Floating Stairs

Like a sense of risk with every step you take? With every breath you take, we'll be watching you enjoy the sensation of walking on air with Bernstein Architecture's Floating Stairs system. Constructed with a system of cables that supposedly neither sway or vibrate, this wonder of engineering is like having your very own suspension bridge inside the home.

If it makes you feel any better, you can get the stairs will railings, but personally we'd opt for the glass tread option to further the sensation of walking on air.

Comments (9)

There isn't a single building inspector in the world that would pass this staircase. The company making this should be putting out disclaimers to this effect.

posted by hejiranyc on October 9th 2007 at 10:10am
view hejiranyc's profile

A lawsuit waiting to happen

posted by rowdyman on October 9th 2007 at 10:17am
view rowdyman's profile

maybe photographed in a more interesting or industrial space, this might look a bit better.

posted by designerny on October 9th 2007 at 10:26am
view designerny's profile

i don't think this is very child friendly.

posted by Signe on October 9th 2007 at 10:32am
view Signe's profile

I like this! If you can build a suspension bridge, a suspension staircase isn't a stretch at all.

The main downside of this design (for me at least) is that there is no space for a coat closet/catch-all storage space. Or a space for Harry Potter to while away his summers.

posted by mmadden on October 9th 2007 at 12:00pm
view mmadden's profile

yep, makes you wonder where this Bernstein's architecture system is based--no doubt in the "land of inspecters who look the other way", perhaps Mexico or Thailand... Are those threads supposed to function as railings?

posted by bizarregrrl on October 9th 2007 at 3:38pm
view bizarregrrl's profile

How warped am I thinking this would fit perfectly with the decor in your friendly neighborhood San Fernando Valley S&M Dungeon?

posted by shari on October 9th 2007 at 4:01pm
view shari's profile

If you click through the stair photos, it's installed in a design firm's office in Chicago, so either building inspectors will pass it, or graft and corruption still have their place in Chi-town.

posted by wende in the twin cities on October 9th 2007 at 5:43pm
view wende in the twin cities's profile

Yep, needs railings to meet code...they could be attached to the cables...

And nope, it doesn't move at all...it is stronger than the stair you use everyday...each one of those cables has a breaking strenght of 8000 pounds...

And nope, it isn't child friendly right now...for kids, we would attach glass to the cables below the railings, and also put in glass risers... (no "open riser" stair is small kid friendly")

posted by rabdzin on November 8th 2008 at 2:29pm
view rabdzin's profile