Pool fencing inspires greatness?

Probably not. Most people would never give a moment’s thought to wiry building-type things like pool fencing unless they’ve got kids and they’re thinking of having it put up for safety reasons. Even more obscure are things like handrails for staircases, window frames, balcony rails and stainless steel balustrades – yet these items are part of an industry worth billions. They make up the small parts of grander designs that have wowed the world for decades. We don’t care how they’re made as long as they look pretty, right? Well, clearly someone out there is putting a lot of thought into these important items and it’s a good thing that they are because every tiny piece contributes towards the completed whole which makes your home beautiful.

An ornate staircase can easily become one of the main and most attractive features in a home, and as architectural history has proven, it can definitely make a building. Take an obscure chapel in New Mexico for instance – it’s famous among the local people because of its staircase alone. Built by an unknown carpenter, the 20 foot high spiral leads up to a loft in the building and is said to be a mythical show of carpentry genius. Held together by wooden pegs instead of nails, the staircase boasts 33 steps to signify the age at which Jesus died and is also made out of rare wood not freely available in the region, making it something of a wonder.

Another spiral celebrity, and said to be the most photographed staircase in the world, is the spiral staircase at the Vatican Museum in Italy. It was created by someone named Giuseppe Momo and is famous for its shape – two intertwined spirals – because it shares the same design as a DNA strand. A glass ceiling tops the staircase and it has a balustrade made of bronze.

With more than 11 thousand steps, the world’s longest staircase, as recorded in the Guinness Book of Records, is said to be in the Swiss Alps on Mount Niesen. The mind staggering climb is used by service men to access the tram which runs up the mountainside. Not far behind, with more than 7 thousand steps, is a staircase that runs up a peak on Mount Tai in China.

If we’re talking about steely things that are long, then you may as well note that the longest fence ever built in the world is in Australia. It’s called the Dingo Fence and spans more than 5 thousand kilometres, which is impressive. Interestingly, if a fence had to be built for the largest pool in the world, it would have to be more than 10 kilometres long. The gargantuan nine metre long, 66 million gallon pool on Chile’s southern coast doesn’t need a fence, but imagine the work involved if it did!

With that in mind, it’s awe inspiring to think of the little details that go into some of the grandest designs in the world, and even the not so grand ones. They all play a part in making our lives more functional and beautiful. And the industry competition keeps it fresh. You might not find your staircase rail or pool fencing very impressive, but someone out there has put a lot of thought into it, and that’s what counts.