Comments on: Sky City: City in the Sky or Pie in the Sky? http://blog.civilengineeringcentral.com/2009/10/14/sky-city-city-in-the-sky-or-pie-in-the-sky/ building teams . engineering careers Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:00:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Franki http://blog.civilengineeringcentral.com/2009/10/14/sky-city-city-in-the-sky-or-pie-in-the-sky/#comment-716 Franki Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:51:09 +0000 http://civilengineeringcentral.wordpress.com/?p=1698#comment-716 Hey, I am completely up for the idea of sky cities. I was just wondering if you had ever read the book exodus? That is all about them, maybe thats where you got the idea? I just wanted to say though, if you have read it, you would see that they didn't work out very well. Will you make more all over the world? If global warming actually happens and land is drowned, would everyone be able to live in them? I know i'm thinking like crazy in the future, i'm just curious what extent people would go to. I would so live in it after reading exodus! xD Hey, I am completely up for the idea of sky cities. I was just wondering if you had ever read the book exodus? That is all about them, maybe thats where you got the idea? I just wanted to say though, if you have read it, you would see that they didn’t work out very well. Will you make more all over the world? If global warming actually happens and land is drowned, would everyone be able to live in them? I know i’m thinking like crazy in the future, i’m just curious what extent people would go to.

I would so live in it after reading exodus!
xD

]]> By: ezra http://blog.civilengineeringcentral.com/2009/10/14/sky-city-city-in-the-sky-or-pie-in-the-sky/#comment-655 ezra Sun, 18 Oct 2009 20:12:54 +0000 http://civilengineeringcentral.wordpress.com/?p=1698#comment-655 This is not a new idea. Similar concepts were proposed long ago by Paolo Soleri back in the 1970's. Building technology has also continually advanced to allow larger and larger buildings over time. It won't surprise me if it happens. However, I think it is nonetheless psychologically important to have a separation of home and work. Would you force people to work in the same building? Why wouldn't they still work elsewhere? This is where "efficiency" really goes too far as a "sustainability" strategy. I would prefer to see multiple nodes of dense development and economic centers with disencentives for all but essential car use coupled with alternative transport options (bus, subway, bike, walking, etc.). I think this is Tokyo's current strategy, more or less. This is not a new idea. Similar concepts were proposed long ago by Paolo Soleri back in the 1970′s. Building technology has also continually advanced to allow larger and larger buildings over time. It won’t surprise me if it happens. However, I think it is nonetheless psychologically important to have a separation of home and work. Would you force people to work in the same building? Why wouldn’t they still work elsewhere? This is where “efficiency” really goes too far as a “sustainability” strategy. I would prefer to see multiple nodes of dense development and economic centers with disencentives for all but essential car use coupled with alternative transport options (bus, subway, bike, walking, etc.). I think this is Tokyo’s current strategy, more or less.

]]> By: aepcentral http://blog.civilengineeringcentral.com/2009/10/14/sky-city-city-in-the-sky-or-pie-in-the-sky/#comment-649 aepcentral Sat, 17 Oct 2009 13:23:45 +0000 http://civilengineeringcentral.wordpress.com/?p=1698#comment-649 Thanks Kris. I also believe that a building like that has a big target on it for terrorists. If you watch the videos on youtube they actually address the steps that they would take in order to help make the building secure to the ground, even in the event of an earthquake. Thanks Kris. I also believe that a building like that has a big target on it for terrorists. If you watch the videos on youtube they actually address the steps that they would take in order to help make the building secure to the ground, even in the event of an earthquake.

]]> By: Kris Austin http://blog.civilengineeringcentral.com/2009/10/14/sky-city-city-in-the-sky-or-pie-in-the-sky/#comment-648 Kris Austin Sat, 17 Oct 2009 10:06:31 +0000 http://civilengineeringcentral.wordpress.com/?p=1698#comment-648 1) I believe that it would be a huge terrorist target. It would need its own air defense system like the military uses to protect ships at sea to keep planes from being crashed into it. 2) Being in a high-rise building for 8 hours during your work day is one thing but occupying a single structure for most of your life? That is maximizing the potential for major loss of life in a disaster. 3) A structure that tall in a seismic zone? Containing that many facilities and human lives? I wouldn't live there. 1) I believe that it would be a huge terrorist target. It would need its own air defense system like the military uses to protect ships at sea to keep planes from being crashed into it.

2) Being in a high-rise building for 8 hours during your work day is one thing but occupying a single structure for most of your life? That is maximizing the potential for major loss of life in a disaster.

3) A structure that tall in a seismic zone? Containing that many facilities and human lives?

I wouldn’t live there.

]]> By: aepcentral http://blog.civilengineeringcentral.com/2009/10/14/sky-city-city-in-the-sky-or-pie-in-the-sky/#comment-647 aepcentral Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:12:47 +0000 http://civilengineeringcentral.wordpress.com/?p=1698#comment-647 Thanks for your thoughts Erik. You said "It's easy enough to empty an office tower, tear it down, and rebuild...". Could you imagine tearing down a structure the size of Sky City that is placed in the middle of Tokyo??? I can't believe that that would even be possible??? Thanks for your thoughts Erik. You said “It’s easy enough to empty an office tower, tear it down, and rebuild…”. Could you imagine tearing down a structure the size of Sky City that is placed in the middle of Tokyo??? I can’t believe that that would even be possible???

