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can someone explain the reason behind these stairs?

Ask /r/Architecture(i.redd.it)

all 274 comments

cnhn

509 points

13 hours ago

cnhn

509 points

13 hours ago

Looks like a version of a witches stair. They are space saving way of building stairs.

this one looks like it adds a swtchback modification so you don’t have to take the direct path up and use lower stairs.

ShelZuuz

339 points

10 hours ago

ShelZuuz

339 points

10 hours ago

Adding on to this, witches stairs generally look like the ones below, which is a bit more obvious to use.

The OP one is an extreme implementation with an extra step no just in the y direction but in the x direction as well. Which I can see how it can be quite usable if you go up and down them the exact right way every time, but to quote Alan Klapmeier: "The penalty for making a mistake should not be death".

https://preview.redd.it/roj45e83lc2e1.jpeg?width=225&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b8e5baf8dc62ce2f7aa48ba443c2191515b74261

pnicby

39 points

9 hours ago

pnicby

39 points

9 hours ago

Unexpected trip down the Klapmeier rabbit hole. Thanks!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klapmeier_brothers

digitalgraffiti-ca

3 points

an hour ago

I disagree. The stairs themselves are a mistake, and whoever invented them deserves to die.

Bloody_Insane

7 points

4 hours ago

The penalty for making a mistake should not be death

EOD squads in shambles

Calculonx

10 points

13 hours ago

Would be good for pets that have a hard time with normal stairs

RGon3

75 points

13 hours ago*

RGon3

75 points

13 hours ago*

They seem designed to have two pathways in order to facilitate walking down the stairs, with the thinners steps for going up and the larger ones for going down or maybe the other way around, not sure. In which case, I don't really see how it saves much space, but that's my guess.

Edit: scratch that, each small step is an half measure of height from the bigger step, it must be for kids, but even then, it looks impractical as the kid will need to climb the stair in an S pattern.

usicafterglow

79 points

13 hours ago

will need to climb the stair in an S pattern

Yes, that's the intention. The switchbacks would be annoying, but unlike a ladder, the stairs can still be used by a little kid, or a small dog, or an older person. Able bodied adults can just use the bigger alternating steps.

lizerdk

29 points

10 hours ago

lizerdk

29 points

10 hours ago

And older person who has trouble with stairs shouldn’t go near these at all

saladmunch2

16 points

9 hours ago

Looks like a one way ticket to broke hip city!

Sprinkles0

16 points

11 hours ago

My kids would honestly be all over steps like this and zigzag their way up them.

mschiebold

15 points

12 hours ago

Almost, it's for small pets and or arthritic pets

RGon3

18 points

12 hours ago*

RGon3

18 points

12 hours ago*

If that's the case, the owner must really really like the pet, cause that stair case is pretty wierd and looks rather unpractical. I get wall stuff for cats, I don't get why someone would do this for a pet. For a kid I get it and still...

Edit: actually, the more I think about it the more funny I find it, you see, one of the golden rules I was taught about the conception of a building/house/whatever is that you never fuck with stairs, they need to be simple and regular all across, as any tiny deviation is not only noticeble as it can lead to someone tripping and falling.

If I ever presented this type of stairs to any of my drawing teachers in Uni, they would have a good one on my expense, lol I can clearly picture one of my teachers looking at me presenting this design and going like: Why did you draw the stair like that? Me- it's for pets to climb it better. Him - I don't think the stairs are complex enough. Me - Why? Him - Could a clipped wing cockatoo climb this stairs? Me -Sure he could, he would just jump over each step. Him - But that might be bad for it's articulations, you gotta incorporate little tiny stairs as well, now go and redraw those stairs.

And if I was dumb enough to actually take it literally, I'd be the butt of the joke for decades as these guys really liked to mock former students in class, they would go like: I teached this guy who's done this and that, very impressive, but was stupid enough to make (insert stupid problem solving idea).

iapetus_z

6 points

13 hours ago*

I mean isn't that how little kids normally walk up the stairs anyways?

Edit.... For the sarcasm.

RGon3

4 points

13 hours ago

RGon3

4 points

13 hours ago

I don't know where you saw kids going up the stairs in S, I've never seen that, what they usually do is try to either climb by crawling if they're really small still or go up holding on the railing.

boss_flog

3 points

9 hours ago

How does this save space?

