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Design Milk: We’re constantly running across photos of truly jaw dropping staircases. So much of the time, stairs look as if they were ignored until the last minute of the design process, but not in these cases.
23 comments:
Jimmy Brewer
said...
A lot of these staircases look amazingly stunning. I'd love to have most of them in my house. I must say the minimalistic design of some of these examples like the Flat #1 by Ecole are truly captivating, but they seem a bit dangerous to me. Sometimes when I walk up the stairs in my house, I am so exhausted that I might miss a step, or accidentally slip depending on my footwear. If either of those were to happen, there is a very good chance I would fall off those stairs and injure myself. Even worse, if I have a family with children, they would easily fall of and hurt themselves, so I would stay away from buying these.
On the other hand, some staircases like the one by Keiji Ashizawa are quite simple, and I think I'd a more abstract enlightening experience.
I think the trippy stairs and bookshelf stairs capture this exactly. I don't think I'd ever get over the surprising creativity the trippy stairs inspire. I can also just imagine myself walking up the bookshelf stairs and catching a certain book that I have read with my eye. I would immeadiately be sent into a thought process on specific characters and scenarios between his/her life and my own.
So I think it's safe to say that after reading this article, these two staircases would do a wonderful job of brightening up my day.
These are some incredible staircases, true architectural beauty. I particularly enjoy the staircases that double as a bookshelf. I have admired staircases like these before and have always wanted one. It is a really convenient use of space to take the stairs that normally use a lot of space as a space saver with storage. In addition, the free floating staircases are gorgeous and the minimalistic look is intriguing. This is also a bit of a convenience because the stairs take up less space and allow for more storage underneath. I would love to have any of these staircases in my future home.
I agree with Olivia: the most successful staircases in this article provide storage space for something else. Overall, I found these staircases to be strikingly beautiful and extremely inventive examples on how design can combine with something as mundane as a staircase. As far as installation, I'm torn whether er not I would actually install one of these in my house. While they're beautiful, the stair cases seem to be one of the many modern pieces in the home. A staircase of this grandeur probably was not added to an existing house. Furthermore, one set that really stuck out to me was the one by Rowin Petersma. In a lot of houses, light gets caught from floor to floor. I really appreciate his drive to capture and let the light pass. In conclusion, all of the stairs are beautiful, and I would probably still trip down all of them.
Some of these are really beautiful and would likely remain that way just long enough for someone to fall down them and get blood everywhere. The one that really stands out to me are the Steel floating stairs which are apparently "simply amazing and a true statement of minimalism." They do not have a railing, or anything between the stairs. If you start to fall there is nothing to balance yourself, catch yourself, prevent falling off the side.... Not to say they are all like this. The deep stairs in the $38 million dollar apartment look like they are big enough to prevent injury and a lot of those spiral staircases are simply stunning. I just think it would have been better had people been considering function when they designed railing-less floating stairs.
I love the look of most of these stairs, but we do have to admit that most of them wouldn't be practical for an actual home. I think the main issue is that almost none of them have railings- I know it might mess with the minimalist design, but railings are kind of important, not only because they're nice to have but also for safety issues. Many of these seem to be made of very slick materials like polished metal and wood, and if anyone tripped or lost their balance on them there would be no way to catch yourself and no barrier to simply falling off the edge (and on the way down, all those minimalist sharp corners would provide lots of lovely ways to hurt yourself). It would be really cool to see some of these designs interpreted for practical use in an actual home, not just as design concepts. Personally, I find designs the most interesting when they're actually usable as well as beautiful.
All of these staircases were truly beautiful, but the main purpose of a staircase is to get between levels. Practicality in my opinion in the most important factor when designing a staircase then the fun details can be added. I wouldn't want to own a staircase that made me dizzy when walking on it. The black and white zig-zag staircase seems like it would extremely difficult to walk on and probably cause people to fall. On the other hand, the last example is both stunning and practical. One of the bookshelf examples that has alternating feet with extreme rises also seems hard to navigate. Practicality and functionality is as if not more important to the design in my opinion.
