Tag: architecture
A Chinese skyscraper with a waterfall
Link here. The builders literally included a 350 foot high waterfall that exits the skyscraper and falls down the building’s side.
A spokesperson for the property, Mr Cheng, told Kan Kan News that the main water source is from recycled tap water, rain water or from other channels. ‘Our building has a four-storey underground water storage and drainage system, from which the water is pumped and recycled,’ Mr Cheng said.
The electricity bill for just one hour of operation is a whopping 800 yuan (£89), he added. ‘That’s why we don’t switch on the waterfall every day – only for special festivities in the city,’ he said. And each time, the waterfall is set to run for only about 10 to 20 minutes to save electricity.
Architects for skyscrapers are getting increasingly creative. They have added trees, vines, greenery everywhere. A waterfall, however, is really clever, though I’m not sure how practical this will be, in the long run. Water falling that distance can do a lot of damage over time.
Link here. The builders literally included a 350 foot high waterfall that exits the skyscraper and falls down the building’s side.
A spokesperson for the property, Mr Cheng, told Kan Kan News that the main water source is from recycled tap water, rain water or from other channels. ‘Our building has a four-storey underground water storage and drainage system, from which the water is pumped and recycled,’ Mr Cheng said.
The electricity bill for just one hour of operation is a whopping 800 yuan (£89), he added. ‘That’s why we don’t switch on the waterfall every day – only for special festivities in the city,’ he said. And each time, the waterfall is set to run for only about 10 to 20 minutes to save electricity.
Architects for skyscrapers are getting increasingly creative. They have added trees, vines, greenery everywhere. A waterfall, however, is really clever, though I’m not sure how practical this will be, in the long run. Water falling that distance can do a lot of damage over time.
Want to live in a hobbit-hole? You can!
Link here. The article shows a collection of underground homes inspired by The Hobbit, including several whose designs are available for either purchase or construction.
Link here. The article shows a collection of underground homes inspired by The Hobbit, including several whose designs are available for either purchase or construction.
World’s second-tallest skyscraper completed in Shanghai
Link here. The skyscraper is over 2,000 feet high and has 128 floors.
Link here. The skyscraper is over 2,000 feet high and has 128 floors.
Construction by helicopter
An evening pause: As noted on the youtube webpage, “The last two components of the Incity Tower spire were put in place by helicopter on Sunday 21 June [2015]. This metallic spire, which measures 50 metres and weighs 25.9 tonnes, took the building to its final height of 200 metres. This confirms its position as the highest tower in Lyon and the third highest in France. Three aerial beacons and a lightning rod will now be placed at the top.”
Hat tip Phill Oltmann.
Amazing rooftop structures
Amazing German designed cat climbing furniture.
News you really can use: Amazing German designed cat climbing furniture.
News you really can use: Amazing German designed cat climbing furniture.
The eerie, alien, and abstract World War II monuments of Yugoslavia.
The eerie, alien, and abstract World War II monuments of Yugoslavia.
Very strange. They all look like something out of the weird Yugoslavian science fiction animated film community of the 1960s. Somewhere I’ve seen the one listed as #1 (though it isn’t the first in the story), though I can’t remember where.
The eerie, alien, and abstract World War II monuments of Yugoslavia.
Very strange. They all look like something out of the weird Yugoslavian science fiction animated film community of the 1960s. Somewhere I’ve seen the one listed as #1 (though it isn’t the first in the story), though I can’t remember where.
A new Chinese suspension bridge, set to open November 25, has won top honors for being such a long three-tower/two span bridge.
A new Chinese suspension bridge, set to open November 25, has won top honors for being such a long three-tower/two span bridge.
When it opens on Nov. 25, Taizhou Bridge will carry six lanes of traffic (plus two maintenance lanes) nearly 3-km across the Yangtze River. Though the total length of 2,940 m is an awfully long way, the bridge has two main spans using three towers rather than the norm of one main span using two support towers.
The two spans are each 1,080 m (3,540 ft) long, which individually is less than the main span of the Golden Gate Bridge at 1,280 m (4,200 ft), and much less than the 1,990-m (12,830 ft) span of the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge, the longest main span of any suspension bridge on Earth. Two end spans of 390 m (1,280 ft) connect Taizhou Bridge with the banks of the river.