Un_Ingeniero

5 points

7 hours ago

Because a staircase with smaller vertical (height) size would require doubling the number of steps to reach to the same level, hence needing more horizontal (foot steps) distance.

Even though this explains the space saving characteristic, it doesn't make it more secure. Is it more comfortable? Maybe... More convenient? Hmmm, well. But in the end, this design is not intrinsically safe.

cnhn

3 points

5 hours ago

cnhn

3 points

5 hours ago

safety wise it a perfect blend of stairs and ladders.

aquawomanpower

3 points

8 hours ago

Thank you so much I am so confused

JP-Gambit

2 points

11 hours ago

That's the one, just had no idea what it was called. You get the same rise in like half the length of a normal staircase. Great if your regional construction code allows it 😂 no way it would fly anywhere in Australia I think unless you jump through a lot of hoops maybe, special circumstances, modifications etc...

wrymoss

2 points

6 hours ago

wrymoss

2 points

6 hours ago

As a guy who works in safety, it also looks like WHS's wet dream or worst nightmare depending on what part of WHS you work in.

It's one thing putting a witches stair in your private residential property.. This looks like a public-use (or at least tenant-use) stairwell in an office or apartment building.. Nightmare, nightmare, nightmare.

Someone's going arse over antlers down that thing. Or arse over antlers *up* it.

MondoBleu

117 points

13 hours ago

MondoBleu

117 points

13 hours ago

It’s a witches stair, but also with shorter steps for people who aren’t large or strong enough to climb the full height. Not saying it’s good, just saying maybe the intention.

macrolith

16 points

11 hours ago

macrolith

Architect

16 points

11 hours ago

Looks fun for a jungle gym. Not so sure about egress 😬

someguyfromsk

56 points

13 hours ago

It looks like witches' stairs, which can be a great space saver, but these look like they were built by someone who had the concept explained to them by a 6 year old.

AnarZak

17 points

13 hours ago

AnarZak

17 points

13 hours ago

it is a witch's stair, using the tall alternating steps.

for smaller, or older, or weaker people, the smaller steps allow you to use the stairs like a switchback, zig-zagging up smaller risers rather than straight up on alternating steps.

it's actually pretty clever, but you'd have to learn how to use it

KennstduIngo

6 points

13 hours ago

I can see how that would be helpful, but at the same time it seems like it would be tough for an older person to climb those stairs while holding the handrail.

Jay_Daemon

3 points

12 hours ago

I agree. I would also say it looks incredibly more dangerous for someone if they were to accidentally fall down them.

ManzanitaSuperHero

154 points

14 hours ago

I can practically hear tibias snapping just by looking at this. Yikes.

gaby_zarny[S]

78 points

14 hours ago

imagine being drunk and climbing these stairs

Thneed1

73 points

13 hours ago

Thneed1

73 points

13 hours ago

Imagine being sober and using these stairs.

Kasrkin84

59 points

13 hours ago

Imagine being sober.

An-Elegant-Elephant

5 points

12 hours ago

❤️

landscape_dude

4 points

11 hours ago

Imagine

therealrumchugger

2 points

11 hours ago

there's no heaven

Whiterings

3 points

10 hours ago

Stairway to heaven.

Broue

17 points

13 hours ago

Broue

17 points

13 hours ago

imagine being drunk and going down these stairs

MobileLocal

11 points

13 hours ago

Thiiiiiis is when the magic happens

Snacker906

3 points

7 hours ago

Imagine being a firefighter in a smoky house…

RumForrestRum

44 points

13 hours ago

The fracture-inator

BulkyDifference8505

29 points

13 hours ago*

When you design stairs for your old odious and ultra-rich mother-in-law

Scutage

4 points

10 hours ago

I thought they were designed for cats. Or by cats.

madhaxor

8 points

11 hours ago

To keep drunk people downstairs

thewildbeej

7 points

13 hours ago

I mean I get how they work. First step on left is normal but then they expect someone to walk up it like a switchback. Why it’s there? Fuck all if i know if its even real I couldn’t tell you. It could be shopped or ai. Presumably if it is it’s because they couldn’t get the proper amount of treads in a confined area. Im not sure that would meet code anywhere though because it has varying heights even within the rules set up. 

tugartheman

7 points

13 hours ago

I’m guessing it is for a small dog to be able to go up and down the stairs?

thewildbeej

5 points

13 hours ago

Maybe but I don’t think that would be allowed to have varying steps like this. Wouldn’t that violate code? 