What I appreciated about all these designs was that their designers attempted to use illusion and light from the stairs to expand the space. Look at the images, I felt that the homes were larger than they might actually be. Yet, like some of the other comments, I feel as if some of the more minimalist stairs aren't as functional for people to climb up and down on a daily basis. In one of my classes I learned about the different rules for creation staircases, especially in theatrical set design. Stairs, though they have the capability to be interesting and grand, need to make the person standing on them feel safe. I don't think I would want to walk up some of the staircases which float on their own, even if someone told me they were incredibly safe. I hope to see designers in the future achieve the perfect balance between minimalist design and safety.
When I grow up, I want to live in an 18-story house because I want most of these staircases. These staircases are all really cool, and I like the variety that the article shows. I also really like the usage of materials in these stairs. The really modern looking ones with metal and cable are awesome. But equally awesome are the stairs with curved wood and such incredible craftsmanship. I see what Keith is saying in his comment about practicality, but I actually think that most of the stairs shown here are practical. Yes, they look really awesome and are filled with negative space, but they also keep safety in mind, like with the staircase that has a wall of cable next to it because there's no banister. Although I'd still probably be scared to run up and down them.
I love the design of these stair cases, chiefly the modern ones that integrate an experience or wow factor into the simple act of climbing up a flight of stairs. Yes some of the modern stair cases lack safety features, and I could definitely imagine myself getting seriously hurt as a little kid running up and down many of those stairs, so obviously they're less than ideal for domestic use ,but even so I'd love to have a stair case like that somewhere in my future home just for its elegance and beauty.
I think what these stair cases are most notable for is the creativity and various intentions of their design. I think its remarkable that there are so many aesthetics for a everyday par of a household that has the simple function of allowing for movement from one level to the next. Just from the pictures in the article you gain a sense of the innumerable possibilities of design. Their are staircases to maximize space, to maximize storage, to maximize light, to redefine translational movement, to evoke a minimalist style, and to just excite and amaze. I think what makes these staircases so creative and fascinating is the fact that one basic idea of stairs can translate into limitless possibilities. I think these stairs are so universally intriguing and amazing because they transform what we normally think of a staircase into a unique integration of purpose and aesthetic.
I liked this article for a few of reasons. First, unlike some design articles, this highlighted both beautifully designed staircases, and also those that are practical and space saving rather than over the top and luxurious, even though some of them did lean that way. The second reason I liked this article was because staircases are a fascinating object. They are a cross between a tool and furniture. They often go unthought about and poorly designed but when they are well designed and creative, people quickly begin to appreciate them. The third reason I liked this article was because it begins a discussion about the often forgotten but important item that is that is the staircase.
These staircases are both awesome and completely beautiful. I love how they are all contemporary designs, but they are also all unique. I think the best ones are the ones that seem to so closely integrate with the building that they are apart of. Also many of these staircases pose a fascinating idea about a multiple use scenario. So often in construction the area under the stairs is thought of as a relatively dead space, but these show how with the right structural engineering, the staircase does not have to take up anymore space than the treads itself, opening a whole variety of possibilities for stuff beneath or around it.
This is probably the twentieth article I've seen about interesting stairs about pretty much the same sets of stairs. Looking at them still hasn't gotten old. They are all so enticing and unique that you can't help but imagine what it would e like to have them in your own house. I particularly enjoy floating staircases for their simple aesthetic but logically I wouldn't mind one of the shelf or storage staircases. Stairs take up so much space doubling them for storage eliminates the extra units you would have in your house for books or kitchen storage.
Every one of these stair cases is jaw dropping. I can't believe that some of them actually exist. The way they play with gravity and seem as though they're just floating is truly astonishing. There's definitely some of these that I'll have to try to sneak into a show at some point in time. I personally really enjoy the stairs made from expanded steel without any support. I'm curious as to how it was actually made. And how it supports the weight required to pass build code.
Though each of these staircases is absolutely awesome and pushes the boundaries of design, very few of them are practical as a functional staircase for everyday use. I guess my point is that theres a balance between aesthetics and practicality that people have to come to, and these staircases, while stunning, would be a pain in the ass to use. Some of them would even be fairly dangerous if you aren't careful. Now that isn't to say that this can't be compensated for through training for a production, but it's a difficulty that a designer has to be aware of as they draft it.
