As far as home designs go, stairs are ones that you want to get right. Any flaw in the execution could lead to an embarrassing trip or, even worse, a serious fall.
We are so used to walking up and down stairways all day every day, that we don't even think to look if everything is in order. These truly horrific stair designs, collected in a list by Bored Panda, are on another level. Poorly planned, dangerous, and maybe even deadly, after seeing them, you might want to look twice before you take your next step!
Seriously, how these design fails even came to live? Scroll down to check out the very worst staircases you'll ever see, and take care out there!
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Not A Good Carpet Choice For Stairs If You Ask Me
Are you ready for some scintillating stair facts? Of course you are! With thanks to StepJockey, here are a few things about home improvement that you might not have known.
- Stair climbing is officially classed as a ‘vigorous exercise’ and burns more calories per minute than jogging
- Stair climbing requires 8-9 times more energy expenditure than sitting and burns about 7 times more calories than taking a lift
- You burn about 0.17 calories for every step you climb, so you burn roughly a calorie and a half for every 10 upward steps
- You also burn calories going down. Every stair descended burns about 0.05 calories, so you burn 1 calorie for every 20 steps down
I've Seen Some Crappy Stairs, But This One Takes The Cake
When You Let Satan Choose The Carpet
- For buildings with five floors or less, it’s nearly always quicker to take the stairs. Studies show office workers save up to 15 minutes a day by taking the stairs.
- As well as guarding against heart disease, diabetes, stroke and some cancers, stair climbing releases endorphins that produce feelings of wellbeing.
- Just 7 minutes stair climbing a day has been estimated to more than half the risk of a heart attack over 10 years.
- Stair climbing cuts carbon emissions. By ditching the lift in a typical office you will save between 0.3 and 0.6 Kg of Co2 a day.
- Professional skiers often climb stairs to keep competition-fit. Many models do the same to keep their legs toned for the catwalk.
Camouflage 101
Built The Staircase Exactly As Designed, Boss
- Climbing stairs is a classic ‘short burst’ exercise and ideal for the time-poor. The biggest variable in stair climbing is your weight. The heavier you are, the more calories you burn.
- Other variables affecting calorie burn while stair climbing include the angle of the stairs, your sex, climbing speed, age and general fitness.
- You burn more calories climbing stairs in high heels.
- It’s a myth that climbing stairs two at a time burns more calories. More energy is expended over time by taking things slowly.
- The greatest height reached climbing stairs in 12 hours was 33,000 feet by Chris Solarz of Philadelphia, USA. Solarz climbed 58,080 stairs.
- The 19th century is regarded by many as the golden era of stair construction. In the 20th century architects gave prominence to lifts.
Stairs That Lead To Nowhere
My, they are sooo late! I was waiting for flying cars to hit the game somewhere around 2000's. Where are our flying cars (and hoverbords btw)?
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. . .the moment you step off the bottom step!😶
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This is in Vancouver, BC. 1133 Hornby St. Some dingus architect thought this facade would make the building cool.
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Can you sit on them? because it would be a cool place to sit with a cup of coffee and just people watch
I actually choked on my water that comment made me laugh way too hard
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What do you mean "nowhere"??? They lead to you dead!!! Or at least to a serious injury!!!
Great for sneaking out. Get a really long rope and tie it really really really really untieably well to the metal stuff and then go down and up on it. - I take no responsibility for any death caused by this idea -
I would love to hear how someone explained that to a building inspector.
sometimes I like sliding down the stairs and if I ever got drunk when I was sliding down the stairs this would have ended very poorly for me
To be fair, they do lead somewhere.....you're just not going to like it.
It would be really cool to be able to sit on those stairs and read, I imagine it would be peaceful
I would be the person that keeps walking not realizing what is happening
Very forward thinking. This is perfect for when sea levels rise so much that this becomes New Venice.
This design will seem genius when the big blizzards hit and people can just walk out onto the snow instead of tunnelling out.
This design will be genius when blizzards dumping a foot of snow every hour come. Or when sea level rises high enough to turn the city into new Venice.
I kind of like it - sitting on the stairs, legs swinging in the breeze, watching the people go by
Am I the only one singing "stairs to nowhere leads to me" In the tune of Ozzy's "Road to nowhere" based on the title of this post??
