The Quirky Allure of 'Death Stairs' Captured Through Social Media

Kevin Reid's childhood stairway, built from pipe fittings, went viral on the Facebook group "Death Stairs," showcasing unique and hazardous staircases from various parts of the globe.

In an unassuming corner of Dublin, Kevin Reid fondly recalls the bright green staircase of his childhood home, an oddity constructed from pipe fittings that bears more resemblance to a ladder than a traditional staircase. This eccentric architectural feature remained a simple part of his life until it gained unexpected fame in April 2024 when it was spotlighted on the Facebook group known as “Death Stairs,” which has amassed nearly 800,000 followers. Advertised as a digital gallery for perilous ascents and treacherous descents, the group serves as a repository of wry humor and cautionary tales wrapped in captivating imagery of stairs from around the world.

Reid's staircase, which was built by his father during a home renovation, has sparked a dialogue about unconventional stair designs that push the boundaries of safety. While some might question the construction’s stability or usability—each tread only accommodating a single footstep—Reid maintains that they are trustworthy. “I wouldn’t do it in sock soles, but you can fairly rush down them, and they make a nice ringing sound when you go down them,” he notes, reflecting on the staircase's quirks regarding safety and its aesthetic charm.

The 'Death Stairs' Facebook page showcases a diverse array of stair types, which includes narrow, triangular steps, dazzling glass spiral staircases with reflective features, as well as steep wooden staircases carved into rugged cliff faces in New Zealand. The allure of the page lies in its celebration of these unconventional structures, each one telling a unique story about architecture’s varied interpretations and cultural contexts. For Reid, his childhood staircase transformed from a mundane household feature to a quirky emblem of risk, capturing the imagination of a global audience who share in a light-hearted critique of questionable design choices.