The world's largest staircase just pretending to be a building.

The new Shanghai Grand Opera House was designed by Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta in collaboration with the East China Architectural Design & Research Institute

The building takes inspiration from an unfolding traditional Chinese fan. Its roof spirals around the auditoriums, forming a sweeping public staircase that is designed to be open 24 hours a day and leads up to the rooftop, offering views of Shanghai’s skyline and the Huangpu River.

The fan evokes classical Chinese culture through a sense of elegance, openness and movement. The spiral echoes the flow of the river, suggesting continuity the city, the water and the opera house.

In addition, the shape of the staircase recalls the profile of a ballerina and its steps the keys of a piano

My uncle has been slowly renovating my grandmother’s house for longer than I have been alive. It’s a house that is being lived in while renovated just the basement, siding, some electrical, and stairs are left. It’s the worst staircase I’ve ever been on.

From Chateau Gaillard in Amboise, France.

Staircases like these are so cool but also freak me out. One misstep and oops… :(

On display at the annual open weekend of the London Transport Museum Depot in Acton.

Probably not what you would expect for a library but it’s fitting for the academic side. I love it

Little staircase I encountered on my way up

The escalator only starts after a flight of stairs?

📸Photo by: Tom Bonner