Beautiful, Functional, and Romantic: Spiral Staircases in Paris

Subscriber Access

Whether rising to the highest room of the tallest tower in a Disney-esque castle, giving an admirer the chance to confess their love on an apartment building fire escape, or connecting a basement or attic room with a decorative period feature, there’s something unavoidably romantic about spiral staircases. But there’s more function behind these coiling forms than just their good looks.

One common-held theory is that spiral staircases were first installed in historic castles as vertical baffles, tiring out enemy infiltrators before they could make it to the top. This is why – it is said – many are set to turn clockwise on the ascent, so attackers have a smaller arc for swinging weapons (mostly held in right hands) than defenders making their descent.

Beautiful, Functional, and Romantic: Spiral Staircases in Paris - Image 2 of 16Beautiful, Functional, and Romantic: Spiral Staircases in Paris - Image 3 of 16Beautiful, Functional, and Romantic: Spiral Staircases in Paris - Image 4 of 16Beautiful, Functional, and Romantic: Spiral Staircases in Paris - Image 5 of 16Beautiful, Functional, and Romantic: Spiral Staircases in Paris - More Images+ 11

Content Loader

Image gallery

See allShow less
About this author
Cite: James Wormald. "Beautiful, Functional, and Romantic: Spiral Staircases in Paris" 24 Apr 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1015600/beautiful-functional-and-romantic-spiral-staircases-in-paris> ISSN 0719-8884

You've started following your first account!

Did you know?

You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.