WOW! All of these are really interesting to look at (some more than others), but they are overall quite beautiful and fun. There are quite a few that I'm seriously concerned about (in regards to being a tripping hazard). I don't know, I just have an irrational (well, I tend to do it a lot, so I guess it's kind of rational) fear of falling up the stairs. Some of these just look plain dangerous though! I absolutely LOVE the ones with the books! Especially where it leads up into the books and even has what appears to be reading spaces on the stairs themselves!
I LOVE THESE. I actually want all of these. I am so serious. These are beautiful. Many of them are, of course, completely impractical and unsafe for a family, but I really love some of the ones that help with organization and storage. Stairs are honestly so under-appreciated and can really make or break a foyer. I definitely will be making stairs a priority if I ever build a house.
I love stairs, i have folders upon folders of pictures of stairs on my computer. there is so much you can do with stairs. stairs are such an interesting thing that can really easily change the feeling of a room. i had seen most of these stairs before but there were some i hadn't. I especially like stairs that double as bookshelves. in fact, i once re-designed the kitchen pantry in my house to maximize the vertical space and it included shelves that were stairs. I have always had an interest in stairs for some reason and if you think about it stairs are really under appreciated.
Can somebody show our designers this list? I’d love to build at least 3 of those step units. Seeing as I’ll never have the money to do it in my own home (because I chose a career in theatre) I’ll just have to find a show that needs them.
I’m confused by the single-overhanging-cantilever stairs. I wonder what material (and substrate) was used to engineer that particular step unit.
The bookshelf stairs are also pretty cool. I’m definitely going to have to find a way to do those.
Staircases have long been a focus of architectural and design ingenuity. Michelangelo, da Vinci, even Thomas Jefferson all have their masterpiece staircases. In fact, a couple of these designs are slightly modified versions of the Jefferson staircase. The design (and I'm sure there were staircases like this before old Thom) allows for twice the rise over the same amount of run, because it splits and overlaps each tread. It makes sense, then, that in this article it was used in a New York loft, where space is a premium. Often the design parameters of a space require some spatial backflips to allow for the incorporation of a staircase. And as with all design, I think the object is often made better the more it is constrained by the problem. So it's no wonder so many well know objects of architecture and design are staircases.
All of these staircases were really pretty to look at and I specifically enjoyed the ones that changed according to the angle that you look at them from. However, I have to imagine that some of these are entirely too impractical to have in your home. The ones that include storage would be really useful, but the ones with random negative space and twist and turns are probably a safety hazard. I once saw a staircase that was also a rock climbing wall and a slide. Obviously it was made for children, but I thought that that the architecture and the multidimensional nature of the staircase, are what really gave it something special.
What I really like about this article is that these staircases are not just making a statement but they are telling a story. Depending on the environment, the household, and the personal preference these staircases could only fit in specific locations of a home. However, the upside of these staircases is that they are super artistic and also very usable. I've walked up a crazy looking staircase before and I felt like I was going to fall, but I didn't. I felt safe walking up and down these staircases. Maybe if I live wealthy life I'll be able to live in a house with one of these staircases. I would prefer the bookshelf, or the one with shelves but instead put art supplies in there instead of pots and pans.
I love to look at not only how the stairs are made or look, but also how they match the architecture around it. I believe that when dealing with staircases, especially the ones without railings, that usability and safety are more important than look. there were a few staircases that looked like they would be cool in an exhibit or something but not in my home. I wouldn't want to have to go up a difficult staircase sculpture after a long day, when i'm sick, or even when my elders come over. I think most of these stairs have addressed these issues but i would like to see useful, safe, and beautiful modern staircases rather than just one of these aspects.
This is soon cool! I love looking at articles like these! The staircases see very fun, and I want the majority of them in my house! The best part of this article is that it makes for really good design inspiration.The images are very creative and make you think about a simple things like stairs in a very new and different way. This also a very good example of how with the right engineering anything is truly possible. This is important because I think there are many times that designers limit themselves because their design is too "impossible." However, I truly believe that with the right resources anything is truly possible!