But in using two spans the Taizhou Bridge is a major breakthrough in structural engineering. The design requires the perfect balance of flexibility and rigidity in its 192-m (630-ft) steel central tower in order to withstand changing and imbalanced loads to either side. The complementary side towers are 178 m (584 ft) tall, and are made of concrete. The two main cables supporting the bridge are 3,110 m (10,200 ft) long and 72 cm (28 in) in diameter.
Think about it. The central tower is going to be pulled from both directions. Similarly, the outside towers must have incredible strain pulling them towards the center. Balancing it all is an amazing architectural achievement.
A new Chinese suspension bridge, set to open November 25, has won top honors for being such a long three-tower/two span bridge.
When it opens on Nov. 25, Taizhou Bridge will carry six lanes of traffic (plus two maintenance lanes) nearly 3-km across the Yangtze River. Though the total length of 2,940 m is an awfully long way, the bridge has two main spans using three towers rather than the norm of one main span using two support towers.
The two spans are each 1,080 m (3,540 ft) long, which individually is less than the main span of the Golden Gate Bridge at 1,280 m (4,200 ft), and much less than the 1,990-m (12,830 ft) span of the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge, the longest main span of any suspension bridge on Earth. Two end spans of 390 m (1,280 ft) connect Taizhou Bridge with the banks of the river.
But in using two spans the Taizhou Bridge is a major breakthrough in structural engineering. The design requires the perfect balance of flexibility and rigidity in its 192-m (630-ft) steel central tower in order to withstand changing and imbalanced loads to either side. The complementary side towers are 178 m (584 ft) tall, and are made of concrete. The two main cables supporting the bridge are 3,110 m (10,200 ft) long and 72 cm (28 in) in diameter.
Think about it. The central tower is going to be pulled from both directions. Similarly, the outside towers must have incredible strain pulling them towards the center. Balancing it all is an amazing architectural achievement.
Twelve unusual towers around the world.
Twelve unusual towers around the world.
All of them are not generally very famous. #10 is especially spectacular.
Twelve unusual towers around the world.
All of them are not generally very famous. #10 is especially spectacular.
32 of the worst architectural decisions ever made.
32 of the worst architectural decisions ever made.
I think #17 is photoshopped, but other than that, these are real. A few were intended merely for display I am sure, but most are examples of simple stupidity.
32 of the worst architectural decisions ever made.
I think #17 is photoshopped, but other than that, these are real. A few were intended merely for display I am sure, but most are examples of simple stupidity.
The world’s thinnest buildings.
A London building melts a parked Jaguar.
Speaking of architectural blunders: A London building melts a parked Jaguar.
Speaking of architectural blunders: A London building melts a parked Jaguar.
Seven colossal architectural blunders.
Why did the builders of One World Trade Center in New York settle on fourth place?
The decision to not compete: Why did the builders of One World Trade Center in New York settle on fourth place?
The article includes some nice history about the race in New York in the first half of the 20th century to build the tallest skyscraper.
The decision to not compete: Why did the builders of One World Trade Center in New York settle on fourth place?
The article includes some nice history about the race in New York in the first half of the 20th century to build the tallest skyscraper.
New York’s “greenest” skyscraper turns out to be its biggest energy hog.
New York’s “greenest” skyscraper turns out to be its biggest energy hog.
Maybe the building’s problem is that it has Al Gore as one of its tenants.
Seriously, the article illustrates well “the law of unintended consequences.” You pass a law or regulation intended to do x, and discover that people instead manipulate the law or regulation to get y instead.
New York’s “greenest” skyscraper turns out to be its biggest energy hog.
Maybe the building’s problem is that it has Al Gore as one of its tenants.
Seriously, the article illustrates well “the law of unintended consequences.” You pass a law or regulation intended to do x, and discover that people instead manipulate the law or regulation to get y instead.
Inside the world’s largest tunnel boring machine.
Inside the world’s largest tunnel boring machine (TBM).
“Bertha,” as it’s known, is the world’s largest TBM and will spend the next 14 months boring a 1.7 mile (2.7 km) tunnel under the city as part of a US$1.2 billion project to replace a viaduct damaged in a 2001 earthquake.