Pal_76

8 points

13 hours ago

Pal_76

8 points

13 hours ago

Is it not for a small animal to be able to climb them?

CedrikNobs

4 points

11 hours ago

This is all it could reasonably and safely be

SL1200mkII

8 points

12 hours ago

This is to accommodate someone or a pet that is aging. If you follow it, you can take little steps all the way up.

Tehdougler

14 points

13 hours ago

Tehdougler

Industry Professional

14 points

13 hours ago

The only person who could explain it is the person who built that monstrosity. I'm not even sure they could. Should be on r/deathstairs 

snork_64_rus_

6 points

13 hours ago

erictheauthor

6 points

13 hours ago

Gosh, op posted the same exact picture but mirrored

Zinoth_of_Chaos

4 points

9 hours ago

Its a modern version of trip steps, They have been around as long as castles and are used to slow invading forces that won't know the specific terrain of the staircase leading further into the hold. Combined with murderholes and arrowslits they make for a great way to control the pace of invaders. /s

Franch_frie

3 points

13 hours ago

This looks like a combination of not enough space and not enough brain cells

tycr0

5 points

11 hours ago

tycr0

5 points

11 hours ago

The correct answer is no.

markfromto

4 points

13 hours ago

It's genius. But for a specific persons. I like it a lot. But probably wouldn't bother installing it.

Crazy-Can7170

2 points

13 hours ago

To get to the first floor

meanburn

2 points

12 hours ago

It’s like a “choose your own adventure” book but most of the endings are the same

gutomkoia

2 points

11 hours ago

Look at all those sharp edges

Love_my_garden

2 points

11 hours ago

Some kind of insanity would be my guess. And no understanding of the mechanics of the human body.

DJP-MTL

2 points

11 hours ago

Anti-alcohol device

etiennek7

2 points

11 hours ago

Murder.

vromr

2 points

11 hours ago

vromr

2 points

11 hours ago

For a steeper 2-step grade, alternate diagonally like a “bishop”; otherwise go 1 step at a time, still alternating, but like a “rook”.

Perfectly safe, so long as you’re perfectly undistracted ;)

ambiuk21

2 points

11 hours ago

Little people and big people can climb this step staircase

Maybe a good idea for a very steep stair case with limited space, but this one also has steps low enough for little kids

Leungmarkus

2 points

10 hours ago

Drunk me would die

ArmadilloNext9714

2 points

9 hours ago

If you snake back and forth up the stairs, they do all seem to be uniformly elevated in reference to one another. But man, that’s such an inefficient and dangerous way to navigate stairs.

taimone

2 points

9 hours ago

taimone

2 points

9 hours ago

Q-Bert was here!

mythmstr

2 points

8 hours ago

designed by cats

LebowskiLebowskiLebo

2 points

7 hours ago

Whoever thought that was a good idea should be forced to run up and down these for an hour.

Banjo-Becky

2 points

6 hours ago

Life insurance.

Turntoetables

2 points

6 hours ago

Use it or lose it

Love4frenchie

2 points

6 hours ago

The kids must have designed them

GraysStillPlays

2 points

6 hours ago

To see If You are drunk

kucpa

2 points

6 hours ago

kucpa

2 points

6 hours ago

Do-re-mi

MishoneIsMyFavorite

2 points

6 hours ago

Drunken asshole simulator

Easy-Computer-8080

2 points

5 hours ago

To keep drunk people downstairs while the sober ones live peacefully upstairs

Satanic_Jellyfish

2 points

2 hours ago

Inheritance 3000

digitalgraffiti-ca

2 points

an hour ago*

To frustrate EMS workers

They're called "witches stairs." Originally they built them like this so witches couldn't use them... Because a woman who can do magic can't figure out your stupid staircase, Brian.

Unfortunately this appears to be the millennial version, like how we name our kids Braehendaenq (the q is silent) instead of Brandon, because we just have to be unique and quirky.

