In a recent interview with AIArchitect, Leslie Robertson, one of the world's leading building engineers, talked of the social issues involved with the current multi-national race to construct the tallest building on the planet. He began by explaining some differences in mindset of various clients overseas. In Hong Kong, developers take to the skies as a land-squeeze necessity. Whereas, in Dubai, builders are intent on making a world-attention-grabbing statement of the UAE's arrival on center stage. Ultimately, of course, the developer is looking for return on investment, and Robertson and the teams with which he works to deliver eye-popping architectural landmarks are good enough at delivering that return that Leslie Robertson and Associates can be somewhat selective in the work it takes on. For instance, “we’re the kind of company that does not do military work. Period,” he says.
Moreover, Robertson believes that there is a social end-point for the rush to build the tallest, most opulent building in the world. When enough people “are looking up at them, realizing they can’t afford that,” he opines, “I don’t know that society is going to go along with that forever.”
“Ultimately, the developer should make a profit,” yet, Robertson says, “they have an obligation to the city where they are building. They should raise the quality of living and working spaces, not lower it … There is so much work out there that you have to select the kind of work you’re comfortable with and that you want to do.”
What do you think?
Comments (3)
If the world were a perfect place, from prosperity would come social responsibility. Unfortunately, in our modern world profit usually comes second only to God.
I just recently returned from visiting my Motherland Russia. Since emigrating to the United States from Russia back in 1999, a lot of positive economical improvement has happened there, but regarding the environment…don't even get me strarted!
Were the developers of the new Moscow International Business Center, “Moscow City,” truly concerned about the center's quality of living and efficient use of space, or were they merely seeking to achieve a quick return on their investment? The fact is, the overwhelming majority of Moscowvites now agree that the center's vast construction effort was primarily responsible for polluting the Moscow River as was argued in that city's infamous 2005 lawsuit.
The scheduled completion date for the $12 billion project is 2007. According to the Russian newspaper, Kommersant, on May 15, 2007, the business center had less than half of the parking space needed for the center! Several of the larger corporations courted, Unilever foremost among them, simply refuse to lease office space in “Moscow City” due to this untenable situation with regard to parking. One would think that they could have, at the very least, hired a math teacher to do some basic calculations on the space required for parking, especially with $12 billion dollars at stake.
“Moscow City” is a complex of various high towers with apartments, offices, hotels, shopping and fitness centers. All are high-tech buildings. The tallest one, “Russia Tower,” standing at 118 stories, was designed by the English architect, Norman Foster. To see a model of this beautiful and impressive complex, visit www.fosterandpartners.com.
Tatiana Jones
Jones Microcomputer Solutions'
Architectural Renderings and Graphic Design
www.asylumgraphics.us
Posted by Tatiana A. Jones | May 29, 2007 10:50 PM
Posted on May 29, 2007 22:50
Prosperity is an ambition and a powerful incentive that drives our industry. Social responsibility is the system of constraints that gives it purpose.
Posted by Terry L. Walker, AIA | June 9, 2007 2:49 AM
Posted on June 9, 2007 02:49
Prosperity is an ambition and a powerful incentive that drives our industry. Social responsibility is the system of constraints that gives it purpose.
Posted by Terry L. Walker, AIA | June 9, 2007 2:49 AM
Posted on June 9, 2007 02:49