Stairs

RIGHT! so I have a crystal clear concept now:

Architectural installation/element: STAIRCASE

Why is it a weapon: It is a defensive weapon as the stairs fold back into the wall so the staircase becomes invisible. This denies access to a secret area/room within the house and provides security to the inhabitants of the house. This room could either be used as a panic room or a large walk in safe.

It draws parallels to a portcullis as mentioned in the last post as the stairs retract and become hidden.

In my last post I said: "I like the way how a portcullis is concealed and hidden and then appears when needed and think that there could be something in that concept, that would make an interesting architectural feature"

This concept also nails my self written brief too: "I am going to make a object/installation that uses the bare minimum of physical input from the user to initiate a series of mechanical events to gain an advantage in a conflict"

The staircase will have a clever concealed switch which once activated initiates a series of mechanical events (lowering the stairs out of the wall) this will help to gain an advantage as one could use the staircase to escape or hide from a pursuer or burglar, the pursuer/burglar would not be aware of the hidden switch and stairs. This could also function as a panic room too.