A staircase from Kevin Reid's childhood home in Dublin has become a symbol of dangerous staircases on the popular Facebook group 'Death Stairs,' which showcases uniquely perilous stair designs from around the world.
The Rise of 'Death Stairs': A Quirky Exploration of Hazardous Steps
The Rise of 'Death Stairs': A Quirky Exploration of Hazardous Steps
A Facebook group has turned hazardous staircases, including one crafted from pipe fittings, into a viral sensation.
Kevin Reid had always known that the bright green staircase in his childhood home in Dublin, made from pipe fittings, was a bit unconventional. Initially perceived merely as a quirky feature in his upbringing, this staircase recently gained international acclaim after being showcased on the Facebook group "Death Stairs." This group, which boasts nearly 800,000 members, is dedicated to sharing images of perilous staircases, describing itself as a realm where "ascension is perilous and descending is deadly."
The criteria for what qualifies as “death stairs” is vast and varied, including an array of architectural oddities like narrow, triangular steps, a glass spiral staircase with mirrored walls, and steep wooden steps carved into the rugged New Zealand landscape.
Reid never categorized his childhood staircase as a death trap. His father originally constructed it as part of a two-story extension at the back of the house. “You wouldn’t want to do it in sock soles, but you can fairly rush down them, and they make a nice ringing sound when you go down,” he remarked, emphasizing their solidity. This staircase has now become a testament to the peculiar risks often overlooked in everyday life, celebrating the intersection of creativity and hazard in domestic architecture.