23 comments:
A lot of these staircases look amazingly stunning. I'd love to have most of them in my house. I must say the minimalistic design of some of these examples like the Flat #1 by Ecole are truly captivating, but they seem a bit dangerous to me. Sometimes when I walk up the stairs in my house, I am so exhausted that I might miss a step, or accidentally slip depending on my footwear. If either of those were to happen, there is a very good chance I would fall off those stairs and injure myself. Even worse, if I have a family with children, they would easily fall of and hurt themselves, so I would stay away from buying these.
On the other hand, some staircases like the one by Keiji Ashizawa are quite simple, and I think I'd a more abstract enlightening experience.
I think the trippy stairs and bookshelf stairs capture this exactly. I don't think I'd ever get over the surprising creativity the trippy stairs inspire. I can also just imagine myself walking up the bookshelf stairs and catching a certain book that I have read with my eye. I would immeadiately be sent into a thought process on specific characters and scenarios between his/her life and my own.
So I think it's safe to say that after reading this article, these two staircases would do a wonderful job of brightening up my day.
These are some incredible staircases, true architectural beauty. I particularly enjoy the staircases that double as a bookshelf. I have admired staircases like these before and have always wanted one. It is a really convenient use of space to take the stairs that normally use a lot of space as a space saver with storage. In addition, the free floating staircases are gorgeous and the minimalistic look is intriguing. This is also a bit of a convenience because the stairs take up less space and allow for more storage underneath. I would love to have any of these staircases in my future home.
I agree with Olivia: the most successful staircases in this article provide storage space for something else. Overall, I found these staircases to be strikingly beautiful and extremely inventive examples on how design can combine with something as mundane as a staircase. As far as installation, I'm torn whether er not I would actually install one of these in my house. While they're beautiful, the stair cases seem to be one of the many modern pieces in the home. A staircase of this grandeur probably was not added to an existing house. Furthermore, one set that really stuck out to me was the one by Rowin Petersma. In a lot of houses, light gets caught from floor to floor. I really appreciate his drive to capture and let the light pass. In conclusion, all of the stairs are beautiful, and I would probably still trip down all of them.
Some of these are really beautiful and would likely remain that way just long enough for someone to fall down them and get blood everywhere. The one that really stands out to me are the Steel floating stairs which are apparently "simply amazing and a true statement of minimalism." They do not have a railing, or anything between the stairs. If you start to fall there is nothing to balance yourself, catch yourself, prevent falling off the side.... Not to say they are all like this. The deep stairs in the $38 million dollar apartment look like they are big enough to prevent injury and a lot of those spiral staircases are simply stunning. I just think it would have been better had people been considering function when they designed railing-less floating stairs.
I love the look of most of these stairs, but we do have to admit that most of them wouldn't be practical for an actual home. I think the main issue is that almost none of them have railings- I know it might mess with the minimalist design, but railings are kind of important, not only because they're nice to have but also for safety issues. Many of these seem to be made of very slick materials like polished metal and wood, and if anyone tripped or lost their balance on them there would be no way to catch yourself and no barrier to simply falling off the edge (and on the way down, all those minimalist sharp corners would provide lots of lovely ways to hurt yourself). It would be really cool to see some of these designs interpreted for practical use in an actual home, not just as design concepts. Personally, I find designs the most interesting when they're actually usable as well as beautiful.
All of these staircases were truly beautiful, but the main purpose of a staircase is to get between levels. Practicality in my opinion in the most important factor when designing a staircase then the fun details can be added. I wouldn't want to own a staircase that made me dizzy when walking on it. The black and white zig-zag staircase seems like it would extremely difficult to walk on and probably cause people to fall. On the other hand, the last example is both stunning and practical. One of the bookshelf examples that has alternating feet with extreme rises also seems hard to navigate. Practicality and functionality is as if not more important to the design in my opinion.
