Interior architectural details such as moldings, archways and paneling can certainly add a great deal of character and visual interest to a room. Staircases though can fully transform the feeling of a room and often set the tone for the interior design. Dating back centuries the curved staircase is an architectural element that is one of my favorites, as seen in Spanish and Roman Palazzo’s.
It is interesting to see how far the concept has come. For example, Frank Gehry’s staircase at the new Art Gallery of Ontario is reflective of the modern art.
I.M. Pei’s staircase in the Glass Pyramid at the Louvre.
The staircase at Winterthur is a classic.
The beautiful, curved double staircase at Mrs. Howard in Atlanta is one of my favorites.
Christopher Maya’s design at the 2009 Kips Bay Showhouse.
Kelly Wearstler always has a modern and chic approach to her staircases. I love the coral colored front door opening into black and white.
The staircase at the Hotel Lotti where I have stayed in Paris.
Garry Cohen’s design for the Cliff House Hotel in Ireland. I love the changing tones of the colors.
Modern and classical staircases, I love them all. Which do you love?
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{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Spectacular post! I love your choices of staircases. Staircases are such an intricate part of architectural design and too many architects while designing houses for private clients do not include syaircases as a vital architectuaral element of a space.The Wintertur staircase is a master piece and in a more traditional style, I just love Mrs Howard’s
Beautiful post! I wanted a curved staircase in the new house, but the builder immediately commented that it would cost 3x as much, so we shelved it early on. Oh well – I will just have to look at images like these to get my curved staircase fix!
I loved this post and will likely do one myself on the subject at some point. I wish the builders and architects of today would consider them to be a critical detail even for more modest homes. I would buy a house FOR the staircase. Yes, I have a deep obsession. I spend a lot of time talking to clients about them since they are often the most prominent feature of the foyer! When we begin the renovations of our house, the staircase was the first thing to go. It is not grand, but it is has beautiful details. Thank you so much for all the lovely images and descriptions.
Freshman year of college, in my French Civ class, I was captivated by the double spiral staircases installed at Chambord by Francois 1ier. If you like spiral staircases, you will want to hop on a plane as soon as possible to see these. They are amazing!
The exterior of one set: http://www.pbase.com/al309/image/27753328
Looking up the middle: http://www.pbase.com/al309/image/27753327
I’m trying to find video from inside them because pictures don’t do them justice. So far, this is the best I’ve come up with (sorry it’s in French):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRvhs2J-vgA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT_Rw2HI-xk
Oh Laura, the photos are magnificent. I have always loved staircases, just go ga-ga for them. Weirdly though some of the lower ones posted with a view to them above gave me a bit of vertigo! So strange! Love your posts as always. Continued best your way.
Laura, wonderful post, the spiral and curved staircases are so interesting in architecture!
Karena
The Biltmore staircase is one of my favorites, the sheer magnificence of it was breath-taking. I have always loved curved staircase and would love to have one in my own home one day. There is just something about it that is so welcoming…
Laura…..love this post and looking at all of the different staircases. I think not only of their beauty and charm, but the fact that I need to run up and down every one of them several times to work off the holiday food fest! Now I’m looking at my staircase wondering if I could get them to curve around all by themselves?!!! Thanks for a great post as always, a joy to read!
One of my favorite spiral staircases is at “Shakertown” in Kentucky.
Another is a modern spiral that I have saved for years. It is made of concrete.
Wonderful images you have shared, once again.
pve
Those photos are great! In design school I did a report of French architecture. Chateau de Chambord has a marvelous double helix staircase.
This is the most ’scholarly’ website I could come across
http://www.chambord.org/Chambord-en-idm-297-n-At_the_Chateau.html
come visit!
http://blueprintsofasouthernbelle.blogspot.com
Ohhh these are all spectacular! I especially like the shot of the Hotel Lotti in Paris—pure divinity. I’m now determined to stay there next time we’re in France…! XX Kate
Great Post. Winding stairwells are so elegant yet fun!
since I was a young girl, I’ve been fascinated with spiral staircases. I love the I.M. Pei case! Awesome.