Stone as a structural material. Part 2: Traditional and reinforced stone stairs

Since the construction of the first British example of a cantilever stone staircase (Inigo Jones’ ‘tulip’ staircase in Queen’s House in Greenwich, 1629–35), this technique has served as both grand statement and modest utility. The structural principles are now widely understood, but by adopting a creative approach to structural analysis, design and detailing, they can be combined and extrapolated to design and construct more refined structures in myriad applications.