Okuzeka
Architecture vocabulary · Building Elements and Structure

Staircase

Meaning in architecture, with examples

/ˈsterkeɪs/nounCore term

In architecture, staircase means: A set of stairs together with its supporting structure, handrails and landings, which connects the different floors of a building.

In Turkish: merdiven, merdiven evi

How it is used

Designed carefully for comfort and fire safety. Key words: flight, landing, tread, riser and handrail. A staircase can be straight, L-shaped, U-shaped or spiral; 'stairs' is the more everyday word.

Example sentences

  1. The main staircase rises through the atrium and becomes a meeting place.

  2. The escape staircase must be enclosed and lead directly outside.

Common collocations

  • main staircase
  • spiral staircase
  • escape staircase
  • staircase core
  • circulationThe way people move through and between the spaces of a building, including corridors, stairs, lifts, ramps and entrances.
  • accessibilityThe quality of a building or place being usable by everyone, including wheelchair users, older people and people with visual or hearing impairments.
  • atriumA large open space inside a building that rises through several floors, usually under a glass roof, and is often used as an entrance hall or meeting area.
  • sectionA drawing of a building cut vertically from top to bottom, showing the floors, ceiling heights, roof, stairs and how the inside spaces relate to each other.

More terms: Building Elements and Structure

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level: