Left-Turning Stair — Glossary entry
Category: Glossary entry
Staircase turning counter-clockwise when ascending.
A left-turning staircase rotates counter-clockwise as you ascend. The direction is always determined from the bottom, in the direction of travel; standing at the foot of the stair and looking up, the direction of turn is apparent. Typical left-turning forms are spiral stairs or quarter-turn stairs whose change of direction goes counter-clockwise. The choice between a left- and a right-turning stair depends on the room layout, the position of doors, the path of daylight and the desired handrail side. On historical spiral staircases in fortifications, the direction also had tactical defence implications.
Related terms
Related terms: Right-Turning Stair, Walking Line, Spiral Stair, Helical Stair, Quarter-Turn, Half-Turn Stair.