h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Tall Buildings - A864650
Author: Dr Montague Trout - U188966

Nothing but subheaders so far.

But it's a start.

Dr Trout

Perhaps a section about the Flatiron Building?

http://www.skyscrapers.com/english/worldmap/building/0.9/114793/index.html

Good. Thanks Gosho.

Flatiron Building, New York, USA - 1902</SUBHEADER

Completed in 1902 at the junction of New York's Fifth Avenue and Broadway, the 87 m (285 ft) high, 21-storey Flatiron (or FullerAfter building contractor George A. Fuller Company </FOOTNOTE&gt Building was said (incorrectly) to be New York's first skyscraper partly on account of its use of a steel-frame to support the limestone and terracotta Renaissance facade.

Designed by architectural practice D.H. Burnham, the Flatiron Building is named for its shape, which when viewed from above is like an arrow-head (or indeed an iron) penetrating the legs-akimbo thoroughfares of Fifth Avenue and Broadway below. When it was first constructed, many feared for its stability on account of its slenderness, and was also nicknamed Burnham's Folly.

The Home Insurance Building
I heard this ages ago, so my memory might be playing tricks on me, but the Home Insurance do-dah, didn't that introduce revolving doors as a way of combating the air resistance/pressure. Because of the size of the building standard doors (as entrances to the building) couldn't be used as they would be impossible to open, so revolving doors were fitted.
Obviously there are better ways of wording this, but I hope you get the idea.
Oberon2001

Thanks Oberon, this is good. Earn one credit.

Attention Gosho: For record, the Flat-Iron Building was never the World's Tallest Building. This is a common misunderstanding.

I know Dr T, but as one of the most famous 'tall' buildings of its time, and its continued fame since then, I thought it might warrant a mention here

I'm boldly putting where no man has put before the words "World's Tallest Building" into the buildings that qualify. The others, like the Chinabank and the Flatiron are just tall, but nonetheless essential threads in the story.

In answer to the question possed at the top of the entry, it's the price of land that drives buildings up. That and pride, which usually drives them to be taller than all the previous buildings... Bit of prestige for the architect as well, I suppose...
Anyway, I'll be back to add more *cough* wisdom.
Oberon2001

Pride ... more like the developer's ego.

Same thing isn't it
Oberon2001

it is not so much the price, as the availability of land that drives the hight of buildings up.

However due to various factors, for any given building template, there is an optimum floor where it becomes cheaper to put a second tower next to it than to stick the same space on the next floor up.

genrally speaking this is why the maximum hight of building is only creeping up, rather than rocketting up as the technology would suggest.

I'm thinking of reducing the scope of this to a time-line of the World's Tallest Buildings from 1900-2000, i.e., from Park Row to the Petrona Towers.

Any comments, or reservations?

Not really!
Except... Could you keep Home Insurance Building bit in as it was the first skyscraper proper. Or have it in the introductary paragraph?
Just a thought.
Oberon2001

It's a little bit updated.

Any more collaborative offerings?

DMT

Not very successful this, is it?

DMT, but I've offered you the extent of my knowledge on tall buildings.
Oberon2001

SHANGHAI WORLD FINANCIAL CENTER

The Shanghai World Financial Center will, when opened in 2007, be the world's tallest building.

Construction world began in August 1997, with its elegant design and immense scale creating not only a new landmark for Shanghai in the 21st century, but also a symbol of the economic prosperity of Asia.