The
Tulip Stairs and lantern, as seen from below, of the
Queen's House in
Greenwich,
England. Designed by
Inigo Jones, the
stairs are the first centrally unsupported stairs constructed in England. The stairs are supported by a combination of support by
cantilever from the walls and each stair resting on the one below. The first reference to the iron
balustrade design as 'tulips' was in 1694 and the name 'Tulip Stairs' dates to the 18th century.
Photo credit: Mcginnly