Stunning Staircases: 10 Artist Makeovers That Make the City More Beautiful

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The City Beautiful Movement was a reform philosophy that developed at the turn of the last century in reaction to a widespread belief that our cities were ugly. Responsible for, among other things, Central Park, Golden Gate Park, and the monumental core of our nation’s capitol, including the National Mall and the Lincoln Memorial, the ideology is relevant now more than ever. With populations in urban areas growing at mind boggling rates (check out this visualization of the population growth of 590 cities around the world), creating beauty to maintain our quality of life is critical. With that in mind, here’s a look at another interpretation of the City Beautiful ideals: artistic infrastructure. From a Lebanese artist collective’s painted staircases in Beirut to mosaics in Brazil that will blow your mind, click through to check out gorgeous public staircases around the world.

Mar Mikhael Staircase by Dihzahyners Project – Beirut, Lebanon

Image credit: Nadim Kamel via STREET ART UTOPIA

Les escaliers de Gemmayzé by Dihzahyners Project – Beirut, Lebanon

Image credit: Paint Up

Vendome Stairs by Dihzahyners Project – Beirut, Lebanon

Image credit: Lebanon Art & Architecture

Bliss Street Stairs by Dihzahyners Project – Beirut, Lebanon

Images credit: Paint Up

Staircase – Valparaíso, Chile

Image via STREET ART UTOPIA

Escadaria Selarón by Jorge Selarón – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Image via Daniel in South America; Tititideias

Moraga Steps by Aileen Barr and Colette Crutcher – San Francisco, California

Image via MyModernMet

Sussex Lane stairs by Magda Sayeg – Sydney, Australia

Image via Detail Daily

Love Letter steps – Seoul, Korea

Image via ArtDaily

Morro da Providencia staircase for the Women Are Heroes project by JR – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Image credit: JR-art