As we build taller, we are confronted with a small window into the aspirations of a societies' people. From the cathedrals of Europe, to the Pyramids of Giza, fast forward to today's modern day steel structures such as the Empire State and Taipei 101 buildings. We have arrived at an era where cultural landmarks 'of the people' are now 'for the people' - cathedrals of commerce and private opulence that are in a perpetual state of skyward-reach.
The impending arrival of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai equals - perhaps supersedes other modern marvels - epitomizing the stunning achievements of structural design and material advancement. Erected as an impressive series of rotations toward the heavens, the newly built structure - now the worlds tallest - was made entirely of reinforced concrete.
More than simply an aesthetic obsession with concrete, it is of particular interest (to me) that over the past centuries, buildings have made a significant shift from vernacular materials - locally quarried stone - to a seemingly generic and 'placeless' material that is reproduced with varying degrees of success around the world. With a response to creativity and gravity defying feets, concrete may never replace the timeless and human qualities of stone, but it will most certainly support today's designers and engineers in crafting the ambitions of today's modern societies.
Stunningly, the compressive strength of concrete has tripled over the last half century, further facilitating the physical legacies of our social and cultural achievements. Our cities, bridges, and buildings have become taller, lighter, and increasingly streamlined. While we can all attest to such advancements in construction and engineering, less can be said of our horizontal experience of this world. With the punishment we inflict on our roads and public spaces, and the expectations for endurance we expect but take for granted from each, our dependence upon them grows with every passing day. Unfortunately, our vertical pursuits are given much higher priority - a result of an evolution toward upright cities for the affluent. Such is certainly the case at the Burj, with resdiences priced for the nearly-royal.
From an historical worship of stone to the modern day eruption of "free enterprise" - signified by the advancements of steel - there is something to ponder about our lofty achievements with today's most prolific building material, concrete. I suspect the rest of us plebeians will continue to persevere however. Traveling between such impressive yet ironic structures of our time, we shall hold a contemptful jealousy for the impromptu matches of hopscotch we continue to endure - forever avoiding the cracks, gaps, and outright upheavals of our horizontal world.
Posts