Am I the only one sing Stairs to nowhere leads to me?? In the tune of Ozzy's "Road to nowhere "??
These are art sculptures of staircases, not functional (nor accessible) ... part of a larger public art piece allude to a metaphorical "story". The "ADDITION”: award winning design firm => Henriquez & Partners, Architecture Vancouver, BC (completed -2017), a 20-storey condo tower beside the 1915-built Murray Hotel, acts as its "addition”. Developer Kenstone Properties invested over $1 million to preserve & restore the historic site. Original public artwork by Richard Henriquez, “A Tribute to Duchamp” (in lobby & exterior), an homage to ”Nude Descending a Staircase No. 2”, folded-steel stair design elements; a 2storey tall art piece spans 8m (26ft) across lobby from exterior, bridges public & private realms while offering a vibrant visual display for residents & visitors .. these fictional stairs give illusion of 3 walk up townhouses suspended in levitation over entry lobby. All very eye catching & draws tourists' attention. Glad it captured yours. VIVAVancouver!
That last step is a doozy. Beware to anyone drunk, high or in possession of a cell phone.
If you want to fly the last few metres down onto the ground, these stairs would be perfect. Well, really ... ??
These actually look so cool though, someone should just add ladders! Or jetpacks!
Building next door looks like the ghostbusters hq for the movie of the same name
We’re those units originally meant to be on the ground floor, but someone added retail space there and forgot to erase the front steps from the blueprints?
Stairs Of Death
- Now, with the emergence of ‘active design’, architects are once again making stairs more prominent.
- Many scientific studies show that simple stair prompts significantly increase stair usage. One trick is simply to point-out ‘hidden’ stairs
- The longest stairway listed by the Guiness Book of Records is the service stairway for the Niesenbahn funicular railway near Spiez, Switzerland. It has 11,674 steps and a round trip would burn over 3,000 calories.
- Going down stairs burns fewer calories but works and tones different muscles and joints. It’s also good for balance and coordination.
- The Roman architect Vitruvius established the first guidelines for the stair in the first century B.C, suggesting a 37 degree pitch. Most stairs are not dramatically different today.
So what are you waiting for? Forget the lift, take a few deep breaths and get climbing!
Extreme Wheelchairing
In Case Of Fire Use Stairs, They Said. Do Not Use Elevators, They Said
Almost Broke My Leg
You Don't Have To Be Drunk To Fall Down These Stairs
These Stairs At A Movie Theatre
These Aren’t Stairs. They Are Decorative Waterfalls. My Friend Walked Into Them And Slipped, I Laughed My Ass Off
This Flight Of Stairs Outside A Door Is Death Waiting To Happen
My God
For When You Want A Near Death Experience Every Time You Use The Stairs
What's with stairs with no railing? Who thinks that's safe for a healthy adult, let alone a child or an older person whose balance isn't quite as good any more (i.e. me)?
If You Choose To Go On The Left, On The Ramp, Because You Have A Bike Or Stroller, Then You Will Encounter A Step Later. But If You Choose Stairs Then You Will Encounter A Ramp After The Stairs
These Sloping Stairs
How To Break Your Bones
Man This Hill Is Just Too Steep. Hold On A Sec While I Take The Stairs
These Double Stairs
These Stairs
These Stairs Must Be For Pets And Children Only
These Stairs In Monaco
These Stairs
These Stairs In A College I Visited Had People Confused...
These Stairs In My Sisters House Are A Joy To Use
Someone Directed Us To These Stairs When We Were Lost
These Stairs In A Residence Hall When I Was In College. Always Creeped Me Out
These Stairs Are 1ft/30cm High
The One Stair Slightly Shifted To The Side
The Stairs To Nowhere
You Win This Time, Stairs...
Good place to hide your valuables. Though you’ll need to figure out a secret entrance; from the other side of the cabinet, or a way to move that stair. Just spitballing ideas here....
These Stairs...
Terrible Floor To See The Depth Of The Stairs
Space Saving Stairs
Let Them All Fall From Those Stairs
Carpeted Stairs To Shower
Constant dampness. Mold. Mildew. Gross. Plus, no room for a bath mat, because there’s only about 3 inches of space to step out onto.
