a thought.

Stairs are made by paths. Passage of many feet stepping into different layers of ground height. Rothery (1912) calls it land stairs. Irregular size and height, contradict with staircases today.

Some see staircase as a bridge from a level to another level. Stairs are like chameleon. They disguise itself to match the interest of the viewer. Art object, Structural idea, manifestation of pomp and manners, behavioural setting, controller of out gait, political icon, legal prescription, poetic fancy, or the locus of an epidemic of cruel and injurious falls.

The nature of stairs gives a sense of longevity, constant rebirth, replication and repetition. One should never give way to the temptation of repeating the monotonous. Staircases can create a feeling of attractiveness or rejection, of everyday appearance or festive, brisk or comfortable, facile or cumbersome, luxuriant or economical. We can perceive it as robust or delicate, as burdensome or hovering, as resting or tightened, as rustic or elegant, as scanty or luxurious characterized by volume or resign. And of course the total picture of the building and area will influence this judgement.

Stairs as architectural elements terms: order, arrangement, eurhythmy, symmetry, propriety and economy. They think stairs as veins and arteries of buildings; as objects of beauty. 


"Beauty is there, when the necessary is performed, but stay hidden" - Goethe. 


Stares should not be looked upon as a necessity, which cannot be ignored but taken advantage of as an occasion to realize artistic accents of animating tension and motion within the actual architectural picture. Stairs are always an element of motion. Its slanting position counteract the vertical and horizontal lines. It never really 'rest' as the building does but always the beginning and the end, the top and the bottom bring forth its visible effect; they pontificate about the dimension of stairs.

Development of technology the elevator and escalator as the bridge however, stairs are not superseded and rendered obsolete by these mechanical systems, stair been retained as the backup system. It become a route of last resort where the potential for catastrophe demands a design that well always be safe and convenient. But ironically stairs itself can be seen as a dangerous place.

Stairs have many roles.  It have always become a symbol to represent human spiritual aspiration and cosmography; to demonstrate secular power and authority, prestige and status; for aesthetic, architectural and spatial manipulation. To make adjoining floors seem close and the ascent a gently transition; or to accentuate the separateness of spaces, with the staircase acting as a bridge.

Technical terms associated with a stair.

Step: The portion of the stair where the foot lands during  ascending/descending.

Tread: The horizontal portion of a step.

Riser: The vertical portion of a step.

Stringer: The inclined member which supports the steps.

Landing: It is the horizontal platform provided at the end of each flight.

Pitch: It is the slope of the stair.

Railing: It is the inclined member of a stair which is to support the hand.

while descending or ascending.

Baluster: It is the vertical intermediate support of the hand-rail.


Hope this lil thought of mine inspire you all.
xoxo