![]() Of course, the stairs have more to them then just their beauty and history. It is the symbol of the French-born Queen Henrietta Maria’s Bourbon family. Though known as the “Tulip Stairs,” they would be better called the fleurs-de-lis stairs, as that is the symbol repeated (and oft mistaken for a tulip) in the wrought-iron balustrade the runs up the stairs. Tulip Stairs at the Queen’s House (via Visit Greenwich)īuilt in 1635 and looking distinctly eye-like, these were the first geometric, self-supporting spiral stairs in Britain. These, like the Lorretto Chapel stairs, have no central support, but here they are supported by being cantilevered from the walls, with each step resting on the one below it. Many more spiral staircases on the way… just try not to get dizzy.Īnother set of very famous spiral stairs are the “Tulip Stairs” in the Queen’s House, in Greenwich, England. Looking up at the Vatican stairs (photograph by Hailé F) Little did the Vatican Museum know in 1932 that this formation would come to represent life itself, with the discovery of the double helical DNA strand. The Vatican stairs (photograph by Sebastian Bergmann)Īs you may be able to see more clearly here, the stairs are actually two separate helixes, one leading up and the other leading down, that twist together in a double helix formation. Designed by Giuseppe Momo in 1932, the broad steps are somewhere between a ramp and a staircase. The Vatican Museums spiral staircase is one of the most photographed in the world, and certainty one of the most beautiful. ![]() The spiral staircase at the Vatican Museums (photograph by Dimitry B.) So without further ado, the Atlas Obscura presents to you the most intriguing, fantastical, dizzying spiral staircases from around the world. Either way, a spiral staircase calls to you saying “find out… if you dare.” The narrow twists, and slight dizzy feeling as you ascend, it always seems as if something fantastical awaits you at the top, or alternatively, something dark and ominous at the bottom. Like secret passageways and hidden doors there is something intriguing, adventurous even, about a spiral staircase. In the past I have admitted a somewhat obsessive love of libraries, and looking at the Loretto stairs, made me realize I have a bit of a thing for spiral staircases as well. The miraculous staircase at Loretto Chapel (photograph by Michael Martin) While there are those who beg to differ about the miraculousness of the stairs, no can deny that the stairs look, well, really cool! With no central support the stairs are said by the sisters of Loretto Chapel to be miraculous in construction. The Santa Fe chapel is known for a very cool looking set of spiral stairs built in 1877 by a mysterious stranger. ![]() This gallery of spiral stairs shows the full breadth of our design capabilities.Recently the Loretto Chapel was entered into the Atlas. ![]() In addition, Arcways can integrate wood, steel, stone, iron, and glass to customize spiral staircases to fit seamlessly into any architectural and aesthetic design. Every spiral staircase we design, from a standard spiral to double helical stairs, is a one-of-a-kind custom work of art, available in an endless array of wood species and steel finishes. The diameters of our custom spiral staircases range from 4’0” all the way up to 8’0” and beyond, ensuring that your custom stair dimensions fit the precise needs of your space. With Arcway’s signature style and attention to detail, spiral stairs are an eye-catching and breathtaking addition to any architectural space. Spiral Stairs: Custom Circular Staircases in Wood, Glass, Metal, and Iron Efficiently Designed Custom Stairs with a Huge Design ImpactĪrcways Custom Spiral Stairs – or circular stairs as they are sometimes called – offer incredible spatial efficiency without sacrificing design impact.
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