Stairs

Stairs are a series of steps connecting different levels of a building or other structure. Their repeated rises and runs create a route that people can climb or descend on foot.

Tread: The horizontal surface of a stair step on which a person places a foot. Each stair’s usable foothold is its tread.
Rise and run: The vertical rise and horizontal run that define the proportions of a stair step. Their relationship determines how steep and comfortable a flight feels.
Fire escape: An emergency exit route or structure used to leave a building during a fire or other danger. Stairs often form the protected route from upper floors to an exit.
Ziggurat: A stepped temple tower built in ancient Mesopotamia. Its broad stairways made ascent part of the approach to a monumental structure.
Elevator: A powered platform or compartment that transports people or goods vertically between floors. Elevators move people between levels without requiring them to climb each step.
Riser: The vertical face or height between successive stair treads. Riser height sets how far each step lifts the climber.
Staircase design: The planning of stair geometry, structure, circulation, and safety within a building. It balances available space against ease of movement and safe dimensions.
Escalator: A powered moving staircase that continuously transports people between levels. It automates the stair-like journey in busy public buildings.
Pyramid of Djoser: A step pyramid built for the Egyptian pharaoh Djoser at Saqqara. Its stacked tiers show how stepped forms shaped early monumental architecture.
Ramp: A sloping surface connecting places at different heights. A ramp replaces discrete steps with a continuous incline.

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