The Staircase: Studies of Hazards, Falls, and Safer Design [Paperback]

John Templer (Author)

Book Description

Series: Staircase | Publication Date: March 27, 1995

John Templer has written the first theoretical, historical, and scientific analysis of one of the most basic and universal building elements: the stair. Together, these two volumes present a detailed study of stairs and ramps - the art and science of their design, their history, and their hazards.For the designer and the art and architectural historian, the first volume treats the fascinating history of stairs and their immense influence on the art and science of architecture. It is illustrated with more than 100 photographs from around the world and reviews the literature on stairs (as well as ladders and railings and ramps) from Vitruvius to Venturi. Templer considers the whole play of meanings in the idea of the stair - as art object, as structural idea, as legal prescription, or as poetic fancy - making it clear that the stair is simultaneously an aesthetic, architectonic, ergonomic, and cultural element.The second volume shows the dangers stairs present. Drawing on twenty years of human factors research on stairs, Templer sets out what is known about slips, trips, and falls and how best to design stairs to avoid their inherent dangers. He discusses the physiological and behavioral relationship between humans and stairs and walkways, the question of gait and slippery surfaces, and the various types of falls and the injuries that result. Perhaps most importantly, Templer proposes the idea of the soft stair, which could substantially reduce the annual epidemic of stair-related deaths and injuries.John Templer is Regents' Professor of Architecture at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He has published extensively on architecture including theory, human factors research, and designing for the elderly and disabled, and is also an expert on legal cases involving bodily injury caused by falls.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Anyone reading either of these volumes will never be able to look atstaircases the same way again. By learning the history of stairs, we appreciate the rich vocabulary possible in their design and bemoan its absence in our era. By learning about safe stair construction, we come to understand how astonishingly little attention has been paid to this subject... If our public spaces are to encourage our sense of self-worth, community and citizenship; if our private dwellings are to be more than merely machines for living, then books like this pair will undoubtedly form part of our re-education." Thomas Frick, Los Angeles Times

"I have waited a long time to read a work like John Templer's The Staircase. Its achievement of several objectives makes these unique volumes about buildings and about architecture. They blend the joy of aesthetics with the rigor of building science. They draw from historical, laboratory, and field research. They provide the passion of someone who clearly delights in architecture, yet they display the crispness of the analyst who sees bow buildings can better work for their users. This is a model product of architectural research." Michael L. Joroff , Director, MIT Laboratory of Architecture and Planning

About the Author

John Templer, formerly Regents' Professor of Architecture at the Georgia Institute of Technology, has published extensively on architecture including theory, human factors research, and designing for the elderly and disabled. He is also an expert on legal cases involving bodily injury caused by falls.

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: The MIT Press (March 27, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0262700565
• ISBN-13: 978-0262700566
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,504,813 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars swet bro an hella Jeff, January 15, 2012

By 

Zane - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Staircase: Studies of Hazards, Falls, and Safer Design (Paperback)

dis bookk was aguod read but really
it shu;lfd just say
I WARNED YHOU BOUT STAIRS BRO'I WARNED you'
bro reeally lyked tis book and all.
jeff gave it to geerromy
geromy proceeded to go grimderk

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Staircase...Everything you ever wanted to know and then some, August 6, 2000

By 

S. J. Marsh (New Fairfield, CT USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Staircase: Studies of Hazards, Falls, and Safer Design (Paperback)

I have just purchased my third copy of The Staircase. My previous copies were never returned to me by the borrows but still found their way to our towns' school libraries. John Templer,previously a professor of Architecture at Georgia Tech is emminently qualified to write about all aspects of the staircase. The evolution,history and trivial facts of the staircase are fascintating reading for all ages. The pictures will draw you to continue reading. The topic was so intriguing, I found myself wading into the engineering specifications, hazards (including famous people who died on a staircase)and safety issues. I never ascend or descend a staircase without considering the depth of the tread and the height of the rise, the height of the handrail. What a terrific school project appropriate for the 12 year old and over set. I can see them measuring the dimensions of the stairs in their towns' public buildings, gathering statistics on accident and injuries on these stairs and asking the town fathers why this is so!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stairway to heaven?, July 21, 2007

By 

Richard Bowman "slipbusters" (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Staircase: Studies of Hazards, Falls, and Safer Design (Paperback)

An absolute classic that has withstood the test of time. It will remain essential reading for those interested in the responsible design of stairways.