Guastavino spiraling staircases: Construction history, documentation, and structural analysis through the case of St. John the Divine
A B S T R A C T This paper presents the first comprehensive study of Guastavino spiraling staircases, combining construction history, field documentation, and structural analysis. After outlining the origins, construction methods, and structural behavior of thin-tile vaulted staircases in the Guastavino tradition, the study focuses on the paired helicoidal staircases of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. Archival research is integrated with on-site inspection, hand...