When you see the world as a canvas for your imagination, even the most mundane structures become an opportunity for inventive design. For a visionary like Frank Gehry, the world presents itself in this way, architecture functioning as an outlet for artistry. The Gehry-designed spiral staircase at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto captures this artistic approach, material and form merging to create a structure both visually striking and practical.
Douglas-fir clad and sculptural, the staircase overlooks a central court in the museum, rising to the glass ceiling like a tree reaching towards sunlight. Still, it is not just a sculpture to marvel at from a distance. Functionally, it connects multiple gallery floors, culminating in a sweeping view of the city after 138 steps.¹ A wandering gallery patron may find themselves falling in love on these stairs, too — at least, that was Gehry’s grand intention. He designed it to be narrow in some points, so that people would naturally encounter each other, perhaps experiencing a “love at first sight” moment. The staircase’s success in sparking love matches is unconfirmed, but the design alone certainly sweeps you up in its own romance.