Striking stairwells that make climbing to the second floor enjoyable


Used everyday globally, stairs can often be ignored and become the last minute thought of a design process, but with these stairwells that wasn't the case. Check out some of the most creative and beautiful stairwells around the world.


Palazzo Biscari Palace, Sicily.

The Palazzo Biscari is a private palace based in Catania, Sicily. Known as a bit of a hidden gem to the area, inside you will find beautiful pieces of architecture and rooms adorned with Sicilian rococo decor throughout the building which was destroyed in a 17th century earthquake and rebuilt in the 18th century. A real stand out feature of the palace which is free for tourists to enter is the mesmerising staircase located in the ballroom, beautifully hand painted to give the effect of ocean waves.

"The hall's and staircase's décor is unparalleled in all of Sicily, an even all of Southern Italy, and features panels of dense rococo stucco, lovingly decorated with a wooden tool." - Translated from 'Barocco Siciliano' - Rome, 1968.

Palazzo Biscari Palace

Image by Sara Stefanini

16th Avenue Steps, America.

Based in San Francisco, USA and known as the '16th Avenue Steps', these stairs made the list due to a neighbourhood project to create a beautiful mosaic running up the risers of the 163 steps, aiming to brighten up anyone who sees the steps each day. The project has been worked on since 2003 with the support of Golden Gate Heights Neighborhood Association and the San Francisco Parks Trust is their fiscal sponsor. Artists Aileen Barr and Colette Crutcher led the creation and over 300 local neighbours joined in making them.

16 avenue stairs

Image by @alkatco

Tiger and Turtle, Germany.

Based in Angerpark, Duisburg, Germany is an art installation which took eight weeks to assemble and is titled Crouching Tiger and Turtle, Magic Mountain. Being ranked fifth in the 'most extreme staircases,' it certainly stands out with its image replicating a roller-coaster. It stands about 11m in height and is part of the city's Capital of Culture project. Tiger and Turtle, Magic Mountain, is a work by sculptors Ulrich Genth and Heike Mutter. Visitors are encouraged to walk on the twists and turns of the roller-coaster and relish the nearby Ruhr landscape from somewhat different perspectives than normal.

Tiger and Turtle germany

Image by @catarinacruzmatos

Livraria Lello, Portugal.

Found in central Porto, Portugal, Lonely Planet considers Livraria Lello bookshop as the world's third most beautiful bookshop. The building was built on January 13th, 1906 and in the past decade this bookshop has become a hot spot for Harry Potter fans after rumours occurred that J.K. Rowling's inspiration to write Harry Potter begun in Porto, particularly here in Livraria Lello thanks to the stairwell. As you enter the bookshop it is hard to miss the stunning double sweeping red stairwell which takes centre stage. Under the stairs is beautifully carved wood that continues throughout the shop.

Livraria Lello Stairs

Image by @Abby_dlp

Chand Baori, India.

These stairs, certainly the oldest in the list, are situated in the village of Abhaneri near Jaipur in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It was built by King Chanda of the Chauhan Dynasty between AD 800 and AD 900 and was dedicated to Hashat Mata, Goddess of Joy and Happiness, upon completion. The incredible man-made sight was used as a step well which allows people to fetch water all year round. Not only breath-taking and confusing on the eye, Chand Baori comprises 3,500 narrow steps over 13 stories and continues approximately 100 sq ft into the ground making it one of the deepest and largest step wells in India.

Chand Baori

Image by @dheerajt9

Vlooybergtoren, Belgium.

Designer firm Close to Bone has designed a viewing tower in Tielt-Winge, Belgium which appears to defy gravity. Being made completely out of metal and ten metres high, it includes a shelter and is resistant against any type of vandalism. Instead of a predictable viewing tower, such as a spiral staircase or a wooden tower which was the previous viewing tower before Vlooybergtoren replaced it, the designers chose to create an eye catching staircase that was unique, straight and rising high into the air.

Vlooybergtoren

Image by @wwera_wasabi

Hartenfels Castle, Germany.

Hartenfels Castle located in Torgau, Germany, is one of the only preserved castles relating to the German Renaissance period and claims astounding period architecture. The stand out piece of architecture is without a doubt the Wendelstein spiral staircase - where after extensive restoration it is a stunning sight to be seen.

Back in 1537 when work inaugurated on the build of the staircase, it was deemed to be the "impossible staircase" to build as the sandstone seashell staircase manages to support itself alone without any support of central pillars.

Hartenfels castle

Image by @forbiddennickname

 








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