![]() ![]() ‘They were to impress guests and show off the best craftsmanship you can afford.’ In the 20th century, he notes, spiral staircases waned in residential homes in favor of more practical staircases, but the concept is winding back up as architects unroll extraordinary designs like never before. ‘Historically, in the UK in particular, staircases were often a statement of wealth,’ says Steve Clinch, partner at London’s Echlin. Later designs traded armor for aesthetics, growing more luxurious as they took up residence in grand homes – the type of ascent worth taking slow. Spiral staircases recall places like fortresses and churches, in medieval Europe, once used to gain an upper hand in the event of an attack it was hard for intruders to barrel up narrow, twisting stairs with haste. Of course, today’s designs are a far cry from their centuries-old origins. ![]() There is unmistakable fluidity and beauty to this style, one increasingly relevant as designers emphasize modern curves and silhouettes throughout architecture. ‘To me, spiral staircases are like a beautiful ribbon threading through a space – interconnecting levels, transversing space – like a piece of sculpture,’ says Australian architect Susi Leeton.
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