A “holy-shit” stair at Salvadore Dali Museum, Florida by HOK viaWorld Architecture News.


Sexy black sweeping stair via The Cool Hunter.


House in Austria, photographed by Beat Bühler. Image via ArchiTonic.


Armani Fifth Ave in New York by Massimiliano & Doriana Fuksas via ArchDaily.


College Levi-Strauss by Tank Architectes via dezeen.


CA – OAI Office Building by Personeni Raffaele Schärer Architectes via ArchDaily.


Classic image by celebrated architectural photographer Julius Shulman.


“The name is Bond. James Bond.” YTL Residence in Kuala Lumpur by Jouin Manku viaThe Cool Hunter.


Kaldewei Entrance Pavilion and Reception Rooms by Bolles + Wils via ArchDaily.


45 Faber Park by Ong & Ong Architects via Contemporist.


Vitra Haus by Herzog & de Meuron via The Cool Hunter.


Two-tone curved steel & timber stair via Sarah Klassen.


Taranta Studio by Taranta Creations via designboom.


Shanghai Apple Store via Julio Himede.


Ministry of External Relations by Oscar Niemeyer via TheCoolist.


The Xeros residence designed byBlank Studio, which I blogged about previously.


Pavilniai Family House by Architectural Bureau G. Natkevicius and Partners via ArchDaily.


Labels Berlin 2 by HHF Architects via ArchDaily.


No Picnic workspace by Stockholm based duo Elding Oscarson – I blogged about it right here.


T-House by Atelier Boronski via Contemporist.


There’s a lady who’s sure all that glitters is gold
And she’s buying the stairway to heaven…

– Led Zeppellin.

So there I was, listening to a bit of old school rock, getting all nostalgic and shit… and singing along, off course! When yet another idea struck. “Hmmm… Stairway to heaven. I could do a post on that. Cooltown!” And here we are.

I’ve always been fascinated by the incredible power stairs can have on architecture. Often one of the most expensive, trickiest and complex elements within any new building or a space, stairs can communicate so much with their form, scale, placement and materiality.

So the song got me thinking about what a Stairway to Heaven would actually look like. In my mind it would look positively grand. Holy-shit kind of grand. Curvelicious. Sweeping. Smooth. Gravity defying. Crisp. Light. Magical.

I mean, if I was going to climb all the way to Heaven, which is a pretty bloody long way to climb, I’d at least want to do it via one of these beautiful, ribbon-like stairs. I would like to feel a real sense of occasion. I would also like to enjoy the actual climb as much as the destination itself. Assuming that this Heaven place is totally rad, I would expect my climb to allow me a little taste of extreme awesomeness.

Anyway. What do you guys think? What would you expect from such an important Stair?

x dana

About The Author

Founder & Editor

With a disarming blend of authority and approachability, Dana is a former refugee-turned-global design visionary. Through her multi-faceted work as a creative director, keynote speaker, editor, curator, interior designer and digital publisher, Dana empowers others to appreciate and engage with design in transformative ways, making the sometimes intimidating world of design accessible to everyone, regardless of their familiarity with the subject. Dana's been catapulted to the status of a stalwart global influencer, with recognition from industry heavyweights such as AD Germany, Vogue Living, Elle Décor Italia and Danish RUM Interiør Design, who have named as one of the Top True Global Influencers of the Design World and counted her among the most visionary female creatives on the planet. Her TEDx talk—"Design Can Change the Way You See the World"— will challenge and transform your understanding of design's omnipresent and profound influence. Through her vast experience in interiors, architecture and design, Dana challenges the prevailing rapid image culture, highlighting the importance of originality, sustainability, connecting with your values and learning to "see" design beyond the aesthetic.

9 Responses

  2. Jono

    Love your posts!

    I’ve always been fascinated by stairs. During the final year of my undergrad studies in interior, my lecturer used a very poetic term to describe stairs (with a dash of philosophy). She said stairs are ‘architectural promenades’, they’re thresholds that connect two volume of spaces.

    Reply
  3. Claudine

    Wow!! what a post… thank you!! these are just a stunning collection of visual delights. Stairs not only get you appreciating visual form but you can get you kinda philosophical as well..kinda funny cause universally they are probably the most hated pedestrian means, so the grander they are could mean they are a little less hated… I like that

    Reply
  5. Aubrey

    Long time listener, first time punter,.. That’s killer stair porn, great stuff D!

    Reply
  6. Sal

    W.O.W!

    You curating skills and a sharp eye for aesthetics is second to none Dana. What an amazing post. I want to see a YELLOWTRACE DESIGN BOOK!

    Reply
  7. Oliver @ Sabi Style

    I love this post. Truth be told I am not a lift kinda guy. There is something a bit grim about the inside of an elevator car. The shiny door glints seductively in the light. But then always seems to open up on a cramped space with ugly carpet, ingrained with chewing gum. There is that vague notion that it may stall mid way to your destination, trapping you for hours with strangers (or knowing fates sense of humour, that idiot you spend your day avoiding). Though no doubt the music will continue to play and serenade your misery…

    No thank you – it’s the staircase for me. Whilst for many they see it as a hassle I love the journey between floors and the freedom that goes with it. I am with Jono, a staircase is so important in that it links the two spaces.

    I am in love with the beautiful array you have found. With each sweep or spiral they invite you to take the journey – make it positively exciting!

    It was said that when Arne Jacobsen created the Radisson SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen he was so meticulous about getting the staircase right as he felt it linked the levels.. So important was the detail that he realised that the chairs in the lobby needed to be curved to mirror the form of that sweeping staircase. He created two chairs that have moved into the annals of history as true design classics: the Egg and the Swan. One look at an interiors shot and you see just how right he was.

    The staircase that I love is the wave like masterpiece by Thomas Heatherwick (http://www.heatherwick.com/longchamp-store/ ) – magical!

    What would the stair case to heaven be like?
    In my case likely a set of Penrose stairs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penrose_stairs )

    Reply

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