Escherian Stairwell The video claims that the stairwell, whose name evokes M.C. Escher's impossible objects, was built in the 1960s by the fictitious architect Rafael Nelson Aboganda. The video was revealed to be an Internet hoax, as individuals have travelled to Rochester Institute of Technology to view the staircase.

A straight staircase with a linear design is the most common and straightforward type. Because of the basic design, this is the cheapest staircase style, with installation costs between $2,000 and $5,000.

Schroeder stairs (Schröder's stairs) is an optical illusion which is a two-dimensional drawing which may be perceived either as a drawing of a staircase leading from left to right downwards or the same staircase only turned upside down, a classical example of perspective reversal in psychology of perception.

A switchback staircase is defined as a 180-degree staircase with landings, which creates a U-shaped stair layout. This style of staircase is often referred to as a 'staircase that turns' because the stairs literally turn at a 180-degree angle and double back on themselves.