Nearly Died Carrying A Box Down These Basement Stairs
I lived in a place that had similar stairs. Amazingly enough, your legs/feet do eventually pick up the rhythm and oddities of the stairs.
Stairs Leading To Nowhere At My School
Note: this post originally had 75 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.
About 80% of these could be summed up with “sometimes things get remodeled”.
By a fly-by-night contractor and with no building permits, presumably.
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So the people who designed these, the people who issued the permits, the people who built them... all failed to see the idiocy? And they got paid for that? They all need to give the money back and start looking for other jobs, preferably not involving people's safety!
Most of these were probably built without permits. Or at least without any inspection afterward to make sure building codes were followed. I wonder what countries these came from, because I've never seen anything like this where I live.
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Also who the f**k designed these, beauty needs function, without it is stupidity
People need to understand that stairs are not meant to be optical illusions
Some can be, my friend has floating stairs and they look cool. But you can walk up them without falling off!
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These staircases looks like you don't have enough money to finish, or they just don't give a f**k. And those stair to nowhere reminds me of the haunted house "The Winchester Mystery House" in San Jose, they build those stair for the spirit. Here's the video: https://youtu.be/Padm4JItZPw
Stairs in Russia are a real hoot. They build the risers all the same height, except at the top or the bottom there's a different-height riser to make it all fit.
99/100 designs were made in the following situation. Person A (wasted): I bet you can't design a stair that will kills you instantly. Person B (even more wasted): Hold my three beers.
Be interesting to know if kids lived at some of these homes... And whether they survived into adulthood.
Quite a few of these are the result of changed safety standards. In some businesses, guidelines call for employees to maintain 3 "points of contact" at all times : One foot and both hands. The photos reflect the addition of another handrail so that the 3 points are maintained at all times, where the were formerly too widely spaced to allow for it.
Almost all of these violate various building and life-safety codes in one way or another. There are good reasons that a safe set of stairs is usually a bit boring and predictable.
Aside from the Avant-Garde stairwells, a few seemed to have been modded after the original structure was built
I wear bifocals. Walking down a normal flight of stairs can be terrifying. I can't imagine walking down any of these flights of stairs while wearing bifocals! :-/ bifolcals-...943805.jpg 
Great story, typically unimaginative headline. Should have been called '40 Staircase Designs that Should Make Lawyers Rich.'
I actually like the ones where a railing has blocked off part of some variable width stairs. I need a handrail going down stairs and if there are a lot of people I can end up stranded in the middle of the stairs.
I used to work in a safety engineering office. Every single one of these would fail US safety regulations for staircases, and more than half of them are outright illegal. US laws on staircases are VERY specific: consistent tread-riser dimensions, maximum and minimum step dimensions, rail height, rail distance, rail diameter, lighting, coefficient of friction, angle ... the rules just go on and on and on.
I wonder how many people broke their ankles from these idiot designs?
Lol, I live in an old building with 5 flights of all different widths. Difficult sober in a rush bloody difficult pissed. #whynolift
Just a little note to go with all those photos of stairs with strangely patterned carpeting or otherwise with weird lines. When someone has had a stroke, oftentimes the ability to see depth correctly is hampered and this makes these stairs horrifically dangerous. The same goes for someone trying to get used to their new progressive, multi-focal glasses.
Low-bid your retrofit, your remodel, etc., and you get... no money to remove old stairs and similar. Oh, and if you see railings, that's usually to help control foot traffic flow and they're installed way after construction. Local high school has a few of these.... Yep. Low bids get you what you pay for!
All of these were likely designed by my family members; our house growing up was like these staircases, minus the artsy-cool vibe of some of these and with way more mess around it all. In architecture the form must follow the function, not vice versa. Nerd-rage!
#67 Friends had that exact type of stairs in their house. If the power goes out (which it does a lot where they live) the stairs turn into a death trap. Another friend lived in a 3 story apartment with only one way in or out using an outside, iron, fire escape type stair. He moved in in Sept, and by December, 4 injuries, 1 serious happened to him and people visiting. If the iron stairs got wet, iced or had snow on them, you'd be better off just jumping. He moved in January.