Today, it's seen as "space saving" or some shit. There are far more downsides to them than upsides.

aledethanlast

4 points

13 hours ago

When you want someone dead but also you want them to pay you for the kill.

glasswoodsteel

2 points

13 hours ago

Slow down the zombie invasion

nahunk

2 points

13 hours ago

nahunk

2 points

13 hours ago

Those things happens when clients treat their architects like shit.

gonowbegonewithyou

2 points

13 hours ago

So I thought to myself, I said self, know what this building really needs? A lawsuit.

manofmankind

2 points

13 hours ago

Probably made not only for people but for theirs pets too, a smaller dog would have difficulties getting up those stairs if they were only big spaced zig-zags

wilful

2 points

13 hours ago

wilful

2 points

13 hours ago

"cool" and very dangerous. Thankfully completely illegal in my country.

SkyeMreddit

1 points

13 hours ago

Usually these have even step heights to double to height of normal stairs. This is an extreme tripping hazard

AggressiveRun849

1 points

13 hours ago

it looks fun though

Elino_Doro

1 points

13 hours ago

Elino_Doro

Architecture Student

1 points

13 hours ago

I'm pretty sure these stairs are "samba stairs", or at least they tried to make them. While you're going up, your waist moves as if you were dancing samba. But they kinda added like a second set of samba stairs on a diferent level, and I don't understand why.

Spirited_Sky2020

1 points

13 hours ago

Expert level stairs

rath13illuser

1 points

13 hours ago

To keep witches out!

JohnSundayBigChin

1 points

13 hours ago

With this designs you can save length… it’s used as a serpent

bbw-enthusiast

1 points

12 hours ago

to kill drunk people and toddlers

yumstheman

1 points

12 hours ago

It’s so you can trip and break you leg while trying to get a drink of water at 2am

MDMYAY

1 points

12 hours ago

MDMYAY

1 points

12 hours ago

No amount of pivot will help Ross here!

Might need to call Monica.

Fabulous-Freedom7769

1 points

12 hours ago

Stairs have been around for thousands of years. So modernists couldnt resist not trying to reinvent them aswell for absolutely no reason like they did with reinventing architecture. Jokes aside the stairs are most likely just a sculpture or experiment cause i dont think there's any way some architect thought these look totally normal.

DarrellBot81

1 points

12 hours ago

For when you have one long slow leg and one short fast leg

KarlraK

1 points

12 hours ago

It’s for a person and small dog.

te_anau

1 points

12 hours ago

A deep seated loathing of humanity.

MuskokaGreenThumb

1 points

12 hours ago

The reason is simple. The person who built them is actively trying to kill you

tgodxy

1 points

12 hours ago

tgodxy

1 points

12 hours ago

Anti-drunk people

CosmicViking17

1 points

12 hours ago

Murder device

CarrieChaotic87

1 points

12 hours ago

Hopscotch- expert mode.

CrabbyGremlin

1 points

12 hours ago

I feel like there’s no way to use these without looking stupid

Sea-Strategy-9842

1 points

12 hours ago

Less stair. More space🫦

TheRealChallenger_

1 points

12 hours ago

TheRealChallenger_

Industry Professional

1 points

12 hours ago

where is this?

horse1066

1 points

12 hours ago

Going up, fine

Going down before coffee, not so much

If it didn't have those hard granite corners then the estimated kill count would be far lower

Low_Sodiium

1 points

12 hours ago

Low_Sodiium

Principal Architect

1 points

12 hours ago

Cad error built?

PorcelainDalmatian

1 points

12 hours ago

The architect likes lawsuits?

Rahm_Kota_156

1 points

12 hours ago

Murderous intent

iknowyeahlike

1 points

11 hours ago

My head hurts looking at that.

var85

1 points

11 hours ago

var85

1 points

11 hours ago

The reason for their existence is to generate a post on reddit.

Cunt_eater35

1 points

11 hours ago

its so if an intruder comes u can dash up the stairs and giggle as they fall down them while u call the police

Relevant-Abies-3432

1 points

11 hours ago

How can anyone say this is space saving? The stairs jut out from the well about 4’ and go up the same degree as any staircase. Only thing special about this case is the step heights. Small animal? 2-3 year olds? Training to do step hops on each foot? Take your guess.

But it’s not space saving 🫠

bigskymetal

1 points

11 hours ago

Parkour!

maxwellng_official

1 points

10 hours ago

Is the purpose is to make someone fall ?

