Spiral Staircase Design

Spiral staircases are stairs that usually wind around a central pole or rest on a circular wall encasing the whole stairs. Those that have a central pole is the usual type used in spiral staircase design.

This design saves more space and material. The latter kind is often scene in classic and historical buildings. These are usually made out of stone. This is actually called helical staircases.

There are even cases when double helix staircases are made. In a double helix staircase, two helical staircases are installed in one area. They do not meet so people in each staircase would never meet on their way down or up. Several chateaus in Paris have this kind of fascinating staircases.

One interesting trivia about spiral staircase design is that it was intended to go up clockwise to give the owners of the manor or the palace advantage.

This was in the time of war and feuding kingdoms. For example, if the attacker or intruder has entered the premises and has engaged the guard, soldier or owner in a sword fight, the defender could flee to the stairs.

Once on the stairs, the defender can easily engage the intruder in combat and defeat him. This is because the design gives the right handed disadvantage since he would be impeded by the central pole. Of course this applies only to narrow spiral staircases where people have to pass one at a time.

Nowadays, spiral staircases are made of steel or wood. They are smaller and shorter in design – unless you plan on building a huge manor with a central staircase reaching a tower.

Wrought iron is the usual spiral staircase design choice since it is pretty to look at, easy to install and fits into small spaces. Spiral staircases are appropriate in connecting personal rooms or an attic to the main house or room.

Another spiral staircase variation is the square spiral staircase that is unequal in steps. These staircases have landing-like steps in specific corners which make it look square and at the same time spiral.

Spiral staircases are said to be safer because they break a fall, unlike straight staircases.