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At the crossroads of architecture and home design lie stairs. They serve an important and practical function and they can serve as important design elements, but as this aptly named Facebook group loves to point out, they can also be downright deadly without the appropriate safety considerations.

Honestly, it takes some talent and creativity to make stairs that are as unsafe as some of the masterpieces on this list. Some seem downright uncomfortable while others present clear tripping hazards or even fool the eyes into hiding individual steps. Let us know which ones you think you’d trip on in the comments.

#2

When The House Lights Go Down, Good Luck

When The House Lights Go Down, Good Luck

Arlo Dykstra Report

Stairs may seem deceptively simple at first. How hard is it to design a set of stairs? Just make a bunch of steps and you’ve got it, right? Not quite. In addition to whatever architectural regulations there may be, there are some basic geometric rules that ought to be followed.

#4

Left, Picture Of Stairs From Top-The Wood Planks Run Parallel To Stair Edges Seemingly Forming A Flat Surface. Right, Steps Viewed From Bottom After Fall

Left, Picture Of Stairs From Top-The Wood Planks Run Parallel To Stair Edges Seemingly Forming A Flat Surface. Right, Steps Viewed From Bottom After Fall

Stanna Sims Edwards Report

#5

This Made My Stomach Swoop

This Made My Stomach Swoop

Adrianne Robbennolt Report

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WindySwede
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

just install the 'Stairerslide' strait down to the beach!

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#6

The 'Stairs Of Death' Are A Section Of Stone Steps Built By The Incas, Which Lead To The Top Of Huayna Picchu, In Peru, Which Is One Of The Steep Mountains That Overlooks Machu Picchu

The 'Stairs Of Death' Are A Section Of Stone Steps Built By The Incas, Which Lead To The Top Of Huayna Picchu, In Peru, Which Is One Of The Steep Mountains That Overlooks Machu Picchu

The peak of the mountain is 2,693 metres above sea level and has Inca ruins on top.
You couldn't pay me a billion dollars to walk up that

SuperSoul Ever Report

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The ideal rise and run for a single normal step is 7” rise and 11” run (~18cm x ~25cm). However, other ratios are possible for other types of steps. There are tons of sites online that break down the rules of stair design, and that’s all before you get into the fancy ideas highlighted in this post.

#7

I Just Fell Down These In My Mind And It Sounded Like Someone Hitting A Gong In A Very Uncoordinated Way

I Just Fell Down These In My Mind And It Sounded Like Someone Hitting A Gong In A Very Uncoordinated Way

Victor Merriam Report

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The Original Bruno
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The half-stairs seem vastly superior to ladders as a steep climb. However, I presume that guard rails were eventually installed.

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#8

I Wanna See Someone Try This In Heels

I Wanna See Someone Try This In Heels

Maria Lewandowska Report

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Edda Kamphues
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think there is a fair reason why stairs and escalators feature very prominently in my nightmares.

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Fortunately, most jurisdictions do have some sort of requirements for stairs, and we suspect that they haven’t been followed in many of these examples. In addition to rise over run requirements, step and stair regulations may determine banister shape and height, step edge shapes, step layout, rotation characteristics for steps that turn, and other factors - all of which can determine how likely it is for a set of steps to cause accidents.

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#10

“Stairs” Designed By Francesco Librizzi. It’s Really More Of A Treacherous Ladder. I’d Consider Going Up These. Would Not Be Interested In Going Down Them

“Stairs” Designed By Francesco Librizzi. It’s Really More Of A Treacherous Ladder. I’d Consider Going Up These. Would Not Be Interested In Going Down Them

Eve Bensky Report

#11

A Set Of Steep Stairs Each Step Alternates So That You Can Only Really Put One Foot On A Step At A Time. It's Also Nearly A Straight Down Angle

A Set Of Steep Stairs Each Step Alternates So That You Can Only Really Put One Foot On A Step At A Time. It's Also Nearly A Straight Down Angle

Martin Ellis Everett Report

#12

Oh No, I'll Jump, Thanks

Oh No, I'll Jump, Thanks

Bec Collier Report

#13

An Unusual Cuboidal Stairway In The Little Village San Augustin Etla, Oaxaca, Mexico (Vernacular Architecture) They Are Made Out Of Red Stone And In Six Alternating Columns. The Ankle Twister

An Unusual Cuboidal Stairway In The Little Village San Augustin Etla, Oaxaca, Mexico (Vernacular Architecture) They Are Made Out Of Red Stone And In Six Alternating Columns. The Ankle Twister

Nanners Foster Report

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Serenity Now!
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think there may be some skeletons at the bottom of these, um, stairs.

