Stairs & Staircases

Whilst handrails are primarily installed for the safety of people moving up or down a stair, they also form an integral part of the decorative style of the balustrade.

They are traditional made from wood; however modern staircase handrails designs are now also made from stainless steel and other such materials.

There are two main types of staircase handrails; continuous rails (that consist of a single rail that starts that the bottom of the stair case and continues in a smooth curve all the way to the top) and rails that stop and restart as stairs change direction.

Features

Staircase handrails can also have a number of specialised features with either an aesthetic or functional purpose. Some of these include:

• Landing Wreath (A landing wreath makes the change from flight to level and usually turns 90°. It can also be used to return into a wall.)
• Quarter Turn (A quarter turn is used to change directions on a level section of balustrade)
• Ramp (Allows transition from flight to level or flight to flight because of a change of pitch between them.)
• Return End
• Swan Neck (These are used to climb from a flight pitch to vertical to make up the required head difference between flight and landing. Once the height is reached they mitre to level across a landing or first floor.)
• Starting Wreath (Usually begins by turning 90° out of a post or off a wall then continues up a flight)
• Paired Wreaths (Two wreaths at a specified radius joined together that will connect one flight to the next and will turn through 180°.)
• Wreathed Rail (This is any section of the flight rail that needs to curve around and twist to suit a curved staircase.)

Ends

Decorate ends can be added to staircase handrails to add an elegant feature to the rail. Beautifully crafted from solid timber these are often used in Classical styles to add a touch of grandure to the staircase entry.

A good architect will try to incorporate both safety and aesthetics into a staircase design. A unique staircase design is at the mercy of the imagination of the designer. Some of the most impressive staircase designs were created by designers who discard conventions and unleash their creative flair. In doing so, their designs become the focal point of the room and naturally draw attention to themselves as a conversation point. Stair cases can also have a unique aspect from the types of materials that are used to create them. Glass and very unusual wood are a few examples of purposefully chosen materials in staircase development to create a structure that stands out and says ‘look at me’. A successful unique staircase design can be considered an artwork and sculpture.

Considerations of good staircase design

When designing a staircase the following concepts should be considered:

• Style- Although you want a unique style you need to consider the rest of the room and ensure that the design of the home as a whole flows properly
• Needs-Additional needs such as storage etc also need to be taken into consideration before constructing a staircase.
• Lighting-If you are going to go to the trouble of creating a unique staircase design you want it to be seen. Good lighting can make all the difference to a design. Consider what natural light the area receives and then decided whether additional artificial lighting is required.
• Floor surface-The stairs should match the other floor surfaces in the home of constancy of design.
• Safety-Stairs have always been known as a major safety hazard around the home. Although you want a unique design you need to ensure that it is safe and meets government regulations. This is particularly important for homes in which there are small children or elderly people.

Scala Regia (Royal Staircase)is a famous flight of stairs which is located in the Vatican City. It was built in the 16th Century by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger and is an integral element to the Vatican entrance. Its purpose was to connect the Vatican Palace to St Peter’s Basilica. After many years of use the Scala Regia began to come into disrepair and was then restored to its former glory in 1666.

Purpose

The Scala Regia (Royal Staircase) is a set of stairs that was built in the Portone di Bronzo (the official entrance) that was reserved for the king. Its structure is very majestic in nature to emphasize the importance in the king’s position of power.

Building process and structure

Building the Scala Regia was not an easy task due to the awkwardly, irregular walls. Bernini espied to exalt his entry point into the Vatican and for this reason there were a number of theatrical, elaborate effects used in the construction of the staircase. The staircase was built with a narrowing at the end of the vista. It was created this way to emphasize and exaggerate the distance.