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