3 ms·

That's simply a problem of engineering design and building code regulation, and the current assumption of how we design and construct buildings. You can double

by kiba 3y ago

That's simply a problem of engineering design and building code regulation, and the current assumption of how we design and construct buildings. You can double the volume of a flat area by adding a story height worth of flat area. Thrice, if you triple it. The fact is, the world we live in isn't constructed in 3D, but rather 2.5D. In any case, this is not an engineering problem, but a sociopolitical one.

seanmcdirmid 3y ago
Its an engineering/cost problem. Yes, you can create spansive narrow but long building that go up N stories and have long corridors of apartments with only one wall of windows (and you can go back and front on that). But you need to be able to get the people down in case of fire (and not have them jam), so more stairs, and elevators to handle the amount of traffic. It isn't because people are dumb that they don't do this by default, they run cost benefit and realize building towers works out to about the same economy as building walls, people also want some green, so courtyard complexes are common (towers surrounding a central courtyard, this is a very chinese design). > In any case, this is not an engineering problem, but a sociopolitical one. It turns out they not only have to fund the construction of these buildings, but also sell them when they are completed.
- kiba 3y ago
  If it's really a fundamental engineering challenge, then reporting on the issue should have reflected that. They do not. It's basically broadly the same problem elsewhere. Hong Kong's challenges are political, not engineering, irrespective of the debate whether to build tall or wide(in my opinion, both).[1] 1. https://www.thinkchina.sg/whats-stopping-hong-kong-fixing-its-housing-crisis https://www.thinkchina.sg/whats-stopping-hong-kong-fixing-it...

3 ms·

That's simply a problem of engineering design and building code regulation, and the current assumption of how we design and construct buildings. You can double

by kiba 3y ago

seanmcdirmid 3y ago
Its an engineering/cost problem. Yes, you can create spansive narrow but long building that go up N stories and have long corridors of apartments with only one wall of windows (and you can go back and front on that). But you need to be able to get the people down in case of fire (and not have them jam), so more stairs, and elevators to handle the amount of traffic. It isn't because people are dumb that they don't do this by default, they run cost benefit and realize building towers works out to about the same economy as building walls, people also want some green, so courtyard complexes are common (towers surrounding a central courtyard, this is a very chinese design). > In any case, this is not an engineering problem, but a sociopolitical one. It turns out they not only have to fund the construction of these buildings, but also sell them when they are completed.
- kiba 3y ago
  If it's really a fundamental engineering challenge, then reporting on the issue should have reflected that. They do not. It's basically broadly the same problem elsewhere. Hong Kong's challenges are political, not engineering, irrespective of the debate whether to build tall or wide(in my opinion, both).[1] 1. https://www.thinkchina.sg/whats-stopping-hong-kong-fixing-its-housing-crisis https://www.thinkchina.sg/whats-stopping-hong-kong-fixing-it...