Lol, I know the pain. You get used to it, then someone visits...... next stop hospital
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Why do I suddenly have the song "We're on the Road to Nowhere by Talkinhg Heads stuck in my head now?
About 80% of these could be summed up with “sometimes things get remodeled”.
By a fly-by-night contractor and with no building permits, presumably.
Load More Replies... So the people who designed these, the people who issued the permits, the people who built them... all failed to see the idiocy? And they got paid for that? They all need to give the money back and start looking for other jobs, preferably not involving people's safety!
Most of these were probably built without permits. Or at least without any inspection afterward to make sure building codes were followed. I wonder what countries these came from, because I've never seen anything like this where I live.
Load More Replies... Also who the f**k designed these, beauty needs function, without it is stupidity
People need to understand that stairs are not meant to be optical illusions
Some can be, my friend has floating stairs and they look cool. But you can walk up them without falling off!
Load More Replies... These staircases looks like you don't have enough money to finish, or they just don't give a f**k. And those stair to nowhere reminds me of the haunted house "The Winchester Mystery House" in San Jose, they build those stair for the spirit. Here's the video: https://youtu.be/Padm4JItZPw
Stairs in Russia are a real hoot. They build the risers all the same height, except at the top or the bottom there's a different-height riser to make it all fit.
99/100 designs were made in the following situation. Person A (wasted): I bet you can't design a stair that will kills you instantly. Person B (even more wasted): Hold my three beers.
Be interesting to know if kids lived at some of these homes... And whether they survived into adulthood.
Quite a few of these are the result of changed safety standards. In some businesses, guidelines call for employees to maintain 3 "points of contact" at all times : One foot and both hands. The photos reflect the addition of another handrail so that the 3 points are maintained at all times, where the were formerly too widely spaced to allow for it.
Almost all of these violate various building and life-safety codes in one way or another. There are good reasons that a safe set of stairs is usually a bit boring and predictable.
Aside from the Avant-Garde stairwells, a few seemed to have been modded after the original structure was built
I wear bifocals. Walking down a normal flight of stairs can be terrifying. I can't imagine walking down any of these flights of stairs while wearing bifocals! :-/ bifolcals-...943805.jpg
Great story, typically unimaginative headline. Should have been called '40 Staircase Designs that Should Make Lawyers Rich.'
I actually like the ones where a railing has blocked off part of some variable width stairs. I need a handrail going down stairs and if there are a lot of people I can end up stranded in the middle of the stairs.
I used to work in a safety engineering office. Every single one of these would fail US safety regulations for staircases, and more than half of them are outright illegal. US laws on staircases are VERY specific: consistent tread-riser dimensions, maximum and minimum step dimensions, rail height, rail distance, rail diameter, lighting, coefficient of friction, angle ... the rules just go on and on and on.
I wonder how many people broke their ankles from these idiot designs?
Lol, I live in an old building with 5 flights of all different widths. Difficult sober in a rush bloody difficult pissed. #whynolift
Just a little note to go with all those photos of stairs with strangely patterned carpeting or otherwise with weird lines. When someone has had a stroke, oftentimes the ability to see depth correctly is hampered and this makes these stairs horrifically dangerous. The same goes for someone trying to get used to their new progressive, multi-focal glasses.
Low-bid your retrofit, your remodel, etc., and you get... no money to remove old stairs and similar. Oh, and if you see railings, that's usually to help control foot traffic flow and they're installed way after construction. Local high school has a few of these.... Yep. Low bids get you what you pay for!
All of these were likely designed by my family members; our house growing up was like these staircases, minus the artsy-cool vibe of some of these and with way more mess around it all. In architecture the form must follow the function, not vice versa. Nerd-rage!
#67 Friends had that exact type of stairs in their house. If the power goes out (which it does a lot where they live) the stairs turn into a death trap. Another friend lived in a 3 story apartment with only one way in or out using an outside, iron, fire escape type stair. He moved in in Sept, and by December, 4 injuries, 1 serious happened to him and people visiting. If the iron stairs got wet, iced or had snow on them, you'd be better off just jumping. He moved in January.
Lol, I know the pain. You get used to it, then someone visits...... next stop hospital
Load More Replies... Why do I suddenly have the song "We're on the Road to Nowhere by Talkinhg Heads stuck in my head now?
