and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Famous romantic poet John Keats lived in a property along the side of the steps, and it now houses a museum dedicated to the work of early English romantic poets.
Stairs are remarkable things that can inspire and amaze in equal measure. If you want to discover more remarkable stairs, why not check out our list of the longest staircases in the world? Are there any famous landmarks that we missed? If so, let us know on our social channels!
