podest

Podest is a German noun referring to a raised surface used as a platform, dais, or podium for speaking, performing, or displaying objects. In architectural and construction contexts it most commonly denotes a landing between flights of stairs, known as a Treppenpodest, but the term can also describe any elevated stage area within a room or building.

In construction, podests are horizontal surfaces designed to bear loads and connect varied levels; they may be built of stone, concrete, wood, or metal, and are often finished to match surrounding floors or to stand out as a display platform.

Beyond stairs, podests serve as demarcated stage areas, display pedestals, or supporting surfaces in exhibitions, churches, or civic spaces. The term is common in German-speaking regions and appears in technical specifications and architectural drawings.

The Italian term podestà (accented a) is etymologically related but distinct; it was historically used to denote a city magistrate or mayor in some Italian communes during the Middle Ages and early modern period.

Related terms include podium and dais, and in German the stair landing is called Treppenpodest.