design forum - DesignAddict


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	title of this thread your message Now, let us examine the counter sinking of the building, so that a third of the glass walls appear to be below grade and facing beveled earth that may eventually be covered with biomass. Let me put it this way: garden apartments were once advertising puffery for basement units with one open side you could walk in and out of. They were tried and it was found that the public did not clamor for more. Piano has, in effect, created a garden museum, at least the lower floor of it, unless of course there is only one floor with a very high ceiling, in which he has created a garden museum in its entirety. The effect of this may be pleasant and nurturing. I cannot say until I go in. But I fear it will be rather closer to the effect of a garden apartment. Regardless, beveling the ground around the counter sunk building will like create a cool air collar around the bottom third of the building walls, as cool air likes to fall into ravines, whether natural, or man made like this one. Strike another, then for engineering to make sure this building does not need AC. But let us consider the wisdom of two elements of this design in an earthquake zone, where a 9.0 earthquake is considered to be a significant probability within the next 50 years. Let's concede for a moment that in yet another stroke of engineering excellence, the frame and roof of this building can stay put in a 9.0 shaker. I still foresee two potentially lethal problems. I doubt the aquarium will withstand the 9.0 shaker without rupturing, which means an enormous amount of water is suddenly going to rush out in all directions and, in addition to killing a lot of people as it would in what ever kind of building it were housed in, it will create an enormous amount of standing water floor below grade. At first a wading pond will result. But then there will be the long fire sprinkler system further raising the water level. And there will be the ruptured water and sewer lines that inevitably occur and they too will flow into basin of this building. And this will inevitably interact with all sorts of building electricals that will continue to operate, according to earth quake design specs, on back up power units, and I would predict all of this back up power will begin to short and electrocute survivors caught in knee deep water. associated web images (optional) associated web link (optional) your email your password create a forums account \| you forgot your password?