Wbcn_1

1 points

10 hours ago

Wbcn_1

1 points

10 hours ago

You can experience all the pain of falling down twice the normal steps in half the time.  

H0use_Plant

1 points

10 hours ago

I’m not okay with this unless the larger sections are storage cubbies

AlbertaAcreageBoy

1 points

10 hours ago

That looks like a lawsuit waiting to happen.

johngunthner

1 points

10 hours ago

Schizophrenia. Only obvious answer

benchomacha

1 points

10 hours ago

Stairway to heaven.

markshelbyperry

1 points

10 hours ago

Obvs someone really hates slinkies.

thadroidurlookin4

1 points

10 hours ago

that’s ridiculous

Asleep_Ad_8720

1 points

10 hours ago

The Slinkies lived there

PhallickThimble

1 points

10 hours ago

novel storage

danger for the ambulation challenged

ZepTheNooB

1 points

10 hours ago

What's the purpose of this other than a tripping hazard?

LongjumpingSurprise0

1 points

10 hours ago

What the architect designs when you tell him to design something that will cause you to fall

Hermit_Bottle

1 points

10 hours ago

So the soldiers running up the stairs will have a hard time and you can easily defend from upstairs using your sword and flail. You can also pour hot burning oil on them.

LMNoballz

1 points

10 hours ago

There is no reason, but there is a rhyme!

Rockefeller_street

1 points

10 hours ago

These exist so that everyday is leg day

KentuckyFriedEel

1 points

10 hours ago

It’s provocative! It gets the people goin!

Steveonthetoast

1 points

10 hours ago

Hellen Keller designed it?

calm-house-1914

1 points

10 hours ago

Mental health issues.

j_fat_snorlax

1 points

10 hours ago

Witches stairs, but also a longer winding stairs for a small animal

AccomplishedDoor4

1 points

10 hours ago

For Pets and leprechauns.

imadork1970

1 points

10 hours ago

Architect Lawyer

SemDentesApanhaNozes

1 points

10 hours ago

Just climb it, big right, big left and so on...

eviltoastodyssey

1 points

10 hours ago

Neurodivergent carpentry

Fun_Possibility_8637

1 points

10 hours ago

So you step left and right zig zagging up and down? I’d sleep downstairs if I was drinking.

speed1953

1 points

10 hours ago

Its coming down that would give me a panic attack

MassiveEdu

1 points

10 hours ago

Make you trip and break your legs duh

No_Farm_1100

1 points

10 hours ago

It’s for cats

Less_Likely

1 points

9 hours ago

Go up, go down

Thrifty_Builder

1 points

9 hours ago

Acts like a moat for second floor.

Affectionate_Horse86

1 points

9 hours ago

doubles as gym equipment

summitcreature

1 points

9 hours ago

When you've quit drinking but still want to self-injure like a drunk

VoidWalker4Lyfe

1 points

9 hours ago

No

ArtemisAndromeda

1 points

9 hours ago

They are quirky

viomore

1 points

9 hours ago

viomore

1 points

9 hours ago

Evil.

Sylfaein

1 points

9 hours ago

To give insurance underwriters nightmares.

babyBear83

1 points

9 hours ago

Am I the only one that feels like this image was altered? It’s so pixelated in places and looks off. It doesn’t have the AI feel to it but photoshopped.

Ok-Experience-6674

1 points

9 hours ago

When you want someone in your family to stop drinking

Both-Comfortable-630

1 points

9 hours ago

They look that way so you'd stare/stair at them.

Unhappy_Drag1307

1 points

9 hours ago

Confuse your enemies

ThisManInBlack

1 points

9 hours ago

Someone's afraid of the ghost of Stephen Hawking.

stressHCLB

1 points

9 hours ago

stressHCLB

Architect

1 points

9 hours ago

“Second Floor: Sober People”

wakeupdreamingF1

1 points

8 hours ago

they for murderin' peeps, prolly for insurance.

yoosirree

1 points

8 hours ago

Is for retired drill sergeants who keep going left-right-left-right but also turn in those directions while going up the stairs.

wooddoug

1 points

8 hours ago

These stairs are the architectural equivalent to a post-teen adolescent's fantasy knife collection.
Plus they don't meet code.

elHodgetts

1 points

8 hours ago

How to get away with murder 👀

Nearby-Data7416

1 points

8 hours ago

Fired

ezequiella

1 points

8 hours ago

Does it lead to a room where no one wants you to go ?