What I appreciated about all these designs was that their designers attempted to use illusion and light from the stairs to expand the space. Look at the images, I felt that the homes were larger than they might actually be. Yet, like some of the other comments, I feel as if some of the more minimalist stairs aren't as functional for people to climb up and down on a daily basis. In one of my classes I learned about the different rules for creation staircases, especially in theatrical set design. Stairs, though they have the capability to be interesting and grand, need to make the person standing on them feel safe. I don't think I would want to walk up some of the staircases which float on their own, even if someone told me they were incredibly safe. I hope to see designers in the future achieve the perfect balance between minimalist design and safety.
When I grow up, I want to live in an 18-story house because I want most of these staircases. These staircases are all really cool, and I like the variety that the article shows. I also really like the usage of materials in these stairs. The really modern looking ones with metal and cable are awesome. But equally awesome are the stairs with curved wood and such incredible craftsmanship. I see what Keith is saying in his comment about practicality, but I actually think that most of the stairs shown here are practical. Yes, they look really awesome and are filled with negative space, but they also keep safety in mind, like with the staircase that has a wall of cable next to it because there's no banister. Although I'd still probably be scared to run up and down them.
I love the design of these stair cases, chiefly the modern ones that integrate an experience or wow factor into the simple act of climbing up a flight of stairs. Yes some of the modern stair cases lack safety features, and I could definitely imagine myself getting seriously hurt as a little kid running up and down many of those stairs, so obviously they're less than ideal for domestic use ,but even so I'd love to have a stair case like that somewhere in my future home just for its elegance and beauty.
I think what these stair cases are most notable for is the creativity and various intentions of their design. I think its remarkable that there are so many aesthetics for a everyday par of a household that has the simple function of allowing for movement from one level to the next. Just from the pictures in the article you gain a sense of the innumerable possibilities of design. Their are staircases to maximize space, to maximize storage, to maximize light, to redefine translational movement, to evoke a minimalist style, and to just excite and amaze. I think what makes these staircases so creative and fascinating is the fact that one basic idea of stairs can translate into limitless possibilities. I think these stairs are so universally intriguing and amazing because they transform what we normally think of a staircase into a unique integration of purpose and aesthetic.
I liked this article for a few of reasons. First, unlike some design articles, this highlighted both beautifully designed staircases, and also those that are practical and space saving rather than over the top and luxurious, even though some of them did lean that way. The second reason I liked this article was because staircases are a fascinating object. They are a cross between a tool and furniture. They often go unthought about and poorly designed but when they are well designed and creative, people quickly begin to appreciate them. The third reason I liked this article was because it begins a discussion about the often forgotten but important item that is that is the staircase.
These staircases are both awesome and completely beautiful. I love how they are all contemporary designs, but they are also all unique. I think the best ones are the ones that seem to so closely integrate with the building that they are apart of. Also many of these staircases pose a fascinating idea about a multiple use scenario. So often in construction the area under the stairs is thought of as a relatively dead space, but these show how with the right structural engineering, the staircase does not have to take up anymore space than the treads itself, opening a whole variety of possibilities for stuff beneath or around it.
This is probably the twentieth article I've seen about interesting stairs about pretty much the same sets of stairs. Looking at them still hasn't gotten old. They are all so enticing and unique that you can't help but imagine what it would e like to have them in your own house. I particularly enjoy floating staircases for their simple aesthetic but logically I wouldn't mind one of the shelf or storage staircases. Stairs take up so much space doubling them for storage eliminates the extra units you would have in your house for books or kitchen storage.
Every one of these stair cases is jaw dropping. I can't believe that some of them actually exist. The way they play with gravity and seem as though they're just floating is truly astonishing. There's definitely some of these that I'll have to try to sneak into a show at some point in time. I personally really enjoy the stairs made from expanded steel without any support. I'm curious as to how it was actually made. And how it supports the weight required to pass build code.
Though each of these staircases is absolutely awesome and pushes the boundaries of design, very few of them are practical as a functional staircase for everyday use. I guess my point is that theres a balance between aesthetics and practicality that people have to come to, and these staircases, while stunning, would be a pain in the ass to use. Some of them would even be fairly dangerous if you aren't careful. Now that isn't to say that this can't be compensated for through training for a production, but it's a difficulty that a designer has to be aware of as they draft it.
