Selected Bibliography Architecture - Form Space and Order | Page 301

FO R M O F TH E CIRCULATIO N SPA C E

Stairs and stairways provide for our vertical movement between the levels
of a building or outdoor space. The slope of a stairway, determined by the
dimensions of its risers and treads, should be proportioned to fit our body
movement and capability. If steep, a stair can make ascent physically
tiring as well as psychologically forbidding, and can make descent
precarious. If shallow, a stair must have treads deep enough to fit our
stride.

A stairway should be wide enough to comfortably accommodate our
passage as well as any furnishings and equipment that must be moved up
or down the steps. The width of a stairway also provides a visual clue to
the public or private nature of the stairway. Wide, shallow steps can serve
as an invitation, while a narrow, steep stairway can lead to more private
places.
While the act of traversing up a stairway may convey privacy, aloofness,
or detachment, the process of going down can imply moving toward
secure, protected, or stable ground.

Landings interrupt the run of a stair and enable it to change direction.
Landings also provide opportunities for rest and possibilities for access
and outlook from the stairway. Together with the pitch of a stair, the
locations of landings determine the rhythm and choreography of our
movements as we ascend or descend its steps.

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