A Step Above The Rest: 15 Spectacular Modern Staircases

Stairs Supported by a Concrete Leg

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One end of a dark oak staircase in a converted London garage gets its support from a dramatic concrete leg, making the whole design look somewhat like an oversized high-heel shoe. Palatal Architecture turned the former mechanic’s workshop into a residence tucked into a courtyard between railway lines.

Dramatic Orange Zig-Zag

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modern stairs dramatic orange

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A dramatic orange staircase zig-zags between floors within the glass atrium of the science building at John Abbott College near Montreal, making it a striking element of the structure even from outside. Saucier + Perrotte Architectes took inspiration from the gingko trees outside, creating an “architectonic tree” of a staircase with branches that extend through the building to turn the atrium into an interior garden.

Concrete Spiraling Staircase
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The twelve platforms that make up a split-level home in Chile are connected by a concrete staircase in this design by Pezo von Ellrichshausen. Made of raw concrete, the staircase provides access to all of these varying levels within the four-story space, making it seem as if the rooms within the home are endless.

Staircase with Upside-Down Sections

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modern stairs upside down

The simple trick of enclosing one portion of a three-level staircase within an office in Mexico gives it the appearance of being partially upside-down. Architecture studio Goko wanted the stairs to be a focal point within the space and a place for interaction.

Half-Scale Helical Staircase

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Overlapping concrete treads formed within a rubber mold hook over a vertical rod to create a helical staircase in this model by Matter Design. The prototype was created in half-scale to make it easier to work with the heavy materials, and its size is striking beside a full-scale green staircase within the same space.