Architectural designs across the globe continue to make people marvel as they showcase the brilliance of the human mind. The spiral staircase is one of the most interesting and captivating inventions. How these stairs wind and go around is one of the most fascinating things ever.
Such stairs have a mysterious flair, making them interesting to observe and use. This explains why some of the most exciting staircases in the world are spiral. This article captures some of the best and most famous staircases globally.
1. The Garvan Spiral Stairs
The Garvan is an impressive stair found in Australia. The impressive staircase is known for its 6.5 revolutions and spans six floors. The staircase serves as the centerpiece of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research.
It stands out because it perfectly matches the building’s modern and sleek décor and the white base with chrome railings. The choice of the spiral is quite sensible, considering the building’s size. It was preferred because it took up very little space and gave access to the six floors without much stress.
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2. Loretto Chapel, New Mexico
The Loretto chapel staircase will be perfect if you love impressive architecture. The design and stability of the staircase still baffle engineers to date as no one can explain how it was constructed to remain stable, yet no nails were used. The myth is that the church had difficulty getting to the second-floor choir loft. This prompted the sisters to pray to St. Joseph, the carpenters’ patron.
Mysteriously, a carpenter appeared at the church nine days later with tools and solved the dilemma by building the magnificent 19th-century staircase that people marvel at today. Experts still wonder how this was achieved, yet there is no evidence of support, yet the staircase is super stable. Could this be the divine miracle it is supposed to be? We may never know the truth, but the reality is that the magnificent spiral staircase continues to serve people.
3. Vatican Museum
The Vatican Museum was founded by Pope Julius back in the mid-16th century. It consists of pontifical galleries known to house Roman Catholic church arts dating back to 1506. Pope us X1 commissioned Giuseppe Momo to construct a central staircase connecting all the galleries. Momo went on to create two spiral staircases twisting together.
This resulted in a double helix DNA-like structure that continues to be one of the major attractions of this museum. One of these staircases lets visitors go up (ascend), and the other one allows them to descend. Interestingly, this is one of the most visited staircases globally since more than 4 million people visit the Vatican Museum in a year.
4. Museo De Pobo Galego
It is also known as the Galician People Museum. This is a 17th-century creation designed by Domingo de Andrade in Spain. The staircase is a central spiral triple helix stairway. The three staircases have been woven together to create this magnificent architecture that is a piece of art. The design is such that each of the staircases leads to a floor of its own in a bid to streamline traffic patterns. This staircase pattern was believed to be deliberately selected to reflect or represent the traditional Celtic symbol of the solstice.
5. London’s Great Fire Monument
This is an architectural construction specially designed to serve as a commemoration of the great fire of London and the city’s rebuilding. It was created between 1671 and 1677. The great fire started in a baker’s house on the second of September, 1666, and kept burning until the 5th of September. This fire was so massive that it burned a big part of the city.
The monument stands out because of the massive Doric column that features an interior spiral stairway. The staircase has 311 steps that lead to the viewing platform and reaches a 160 feet height which is why it is featured as a tourist attraction destination
Why do Spiral Staircases Stand Out?
With some of the most impressive staircases in the world being spiral-shaped, one may wonder why this is so.
This spiral staircase is compact enough to fit into any room, regardless of the space available. Most magnificent spiral staircases worldwide came into existence because of limited space. They open up spaces and tend to let in light and air, making a room feel bigger, welcoming, and brighter.
Some of the top reasons why spiral staircases are preferred by designers include:
1. Are Space Saving
Standard staircases take up too much space, while spiral staircases save space thanks to the winding design. They are perfect for homes with tight-fitting spaces since they allow easy access to lofts.
2. Excellent for Open Floor Plans
Usually, traditional staircases block views and light and create shadows. This can be disadvantageous for open floor plans. On the other hand, spiral staircases tend to let in lighter due to their compact design.
3. Can Be Customized
This is probably one of the most practical reasons spiral staircases always win. They tend to blend with the area perfectly. The design possibilities available in spiral staircases cannot be exhausted. You can easily bring in the element of aesthetics and create a handcrafted spiral design that works perfectly.
4. Increase Home Value
Whether you add a spiral staircase for aesthetics or functional reasons, you can be sure that it will elevate the value of your home. In case you consider reselling the home, the fact that there is an additional staircase makes it more valuable. This kind of staircase is a perfect addition to smaller spaces such as apartments.
Final Thoughts
Spiral staircases have been used for centuries. They also tend to be in some of the most magnificent historic and modern buildings. These staircases will always make a statement which is why they are perfect. Besides that, they are functional and quite practical in places with small spaces for traditional staircases.
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