Inside the world’s largest tunnel boring machine (TBM).
“Bertha,” as it’s known, is the world’s largest TBM and will spend the next 14 months boring a 1.7 mile (2.7 km) tunnel under the city as part of a US$1.2 billion project to replace a viaduct damaged in a 2001 earthquake.
World’s largest building has opened in China.
World’s largest building has opened in China.
World’s largest building has opened in China.
Scientists have finally discovered the forgotten formula for the concrete the Romans used.
Scientists have finally discovered the forgotten formula for the concrete the Romans used.
The secret to Roman concrete lies in its unique mineral formulation and production technique. As the researchers explain in a press release outlining their findings, “The Romans made concrete by mixing lime and volcanic rock. For underwater structures, lime and volcanic ash were mixed to form mortar, and this mortar and volcanic tuff were packed into wooden forms. The seawater instantly triggered a hot chemical reaction. The lime was hydrated—incorporating water molecules into its structure—and reacted with the ash to cement the whole mixture together.”
The Portland cement formula crucially lacks the lyme and volcanic ash mixture. As a result, it doesn’t bind quite as well when compared with the Roman concrete, researchers found. It is this inferior binding property that explains why structures made of Portland cement tend to weaken and crack after a few decades of use, Jackson says.
Scientists have finally discovered the forgotten formula for the concrete the Romans used.
The secret to Roman concrete lies in its unique mineral formulation and production technique. As the researchers explain in a press release outlining their findings, “The Romans made concrete by mixing lime and volcanic rock. For underwater structures, lime and volcanic ash were mixed to form mortar, and this mortar and volcanic tuff were packed into wooden forms. The seawater instantly triggered a hot chemical reaction. The lime was hydrated—incorporating water molecules into its structure—and reacted with the ash to cement the whole mixture together.”
The Portland cement formula crucially lacks the lyme and volcanic ash mixture. As a result, it doesn’t bind quite as well when compared with the Roman concrete, researchers found. It is this inferior binding property that explains why structures made of Portland cement tend to weaken and crack after a few decades of use, Jackson says.
Eight abandoned and truly gigantic construction projects.
Eight abandoned and truly gigantic construction projects.
Probably the most amazing is the one in North Korea.
Eight abandoned and truly gigantic construction projects.
Probably the most amazing is the one in North Korea.
Eleven incredible places.
Eight of the world’s most incredible swimming pools.
A new New York skyscraper — the largest residential building in the world — has won the top award for 2011 for its unusual undulating facade.
A new New York skyscraper — the largest residential building in the world — has won the top award for 2011 for its unusual undulating facade.
It is worth a look, as the building is quite strange-looking and actually stands out in the New York skyline, something you would think would be difficult for a new skyscraper to do.
A new New York skyscraper — the largest residential building in the world — has won the top award for 2011 for its unusual undulating facade.
It is worth a look, as the building is quite strange-looking and actually stands out in the New York skyline, something you would think would be difficult for a new skyscraper to do.
Three super weird homes
The Roman Colosseum has been found to be leaning about sixteen inches to the south.
The Roman Colosseum has been found to be leaning about sixteen inches to the south.
The Roman Colosseum has been found to be leaning about sixteen inches to the south.
The ten tallest skyscrapers now under construction
Higher and higher: The ten tallest skyscrapers now under construction.
Higher and higher: The ten tallest skyscrapers now under construction.
Though an engineering success, the world’s tallest building in Dubai has also turned out to be a financial flop.
Though an engineering success, the world’s tallest building in Dubai has also turned out to be a financial flop.
Though an engineering success, the world’s tallest building in Dubai has also turned out to be a financial flop.
Congress has pulled all funding for the Eisenhower memorial, the design of which is strongly opposed by the Eisenhower family.
Congress has pulled all funding for the Eisenhower memorial, the design of which is strongly opposed by the Eisenhower family.
Congress has pulled all funding for the Eisenhower memorial, the design of which is strongly opposed by the Eisenhower family.
Roman Architecture
The world’s tallest tower opened to tourists today in Tokyo.
The world’s tallest tower opened to tourists today in Tokyo.
The world’s tallest tower opened to tourists today in Tokyo.