]]> By: Erik http://blog.civilengineeringcentral.com/2009/10/14/sky-city-city-in-the-sky-or-pie-in-the-sky/#comment-646 Erik Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:22:09 +0000 http://civilengineeringcentral.wordpress.com/?p=1698#comment-646 Assuming that the technical challenges can be overcome, and that it still makes sense to commit the kind of resources required to build the structure, I still see two big concerns. First, sky city will have a huge impact on the surrounding community. Most notably in that nearly all of the consumable resources will have to be imported and wastes exported. Water and sewer supplies may be easy enough to deal with, but what about the traffic impacts of supply food and consumer goods to 35,000 people all at a single location. What about the shadow that a 2/3 of a mile high structure will cast? Second concern: What about the future? Presumably the structure will be designed to account for changes in technology and social preferences, with measures taken to allow upgrades and reworking. However, the simple fact is that modern structures eventually get old, dingy, and rundown despite the best maintenance and upkeep. Won't sky city be in danger of becoming a slum a hundred, or two hundred, years from now? It's easy enough to empty and office tower, tear it down, and rebuild, but relocating 35,000 people from their homes and community to revive an ailing sky city would be a nightmare. Maybe I'm too pessimistic. It's an interesting idea. My concern is that it would end up more Blade Runner than urban paradise. Assuming that the technical challenges can be overcome, and that it still makes sense to commit the kind of resources required to build the structure, I still see two big concerns. First, sky city will have a huge impact on the surrounding community. Most notably in that nearly all of the consumable resources will have to be imported and wastes exported. Water and sewer supplies may be easy enough to deal with, but what about the traffic impacts of supply food and consumer goods to 35,000 people all at a single location. What about the shadow that a 2/3 of a mile high structure will cast?

Second concern: What about the future? Presumably the structure will be designed to account for changes in technology and social preferences, with measures taken to allow upgrades and reworking. However, the simple fact is that modern structures eventually get old, dingy, and rundown despite the best maintenance and upkeep. Won’t sky city be in danger of becoming a slum a hundred, or two hundred, years from now? It’s easy enough to empty and office tower, tear it down, and rebuild, but relocating 35,000 people from their homes and community to revive an ailing sky city would be a nightmare.

Maybe I’m too pessimistic. It’s an interesting idea. My concern is that it would end up more Blade Runner than urban paradise.

]]> By: aepcentral http://blog.civilengineeringcentral.com/2009/10/14/sky-city-city-in-the-sky-or-pie-in-the-sky/#comment-645 aepcentral Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:34:30 +0000 http://civilengineeringcentral.wordpress.com/?p=1698#comment-645 Hey Matthew, Do you believe that developers, engineers, architects and builders could look at the Sears Tower and learn from it since it was built 30+ years ago? Also, the Sears tower was primarily for commercial office space, it was not a real "city in the sky" so to speak. I believe Sky City to be a pretty cool concept, though my main issues stem from safety concerns regarding fire, or another international tragedy such as 9/11 - how would they protect it from something like that??? I do believe with your comment though that we really need to look also at funneling growth into other areas. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts and comments, I greatly appreciate it! Hey Matthew,

Do you believe that developers, engineers, architects and builders could look at the Sears Tower and learn from it since it was built 30+ years ago? Also, the Sears tower was primarily for commercial office space, it was not a real “city in the sky” so to speak. I believe Sky City to be a pretty cool concept, though my main issues stem from safety concerns regarding fire, or another international tragedy such as 9/11 – how would they protect it from something like that??? I do believe with your comment though that we really need to look also at funneling growth into other areas. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts and comments, I greatly appreciate it!

]]> By: Matt Latham http://blog.civilengineeringcentral.com/2009/10/14/sky-city-city-in-the-sky-or-pie-in-the-sky/#comment-644 Matt Latham Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:15:18 +0000 http://civilengineeringcentral.wordpress.com/?p=1698#comment-644 This is not the way to go. Look at Chicago's Sears Tower for example. Once the Sears company moved in there, they began reporting that the vertical separation between workers reduced interaction and collaboration among employees. Apparently getting into an elevator to go see someone was a major barrier. The problem got so bad that after a few years they moved the whole operation out to a sprawling complex in the suburbs and leased the building to other companies. Building vertically in this extreme manner will increase isolation and reduce social interaction. Some cities are just too large. It's time to look at taking some of this growth and instead funneling it into other places that could use the increased economic activity. This is not the way to go. Look at Chicago’s Sears Tower for example. Once the Sears company moved in there, they began reporting that the vertical separation between workers reduced interaction and collaboration among employees. Apparently getting into an elevator to go see someone was a major barrier. The problem got so bad that after a few years they moved the whole operation out to a sprawling complex in the suburbs and leased the building to other companies. Building vertically in this extreme manner will increase isolation and reduce social interaction. Some cities are just too large. It’s time to look at taking some of this growth and instead funneling it into other places that could use the increased economic activity.

]]> By: Miguel Quinones http://blog.civilengineeringcentral.com/2009/10/14/sky-city-city-in-the-sky-or-pie-in-the-sky/#comment-643 Miguel Quinones Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:13:48 +0000 http://civilengineeringcentral.wordpress.com/?p=1698#comment-643 Sky City is a great concept but it is so ambitious that it will take some years for it to be developed. In my opinion the most valuable aspect of this project is the effort to create a community space, it is time to surrender concrete and glass jungles in favor of more integration with nature. Sky City is a great concept but it is so ambitious that it will take some years for it to be developed. In my opinion the most valuable aspect of this project is the effort to create a community space, it is time to surrender concrete and glass jungles in favor of more integration with nature.

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