This ambitious "Earthscraper" concept from BNKR Aquitectura seeks to address several problems faced by Mexico City - a growing population, the lack of new plots for construction, the need to conserve historic buildings and height restrictions on new structures. "The historic center of Mexico City is in desperate need for a pragmatic make-over," says BNKR. The solution - build an inverted pyramid underneath the main plaza at the heart of the city.
A kind of reversal of the historical Aztec pyramid, the Earthscraper would aim to preserve the visual aesthetic of the historic city square whilst also retaining the public space, commonly used year round for events such as concerts, political gatherings, open-air exhibitions and cultural celebrations. The 775,000 square meter design is capped with a glass "roof" and habitable spaces are positioned around the central void, allowing natural light to filter down to even the lowest of levels.
The first ten stories would offer a tourist attraction, with all floors displaying Aztec and Mayan artifacts in a pre-Columbian museum. The design sees the next ten stories filled with retail shops and domestic housing, whilst the deepest levels offer 35 stories of office space.
The concept is reminiscent of the famous glass pyramid featured at the center of Le Louvre Museum in Paris, but with mammoth proportions. "The Earthscraper is the skyscraper's antagonist in an historic urban landscape where the latter is condemned and the preservation of the built environment is the paramount ambition," says BNKR.
The BNKR Aquitectura "Earthscraper" concept was a finalist entry in the eVolo Magazine Scraper Competition.
Via: Archdaily.
the city has enough issues with sinking foundations for stuff above the ground, i wouldn\'t want to think about the problems a massive underground facility would have.
Earthquake survival, and flooding are engineering problems that have been repeatedly solved. There is always a market for clean fill. The excavated material will be sold.
Haiti didn\'t have any enforced building codes.
People in New Orleans after refusing orders to evacuate attempted to escape rising water by climbing into attics that did not have roof access.
In Christchurch there were apparently undamaged building standing next to piles of rubble after the earthquake.
The fact that people have died does not invalidate my assertions.
Cases like México City would require a very stiff substructure in order to support loads due to earthquakes of at least Grade 8 in the Richter scale. Also, the whole underground structure needs to be designed as a floating foundation, due to the extremely softness of the soil.
In the other hand, isolation from the exterior might represent an issue. The architecture and accesories such as illumination and Air Conditioning, must be of a very high quality so that living in the underground will not affect the inhabitants mood. Don´t you think?