Central or lateral structure: how to choose the ideal configuration for your open staircase

When deciding to install an open riser staircase for interiors, one of the aspects to consider concerns the type of supporting structure. Open riser staircases can be made with a central structure or with a lateral structure.

In this guide, we analyze the distinctive characteristics, advantages, and peculiarities of both configurations, providing you with all the necessary elements to better understand which of the two solutions optimally meets your needs in terms of space, style, and functionality. To make our guide even more concrete, we also present two solutions by Rintal that perfectly embody these two design philosophies: Knock, the staircase with a central structure that combines minimalism and solidity, and Composity, the staircase with a lateral structure that offers compositional versatility and great aesthetic impact.

Table of Contents

• Open riser staircases: elegance and brightness for interior spaces

• Central or lateral structure

• Open riser staircases with lateral structure

• When to choose a staircase with lateral structure

• Composity: the staircase with lateral structure

• Open riser staircases with central structure

• When to choose a staircase with central structure

• Knock: staircase with central structure

• Conclusions: your ideal staircase

Open riser staircases: elegance and brightness for interior spaces

Open riser staircases represent an increasingly appreciated design choice for those who wish to combine functionality and refined aesthetics in domestic environments. These structures are characterized by the absence of closed risers between the steps, creating a light visual footprint and an effect of great openness that makes them perfect for enhancing and illuminating any type of interior space.

Unlike traditional masonry staircases, which are completely closed and more massive, open riser staircases feature an exposed supporting structure that holds the steps while allowing light to pass through freely. This very peculiarity constitutes their most appreciated distinctive element: the ability to let natural light flow through the entire structure, without panels or closed elements between one step and another obstructing its path. The result is a brighter, airier, and visually larger environment, where light spreads freely creating suggestive plays of light and shadow that enrich the atmosphere of the home and enhance its contemporary character.

This type of staircase proves to be an ideal solution for multiple residential configurations:

• Habitable mezzanines, where it is essential to maintain visual lightness and not weigh down the space
• Lofts and open spaces, environments that require visual continuity, spaciousness, and maximum brightness
• Two-level homes, where the staircase connects living and sleeping areas without creating visual barriers, preserving a strong sense of openness
• Connections between living and sleeping areas, to create a harmonious and elegant transition between environments
• Attics and penthouses, contexts in which every source of natural light becomes an element of great value

To proceed with choosing your open riser staircase, one decision to make is: where to position the supporting structure that holds the steps?

Central or lateral structure

Open riser staircases are divided into two main categories based on the position of the supporting structure:

• Staircases with lateral structure (stringer): they have two vertical stringers positioned on the sides of the steps. The steps are contained and supported between these two parallel load-bearing elements.
• Staircases with central structure: they have a structure positioned in the center under the steps. The steps attach to this central column, creating a particularly light suspended effect.

This structural difference affects some factors such as aesthetics and footprint; let's see in detail the characteristics of each type.

Open riser staircases with lateral structure

Staircases with lateral structure feature two vertical stringers (also called carriages) that run parallel along the entire flight. The steps are fixed between these two load-bearing elements, creating a solid and defined structure.

Advantages of staircases with lateral structure

Open riser staircases with lateral structure represent one of the most appreciated solutions in interior architecture for their balance between structural solidity and visual lightness. Let's see in detail what the main advantages of this configuration are:

• Uniform steps: all steps maintain the same shape and depth along the entire flight. The staircase can be equipped with a landing or a three-step turn if deemed necessary.
• Refined aesthetics: the lateral stringers create an elegant and contemporary visual effect, transforming the staircase into a true piece of furniture that enhances and characterizes the environment. The structure becomes an integral part of the home's design.
• Design versatility: staircases with lateral structure adapt with great flexibility to different needs: they can be designed in a straight version or with one turn (L-shaped) or two turns (U-shaped) configurations, integrating perfectly into different domestic floor plans. Furthermore, this type allows you to choose between different widths, materials, and finishes, making it suitable for both modern taste environments and more traditional or classic contexts.

