Take the stairs!

A set of stairs in Stockholm, Sweden--with a moving escalator next to it--both of which lead to the same spot on the floor of the upper level. A study showed that 97% of the people took the escalator over the stairs. A group of engineers got together, and decided they wanted to reverse that percentage.

*Watch the video*

The percentage has reversed to a whopping 66% more people choosing the stairs over the escalator. Bravo for engineering!

Secret Stairs

I watch PBS--known here in Oregon as OPB. One of my favorites is Oregon Field Guide (Thursdays, 8:30 PM), which covers stories of all things outdoors in Oregon.



The latest episode took me into the Oregon forests, underground in the Oregon Caves, and right here in town to explore the public stairways of Portland.



I was delighted--but not too surprised--to learn that we have 180 public stairways in and around Portland! Back in the early days of our city--pre-automobiles, in the era of the streetcars--Portlander's that lived in our hills (and we have plenty), built the stairways and used them daily to commute to their jobs in the city below.



Today, the stairways are considered hidden gems of our town. Urban hikers love them for a workout. Local historian, Laura Foster, is researching the history of the stairs to write a book. I plan to check that out when it's published later this year.



You can view the stairways portion of the Oregon Field Guide episode at the OPB website.

Images - various photographers on Flickr (not all in Portland).

Design Inspiration: Stairwell Storage

Found these photos today on the Poppytalk blog.  The photos are from the Come Up to My Room 2009 exhibition. The Courtyard House as it is called was created by Peter Tan and Christine Ho Ping Kong of Studio Junction, Toronto. 

Drawers built into stairs...BRILLIANT.  I want that at my house, please.  Someday...when I have a house that is!