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10 SPIRALING BEAUTIES

Stairs at the Magic Circle by Polkadotsoph.

by Polkadotsoph. “Stairs at the Magic Circle.”

Math gets beautiful when it informs a spiral staircase. Taking a cylindrical area, defined by two variables – height, radius, and by pi, a constant representing the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter. Many architects use the Fontanot staircase planner help them design a spiral within their buildings’ spaces.

We are sharing 10 of our favorite spiral staircase beauties with you today.

1. THE MAGIC CIRCLE STAIRCASE

This bright blue spiral staircase is pure magic. It’s one of London’s best-kept secrets. It is found on a small back street near Euston station, in the heart of London, in a venue called “The Magic Circle,” also called “The House of 10,000 Secrets.”

Formed in 1905 by David Devant, The Magic Circle promotes the art of magic.

2. VATICAN MUSEUM SPIRAL STAIRCASE

Found in the Vatican Museum, this Spiral Staircase was designed by Giuseppe Momo in 1932.

Shaped like a double helix, this grandiose spiral ramp leads the way from the street level up to the floor of the Vatican Museums.

The staircase is composed of two beautifully interlaced spirals, one leading the way up and the other down. Each spiral is meticulously decorated along the banner and serves as the perfect entry way to one of the most well renowned museums of the world.

3. LA SAGRADA FAMILIA STAIRCASE

Commissioned by a conservative society to build a temple as restitution for the city’s sins, Antoni Gaudi built what looks like a giant’s magical sand-castle, La Sagrada Familia. Though unfinished, it towers 170 meters off the ground.

The Nativity Facade, one of the few parts of the church made almost completely under Gaudi’s supervision, serves as the highest point inside the temple, where you can see both a beautiful panoramic view of Barcelona and the whole inside of La Sagrada Familia.

The highest tower contains one of the most breath-taking spiral staircases in the world. Whether or not you are a believer, you might feel somewhat spiritual as you climb -- there are no rails -- and it appears as if it is a never-ending spiral into an abyss.

4. THE HANNOVER HOTEL STAIRCASE

This winding staircase can be found in Hannover, Germany. The floors, resembling a dark galaxy, stand in a beautiful juxtaposition to the fluorescent red rails which give the staircase a contrast of color and texture.

A hotel in Hannover, Germany features this winding set of stairs. The bright red rails certainly give a pop of color in contrast to the speckled black stairs.

5. TULIP STAIRS

This floral spiral known as Tulip Stairs can be found in the Queen’s House in Greenwich, London. It is they first staircase in all of England to have centrally unsupported helical stairs.

Though coined as the “Tulip Stairs,” it is believed that the flowers engraved alongside the staircase are actually fleurs-de-lis.

6. UMSCHREIBUNG STAIRCASE

Olafur Eliasson’s infinite staircase, found in Munich, Germany, resembles the art of M.C. Escher. The staircase encompasses a 9-meter-high double spiral made entirely of shining steel.

It is called Umschreibung, which means “rewriting.” The staircase was completed in 2004.

7. MECHANICS INSTITUTE LIBRARY SPIRAL STAIRS

This spectacular marble & iron spiral staircase can be found in the Mechanic’s Institute Library in San Francisco, California. The building, and its distinct staircase are known as important cultural landmarks in San Francisco.

Classically designed by Mexican designer Albert Pissis, one of the most distinguished-and certainly the most traditional-of the city’s classic architects, the staircase walls are lined with Belgian black marble and Tennessee pink marble. A decorative black iron railing follows the curves.

8. MUSEO DO POBO GALEGO STAIRCASE

A remarkable triple helix spiral staircase graces the Museo do Pobo Galego, or the Museum of Galician People, in the Convent of San Domingo de Bonaval, Spain.

The staircase connects the cloister with each of the building’s floors, leading to exhibitions of Galician folk culture: fishing, farming, houses, traditional costumes, musical instruments and Galician pre-history.

9. THE MONUMENT, CENTRAL LONDON

The Monument to the Great Fire of London, a 202-foot tall Doric landmark in Central London, is home to a beautiful spiral staircase.

Known simply as “The Monument,” the building looks like a skinny candle. A total of 345 steps spiral up to the top, opening up to a balcony with a panoramic view of the city, with a great view of the Port of London and St. Paul’s Cathedral dome.

10. MELK ABBEY STAIRCASE

The grand Melk Abbey Staircase spirals up from a hill overlooking the small village of Melk in Austria. The Benedictine monastery is a 900 year-old Baroque architectural masterpiece designed by Jacob Prandtauer.

It houses an amazing library holding thousands of beautifully bound ancient books. At the top of the spiral stairs, on the upper floor of the library, are two grand reading rooms.

Enter your own images and ideas about Beautiful Math in this week’s creative Photo Competition. Open for entries now until 11:59 p.m. PT on 09.21.14. If you are reading this after that date, check out the current BN Creative Competition, and enter!

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