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Why can stairs become a dominant visual feature in a building interior?

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The Great Court at the British Museum in London features a large central rotunda surrounded by wide steps and a glass and steel lattice roof, with visitors walking throughout the space. — Architecture The Great Court, designed by Foster and Partners, 2000; in the British Museum, London.

Stairs can become a dominant visual feature in a building interior because they serve as a primary element of circulation, connecting differentiated spaces and guiding movement toward a clear goal.1

Beyond their functional role, staircases have evolved into significant architectural statements. While early designs were often enclosed, the development of open interior staircases—pioneered by architects like Michelangelo—transformed them into grand, sculptural elements. This trend reached a peak in Baroque architecture, where dramatic, ambitious staircases became defining features of interior design.2

In contemporary architecture, the use of materials such as steel and reinforced concrete has further enabled architects to create daring curves and expansive, sweeping forms that command attention within a space. Whether through the use of a balustrade or placement within a glazed tower, the staircase is often designed to be both a functional necessity and a focal point of the building's aesthetic identity.2