There’s just something arresting about a great set of stairs. More than a means to get us where we’re going with a bit of extra effort, when built with a bit of character, they can take on the form of true art, with curves, lines and execution worthy of more than a lingering stare.
Admitted architecture geeks that we are, we decided to take a quick trip around the world (wide web) to gather some of the coolest, lesser-known sets of stairs in public spaces. Sure, you’ve seen pictures ad nauseam of Machu Picchu and The Vatican — and perhaps even the Tara staircase from Gone with the Wind and those plain Philadelphia steps made iconic by the Rocky movies — but today, we’ve rounded up a quintet of less famous yet far more noteworthy flights of fancy worth visiting in person.
Entrance Stairs at Opening Ceremony in NYC
Grand Stairs of London City Hall
Stairs Inside Lello Bookstore, Porto, Portugal
Longchamp Store Stairs in NYC
Photo credits: Red Bubble, Kristel Ann and Furniture Fashion
