Hiking my way to the top of the duomo in Florence
I have a somewhat bizarre confession to make: I'm obsessed with staircases.
I'm not exactly sure when this fixation began, but I have vivid childhood memories of dreaming up a house with two staircases. The idea of running up one and down another seemed like a great way to play. As a teenager I fantasized about slowly descending a grand staircase on prom night -- seeing how my parents' house during my school years was a one-storey structure, this sadly never happened. Even in adulthood I find staircases are often my favorite feature in a home.
Traveling in Europe has been only fed my fantaticism. From circular stone staircases in cathedrals that seem to go on for miles to scarlet carpet-clad staircases in vast foyers of English estates, I have been experiencing staircase sensory overload.
Taken in the English building of my university
Pisa
The Vatican Museum
The Accademia in Venice
The duomo in Milan
Am I alone in this? Does anybody else harbour similar architectural quirks (one of my Italian travel buddies, for instance, is completely absorbed by doors). I'd love to hear about others!
6 comments:
There's a set of stairs in Esslingen, Germany that I believe you would love. They are so little and surrounded by all these trees. I found them one day exploring the towns around Stuttgart.
You're not alone! I have an obsession with stairs as well, but probably my biggest architectural obsession is exteriors. I like big wrap-around porches and lots of vegetation. And I have a fascination with stone or brick exteriors.
I love staircases as well, particularly spiral ones, but I have to admit my biggest obsession is windows, lots of big windows. Give me a window with a view and a window seat and I'm in reading heaven.
Jess: that sounds gorgeous. Do you have a picture you could send me? Brooke: I love wrap-around porches too! They remind me of Green Gables. Ana: how could I forget about your preoccupation with bay windows?
I love how I'm technically in your post twice! I was the photographer of the first pic, after all! ;o) I agree, though...staircases are fascinating, too. You should definitely build that house with two of them, by the way.
Maggie: you're technically in my post twice, because you're technically that awesome. :)
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