We have this in many neighbourhoods of Montréal, but with exterior staircases. A collage of examples: https://montrealstreetfrench.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/

We have this in many neighbourhoods of Montréal, but with exterior staircases. A collage of examples: https://montrealstreetfrench.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/escalier-exterieur-montreal.png https://montrealstreetfrench.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/esc... In the summer it's incredibly common to find people hanging out on the 2nd level landings, having morning coffee at a little table, playing music, or just soaking up some sun. Because there's almost no shared interior space (since the staircases are all on the outside), it's more space-efficient, and also gives people a bit more privacy since everyone has their own entrance from the outside.