Architectural Piece of the Week: Stairs (10 great Photos)
Posted on October 16, 2013
by TheGaetanoGroup
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The stairs are one of the oldest buildings in architectural history, they have always played a central role in the history of humanity, although it is difficult to tell exactly in wich year they were born, it is believed his appearance was by the year 6000 before Christ. The stairs seems to change shape with the change of architectural eras, reflecting the trends used in different ages and revealing the talent of those who designed them.
In the history of the stairs they first emerged as a solution to a problem, although, years later it was found in China the first granite staircase leading to the sacred mountain in Tai Shan, this indicates that one of the utilities that was given to the stairs in his story was for religious purposes. Confucius in one of his stories said to have gone up this ladder to the top in the year 55 BC. The ladder was used in a metaphoric way reach the divine height and establish a connection between earth and sky. Other examples of stairs built for religious purposes are: the biblical Jacob’s ladder, the tower of Babel, which was a helical tower, the pyramids of Egypt that had stairs, the celestial ladder of Shantung in China, the stairs in India, a peculiarity of the stairs in India is that they had also scientific utility. All these stairs have something in common, they symbolize the rise of the light, the sun, and a way in to the gods path.
Check some of the Most Intricate Stairs Created by man
Pailon del Diablo, Equador
Chand Baori fountain in India. These steps lead to a huge fountain built in the tenth century to collect rain.
There are 3,500 steps going down to a depth of 30 meters.
Elbsandsteingebirge stairs in Schsische Schweiz, Germany.
Dating from the thirteenth century, eroded by wind and water,
but being used daily by tourists. 487 steps.
Crack of Guatape, Antioquia, Colombia, a genuine monolith with a height of 220 meters.
Cement stairs built directly on the rock, filling the crack where the sides support the structure.
702 steps.
Haiku scale, Oahu, Hawaii, 3922 steps, on a hill of 850 meters;
created to facilitate the installation of antennas in 1942.
Made of wood, it was modernized in 1950 with metal, but closed to the public in 1987.
The Inca road, Peru. Ancient trade route that connects Cuzco to Machu Picchu town.
Miles and miles of stairs in some very unsafe places, such as this famous floating stage.
Wayna Pichu at Machu Pichu, Peru. Steps cut into the rock which crowns an ascent of 360 feet above the main city of Machu Pichu.
Only 400 tourists allowed daily.
Cross Road ladder in Bermeo, Basque Country, Spain. Leads to a small church dating from the tenth century.
It seems to be of Templar origin. To reach the hermitage of San Juan de Gaztelugatze, you must climb 231 steps.
There are gaps between steps identified to be the footprints of St. John and assigned curative powers.
Hikers often sit on them for body healing or to cure headaches.
Scale worm in Taihang Mountains, between Shanxi and Henan provinces in China,
approximately 100 meters. Recently installed to attract thousands of tourists to the Taihang mountains.
Visitors are asked to sign a form assuring that they have no heart or lung problems before climbing.
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