History of Staircase

Figure 1

The staircase is considered the oldest building in the history of architecture (Elevestairs, n.d.). It is a wonderful invention that integrates function and form nicely. Also, staircase is an architectural element that connects the resolution of space in between lower and upper level in the motion of climbing or descending (Oscar et. al., 2013)

Ladder and ramp have similar relations to a staircase. They have the same feature of connecting spaces in between different floor level. Unlike the other vertical transportations such as elevators and escalators which require electrics power to function, ladder, ramp and staircase is a building component that does not require electric power.

Although there is no solid evidence and records on the year of the appearance of staircases, but, before staircase appeared, human first uses a ladder to connect different floor level. The ladder was classified by archeologists as an ancient tool which was discovered during the Mesolithic era (Ladders-Direct, n.d.).

Figure 2

Dated back 10,000 BC ago, figure two shows a painting on a rock, showing 2 people climbing the ladder in order to reach for the bees nest to collect honey (John, 2012). This is a rigid ladder which is portable.

The earliest staircase, so-called the climbing trunk during early Stone Age was first a wood trunk fitted together. It has emerged as a solution to security and survival problem. The first use of the stairs was to overcome the difficulties presented by the terrain, such as valleys and mountains, the goal was to be able to pass these difficulties as soon as possible, move up often meant moving to a place of greater security, then this could have meant at that time the difference between life and death, it was very important to move quickly, hence the importance of stairs (Elevestairs, n.d.).

Besides, there is also evidence that indicates staircase was used for religious purposes. For example, the first granite staircase that leads to the sacred mountain in Tai Shan (Elevestairs, n.d.). Tai Shan mountain was listed the tallest stairs in the world which rise to 1,540 meters with a total of 6,000 steps count (Verlagshaus, 2008). It is a staircase that leads towards a spiritual belief of God. The higher it is, the closer you are with GOD.