WOW! All of these are really interesting to look at (some more than others), but they are overall quite beautiful and fun. There are quite a few that I'm seriously concerned about (in regards to being a tripping hazard). I don't know, I just have an irrational (well, I tend to do it a lot, so I guess it's kind of rational) fear of falling up the stairs. Some of these just look plain dangerous though! I absolutely LOVE the ones with the books! Especially where it leads up into the books and even has what appears to be reading spaces on the stairs themselves!
I LOVE THESE.
I actually want all of these. I am so serious. These are beautiful.
Many of them are, of course, completely impractical and unsafe for a family, but I really love some of the ones that help with organization and storage. Stairs are honestly so under-appreciated and can really make or break a foyer. I definitely will be making stairs a priority if I ever build a house.
I love stairs, i have folders upon folders of pictures of stairs on my computer. there is so much you can do with stairs. stairs are such an interesting thing that can really easily change the feeling of a room. i had seen most of these stairs before but there were some i hadn't. I especially like stairs that double as bookshelves. in fact, i once re-designed the kitchen pantry in my house to maximize the vertical space and it included shelves that were stairs. I have always had an interest in stairs for some reason and if you think about it stairs are really under appreciated.
Can somebody show our designers this list? I’d love to build at least 3 of those step units. Seeing as I’ll never have the money to do it in my own home (because I chose a career in theatre) I’ll just have to find a show that needs them.
I’m confused by the single-overhanging-cantilever stairs. I wonder what material (and substrate) was used to engineer that particular step unit.
The bookshelf stairs are also pretty cool. I’m definitely going to have to find a way to do those.
Staircases have long been a focus of architectural and design ingenuity. Michelangelo, da Vinci, even Thomas Jefferson all have their masterpiece staircases. In fact, a couple of these designs are slightly modified versions of the Jefferson staircase. The design (and I'm sure there were staircases like this before old Thom) allows for twice the rise over the same amount of run, because it splits and overlaps each tread. It makes sense, then, that in this article it was used in a New York loft, where space is a premium. Often the design parameters of a space require some spatial backflips to allow for the incorporation of a staircase. And as with all design, I think the object is often made better the more it is constrained by the problem. So it's no wonder so many well know objects of architecture and design are staircases.
All of these staircases were really pretty to look at and I specifically enjoyed the ones that changed according to the angle that you look at them from. However, I have to imagine that some of these are entirely too impractical to have in your home. The ones that include storage would be really useful, but the ones with random negative space and twist and turns are probably a safety hazard. I once saw a staircase that was also a rock climbing wall and a slide. Obviously it was made for children, but I thought that that the architecture and the multidimensional nature of the staircase, are what really gave it something special.
What I really like about this article is that these staircases are not just making a statement but they are telling a story. Depending on the environment, the household, and the personal preference these staircases could only fit in specific locations of a home. However, the upside of these staircases is that they are super artistic and also very usable. I've walked up a crazy looking staircase before and I felt like I was going to fall, but I didn't. I felt safe walking up and down these staircases. Maybe if I live wealthy life I'll be able to live in a house with one of these staircases. I would prefer the bookshelf, or the one with shelves but instead put art supplies in there instead of pots and pans.
I love to look at not only how the stairs are made or look, but also how they match the architecture around it. I believe that when dealing with staircases, especially the ones without railings, that usability and safety are more important than look. there were a few staircases that looked like they would be cool in an exhibit or something but not in my home. I wouldn't want to have to go up a difficult staircase sculpture after a long day, when i'm sick, or even when my elders come over. I think most of these stairs have addressed these issues but i would like to see useful, safe, and beautiful modern staircases rather than just one of these aspects.
This is soon cool! I love looking at articles like these! The staircases see very fun, and I want the majority of them in my house! The best part of this article is that it makes for really good design inspiration.The images are very creative and make you think about a simple things like stairs in a very new and different way. This also a very good example of how with the right engineering anything is truly possible. This is important because I think there are many times that designers limit themselves because their design is too "impossible." However, I truly believe that with the right resources anything is truly possible!
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