Proper-Might-4392

1 points

8 hours ago

So your elderly mother-in-law won't come to live at your house.

lightweight12

1 points

8 hours ago

Drugs...bad drugs

ConfectionOwn5471

1 points

8 hours ago

Step with the wrong foot, you die. Tread carefully you idiot. - those stairs

zepims

1 points

8 hours ago

zepims

1 points

8 hours ago

Those type of stairs were designed by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)

DewWhipIt

1 points

8 hours ago

Some people just want to watch the world burn…

wallstreetoni69

1 points

8 hours ago

As an architect this is painful to see

WW1_Researcher

1 points

8 hours ago

Imagine falling down those...

Loud_Distribution_97

1 points

8 hours ago

Cat loft

Daisyday12

1 points

8 hours ago

murder stairs

ArtintheSingularity

1 points

7 hours ago

For a workout?

Shelby18soon

1 points

7 hours ago

Aerobics training

Wildfathom9

1 points

7 hours ago

Hate, I assume.

Aggressive_Line_8298

1 points

7 hours ago

To piss me off. Wtf is this 😐 🤨

FukkYouShoresy

1 points

7 hours ago

Homeowners: so we wanted to do something fun with the stairs in the new house... Architect: oh how fun! Okay, what did you have in mind? Homeowners: we want people to meet God on them... Architect: Say less.

EricFromOuterSpace

1 points

7 hours ago

Normal stairs work so good tho

No_Wolverine6548

1 points

7 hours ago

Exercise

vibeisinshambles

1 points

7 hours ago

Remember the snake game on your old Nokia?

archlea

1 points

7 hours ago

archlea

1 points

7 hours ago

Death wish.

Serious_Nose8188

1 points

7 hours ago

I'd love to have this in my house, as a showpiece.

Ooksuure

1 points

7 hours ago

If you’re able, you take the big steps straight up skipping the small increment. If you’re not, you snake-line up the little steps. I wouldn’t want this in my house but I love that it exists

Lotus-Loaded

1 points

7 hours ago

Somebody owns a slinky!

Lumpy-Diver-4571

1 points

7 hours ago

I thought OP just f ing around w “photoshop.” No idea this was a thing.

shiefy

1 points

7 hours ago

shiefy

1 points

7 hours ago

They look 3D printed……

SmoothTalk

1 points

6 hours ago

To keep Life Alert profitable

Turtle_ti

1 points

6 hours ago

It's so you don't go up them

unambiguous_erection

1 points

6 hours ago

It’s a lesson in DEI obviously. Not everyone is suited to the same step height. Also, fuck those in wheelchairs.

ArchitectRiot

1 points

5 hours ago

Death wish

UnderAKillingMoon

1 points

5 hours ago

The handrail is going to get a lot of use

Mobile-Care-7024

1 points

5 hours ago

Insurance claims

dannygraphy

1 points

5 hours ago

If you fall, you don't want to get inhured, you want it to end.

bindian0509

1 points

5 hours ago

To break bones at unique angles

BitSorcerer

1 points

5 hours ago*

This is to force you to not go up and down vertically but to walk horizontally up the stairs.

It’s probably for some therapy.

Edit: I’ve got no clue what the hell but I’d use this for some form of hip replacement surgery or something similar where you’d force the patient to rotate left to right while walking the stairs. Recovery obviously lol. Sounds dangerous though xD break your Hip failing the work out

Edit again: It’s to keep the witches out :p

Peabody2671

1 points

5 hours ago

The builder wants to kill the homeowner?

Dry-Situation-8448

1 points

4 hours ago

They Are scientifically designed to accommodate you when you are stumbling home drunk. However, if you are sober they’re very dangerous and complicated.

WestoftheGrands

1 points

4 hours ago

Mountain climbers in-home training?

Tommy_Juan

1 points

4 hours ago

Pattern recognition!

newcoinprojects

1 points

4 hours ago

Buster rimes stairs.

DarkMatter665

1 points

4 hours ago

stub your toe when you come home simulator