A Ceremony of Progression: Celebrating Stairs

Description

This course explores stairs as essential architectural elements that transcend mere circulation, examining their role as formal design features, critical egress components, and rhythm-setting spatial devices. Drawing from historical and contemporary examples, participants will investigate how stairs shape experience through their dimensional properties, materiality, and integration within the built environment.⁠⁠

The course addresses stairs from three interconnected perspectives: their formal potential as plazas, objects, and programmatic elements; their function as means of egress governed by building codes and safety regulations; and their capacity to establish rhythm and pace within architectural sequences that can hinder or help the public’s use of the built environment. Through analysis of case studies, participants will understand how design decisions regarding rise, run, width, and materiality fundamentally impact user experience and safety.⁠⁠

Learning Objectives

1. Analyze how stair dimensions affect user safety, circulation speed, and spatial experience in various building types.⁠⁠

2. Distinguish between different stair typologies and select appropriate configurations based on spatial constraints and egress requirements.⁠⁠

3. Assess the relationship between stair geometry and human locomotion to create comfortable, safe vertical circulation that accommodates diverse user populations.⁠⁠

4. Explain how stairs function as primary means of egress during emergencies and apply design strategies that facilitate safe, efficient evacuation.

5. Understand the geometric and aesthetic aspects of stairs that help contribute to generous spaces for building occupants