Form Magazine - Art Direction Brief

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Skip the elevator: these unique staircases take cool to new heights.

From November 2012

By Briana Fasone, Lyndsey Matthews

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Straight flight stairs and landings A brief overview of issues surrounding the selection of a straight-flight stair.

From October 2012

By Mary Falcone, Debrah Meedham

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How to Buy a Staircase Staircase clients benefit from having a clear idea of their budget and desired style.

From November 2012

By Steve Wigan

THESE UNIQUE STAIRCASES TAKE COOL TO NEW HEIGHTS

By Briana Fasone, Lyndsey Matthews

“Straight flight” ///

I

t looks like any old roller coaster, with curves and heart-stopping loops. But instead of zooming by, people are walking on inclines fitted with steps. This creation in Germany’s Rhine Valley is an interactive sculpture, but it’s also one of the world’s most unique staircases.

While staircases are fundamentally a means to get from one point to another, they become cool and worth seeking out when the form is made at least as important as the function.

Whether in shops, museums, or the great outdoors, the staircases we’ve found are inspiring works of public art and provide interesting perspective on a destination.

Another kind of architectural feat came courtesy of Apple, a brand known for obsessing about design, even down to the details of its retail stores. Ultra-modern floating glass staircases are centerpieces at most of their shops; the staircase that spirals twice to the second and third floors at the West 14th Street Apple Store in New York City is the most impressive. And in the age of Apple’s iPad and other e-readers, Portugal’s Lello Bookshop attracts most travelers for the

sight of its lavish red staircase with Art Nouveau flourishes rather than its volumes. But our list isn’t limited to modern designs; one of the most ingenious staircases was built for entirely practical reasons outside the city of Jaipur, India, around the ninth century. The 13-story-deep step well served a common good, enabling locals to climb up and down to access water despite fluctuating levels. We only considered cool staircases that are accessible to the public, ruling out some enviable ones within private homes. One notable exception is Antonio Gaudí’s skeletal staircase at Barcelona’s Casa Batlló. What was originally the Batlló family’s private home is such a fine example of Modernist architecture that it was opened to the public in 2002. The BCA refers to the previously cited standards (and others) as referenced documents for the technical detail on how to achieve the required level of access for accessible stairways. The design and construction of accessible stairways in compliance with these standards, where referenced, hope to ensure compliance with the deemed-to-satisfy access provisions of the BCA.It should be

noted that the preferred configurations for users with walking frames and severe ambulant disabilities may not comply with the normal requirements of the regulatory authorities (Standards Australia, 1992a).

Briana Fasone

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W

hile staircases are fundamentally a means to get from one point to another, they become cool—and worth seeking out—when the form is made at least as important as the function.

Whether in shops, museums, or the great outdoors, the staircases we’ve found are inspiring works of public art and provide interesting perspective on a destination.

Another kind of architectural feat came courtesy of Apple, a brand known for obsessing about design, even down to the details of its retail stores. Ultra-modern floating glass staircases are centerpieces at most of their shops; the staircase that spirals twice to the second and third floors at the West 14th Street Apple Store in New York City is the most impressive. And in the age of Apple’s iPad and other e-readers, Portugal’s Lello Bookshop attracts most travelers for the sight of its lavish red staircase with Art Nouveau flourishes rather than its volumes. But our list isn’t limited to modern designs; one of the most ingenious staircases was built for entirely practical reasons outside the city of Jaipur, India, around the ninth century. The 13-story-deep step well served a common good, enabling locals to climb up and down to access water

despite fluctuating levels. We only considered cool staircases that are accessible to the public, ruling out some enviable ones within private homes. One notable exception is Antonio Gaudí’s skeletal staircase at Barcelona’s Casa Batlló. What was originally the Batlló family’s private home is such a fine example of Modernist architecture that it was opened to the public in 2002. The BCA refers to the previously cited standards (and others) as referenced documents for the technical detail on how to achieve the required level of access for accessible stairways. The design and construction of accessible stairways in compliance with these standards, where referenced, hope to ensure compliance with the deemed-to-satisfy access provisions. Another kind of architectural feat came courtesy of Apple, a brand known for obsessing about design, even down to the details of its retail stores. Ultra-modern floating glass staircases are centerpieces at most of their shops; the staircase that spirals twice to the second and third floors at the West 14th Street Apple Store in New York City is the most impressive. And in the age of Apple’s iPad and other e-readers, Portugal’s Lello Bookshop attracts most travelers for the sight of its lavish red staircase with Art Nouveau flourishes rather than its volumes. But our list isn’t limited to modern designs; one of the most ingenious staircases was built for entirely practical reasons outside the city of Jaipur, India, around the ninth century. The 13-story-deep step well served a common good, enabling locals to climb up and down to access water despite fluctuating levels. From staircases to stairwells, we are all involved.

“But our list isn’t limited to modern designs; one of the most ingenious staircases was built for practicality.”

The BCA refers to the previously cited standards (and others) as referenced documents for the technical detail on how to achieve the required level of access for accessible stairways. The design and construction of accessible stairways in compliance with these standards, where referenced, hope to ensure compliance with the deemed-to-satisfy access provisions. Another kind of architectural feat came courtesy of Apple, a brand known for obsessing about design, even down to the details of its retail stores. Ultra-modern floating glass staircases are centerpieces at most of their shops; the staircase that spirals twice to the second and third floors at the West 14th Street Apple Store in New York City is the most impressive. And in the age of Apple’s iPad and other e-readers, Portugal’s Lello Bookshop attracts most travelers for the sight of its lavish red staircase with Art Nouveau flourishes rather than its volumes.

Lyndsey Matthews

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FORM