The Tulip Stairs and lantern, as seen from below, of the Queen's House in Greenwich, England. Designed by Inigo Jones, the stairs are the first centrally unsupported stairs constructed in England. The stairs are supported by a combination of support by cantilever from the walls and each stair resting on the one below. The first reference to the iron balustrade design as 'tulips' was in 1694 and the name 'Tulip Stairs' dates to the 18th century.Photo credit: Mcginnly