Learn more on the page dedicated to open riser staircases with lateral structure.

When to choose a staircase with lateral structure

Open riser staircases with lateral structure are the ideal choice if:

• You have sufficient space: widths start from 74cm and go up to 94cm. If you have an opening in the slab with these dimensions, you can make the most of the advantages of the double structure.
• You seek maximum comfort: uniform steps and superior stability make these staircases perfect for daily use. If you are connecting main living areas, the lateral structure is the most comfortable choice.
• You want the staircase as a piece of furniture: clean lines and the suspended effect transform the staircase into a true protagonist of the space. If the environment allows it, the more marked visual presence becomes a focal point of the design.
  
  

Composity: the staircase with lateral structure

Composity is the open riser staircase with lateral structure born from the collaboration with Giugiaro Architettura and from the Rintal Stair System philosophy; Composity represents the excellence of Italian Smart Design.

Exclusive design

The clean and essential design of Composity conceals advanced technical solutions. The total absence of visible screws on the external part of the structure is the distinctive feature. The fixings of the steps and the railing are completely integrated, ensuring clean lines without compromising safety and stability.

Visit the page dedicated to Composity.

Open riser staircases with central structure

Staircases with central structure develop on a series of modules positioned in the center of the flight. The steps attach to these central modules, creating an even lighter effect compared to the lateral structure.

Advantages of staircases with central structure

Open riser staircases with central structure represent the ideal solution for those seeking maximum visual lightness and installation versatility. This type of staircase is particularly suitable for reduced spaces or situations where it is essential to minimize structural footprint. Here are the main advantages:

• Visual lightness: the central structure creates an even more pronounced "suspended" effect compared to the double lateral structure. The central modules minimize perceptual footprint, ideal if you want to maintain maximum visual transparency in the environment.
• Wide range of widths: available from 65cm to 95cm, they allow you to choose the perfect dimension for your space. This versatility is difficult to find in other models.
• Adaptability: the modular system allows precise adjustments even during installation, perfect for renovations where stairwell measurements are binding.

Learn more on the page dedicated to staircases with central structure.

When to choose a staircase with central structure

Open riser staircases with central structure are the ideal choice if:

• You want to maximize brightness: if the staircase is positioned in a strategic point for the diffusion of natural light, the central structure maximizes this benefit without visual barriers.
• You seek versatility: the wide range of widths (from 65cm to 95cm) allows you to adapt the staircase to very different contexts. From the minimum opening to comfortable passage, you always have a modular solution.

Knock: staircase with central structure

Knock is our open riser staircase with central structure designed by Giugiaro Architettura. This model represents the perfect balance between Italian design, structural solidity, and advanced modularity.

Design and innovation

Knock combines a painted steel structure with the possibility of integrating an LED lighting system into the structure, creating a unique scenic effect. The structure is composed of modular elements joined by means of a patented anchoring system that guarantees resistance.

Learn more on the page dedicated to Knock.

Conclusions: your ideal staircase

The choice between central structure and lateral structure is not about which staircase is better in absolute terms. Both solutions guarantee solidity, safety, and high construction quality.

The final decision is mainly a matter of available dimensions and the aesthetic result you want to achieve in the space.

The lateral structure generally requires more generous widths and becomes a more present architectural element, capable of characterizing the environment. The central structure, instead, allows greater freedom in measurements and offers a lighter and more minimal visual impact.

In this sense, Composity and Knock represent two different interpretations of the open riser staircase:

• Composity, with lateral structure, is ideal when space allows and you want a protagonist staircase, with a decisive and compositional design.
• Knock, with central structure, adapts more easily to variable dimensional contexts and to those seeking an essential visual sign.

Therefore, there is no "superior" solution to the other: the most correct choice arises from the balance between stairwell measurements, environment style, and the role the staircase must have within the project.

In both cases, choosing a Rintal staircase means integrating into the space a design object that combines functionality, style, and design freedom. Our open riser staircases are designed to adapt to different architectural contexts, offering modular and customizable solutions that transform into true protagonists of the space.