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#14

I Can Already Feel The Concussion

I Can Already Feel The Concussion

Greta Peterson Report

#15

My Shins Hurt Looking At This

My Shins Hurt Looking At This

Ria Josephine Report

#16

When You Don't Have Enough Space For Stairs! Brilliant Child-Friendly Space With An Observatory Tower Incorporated By Arch. Hiroshi Okamoto

When You Don't Have Enough Space For Stairs! Brilliant Child-Friendly Space With An Observatory Tower Incorporated By Arch. Hiroshi Okamoto

Kahli-Ann Douglas Report

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Zara VP
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe leading to a 'secret' loft but not as my main stairwell!

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#17

Stairs For People Who Aren’t Afraid To Die And Who Enjoy The Nauseating Feeling Of Vertigo

Stairs For People Who Aren’t Afraid To Die And Who Enjoy The Nauseating Feeling Of Vertigo

Devin McLachlan Report

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#19

Love My New Apartment But These Are The Stairs Leading Up To The Loft. They Feel More Like A Ladder Because Of How Steep They Are. Don’t Get Me Started On How We’re Going To Move Furniture Up There

Love My New Apartment But These Are The Stairs Leading Up To The Loft. They Feel More Like A Ladder Because Of How Steep They Are. Don’t Get Me Started On How We’re Going To Move Furniture Up There

Beth Carmen Report

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Kimbowa
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Move the furniture out the front door instead and get your deposit back.

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#20

Honey What's Wrong, You Haven't Gone Down The Stairerslide Today

Honey What's Wrong, You Haven't Gone Down The Stairerslide Today

Victor Merriam Report

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nari<333
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

my butt hurts js looking at this..5 year old me on the other hand is dying to try it out

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#21

Imy Online Civil Engineer Major Is Starting To Pay Off, Another Satisfied Customer

Imy Online Civil Engineer Major Is Starting To Pay Off, Another Satisfied Customer

Dario Ferrari Fuenzalida Report

#23

The Chair There So People Can Sit And Watch The Injuries

The Chair There So People Can Sit And Watch The Injuries

Brad Blackwell Report

#24

It Looks Like A Human Spine To Me

It Looks Like A Human Spine To Me

Móni Barajas Report

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More!
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Walk them enough and you might eventually get the chance to compare them with your human spine…

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#25

I Would Like To Have A Word With The Architect Of This Building

I Would Like To Have A Word With The Architect Of This Building

Bia Cambraia Report

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Mattias Svensson
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is an art istallation by Lang/Baumann (brilliant, if you want my opinion) and doesnt belong here

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#26

Ventilation Grill At The Bottom Of The Enclosure Suggests That Installing Air Conditioning Was More Desired Than A Usable Stairway. Or These Are Cat Stairs

Ventilation Grill At The Bottom Of The Enclosure Suggests That Installing Air Conditioning Was More Desired Than A Usable Stairway. Or These Are Cat Stairs

Catherine Tait Report

#29

Do These Count? They Are In My Son's Room Btw, And I Quite Like Them

Do These Count? They Are In My Son's Room Btw, And I Quite Like Them

Marek Wói Report

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Zara VP
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like it's leading to a loft/ hang out area. Not bad for that purpose.

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#30

The ‘V’ In The Design Is For Very Dangerous

The ‘V’ In The Design Is For Very Dangerous

Melinda Owen Ramsey Report

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Aileen Grist
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lots of older houses in the uk had these for when the bedrooms were opposite one another. You get used to them very quickly.

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Note: this post originally had 84 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.