Introducing... the earth-scraper: Architects design 65-storey building which plunges 300 metres below ground

Esteban Suarez, from architecture firm BNKR Arquitectura, said the building would also house a new cultural centre.

He said: 'New infrastructure, office, retail and living space are required in the city but no empty plots are available.

'Federal and local laws prohibit demolishing historic buildings and even if this was so, height regulations limit new structures to eight storeys.

'The city's historic centre is in desperate need of a makeover but we have nowhere to put it, this means the only way to go is down.'

He added: 'The Earthscraper preserves the iconic presence of the city square and the existing hierarchy of the buildings that surround it.

'It is an inverted pyramid with a central void to allow all habitable spaces to enjoy natural lighting and ventilation.

'It will also allow the numerous activities that take place on the city square year round such as concerts, open-air exhibitions and military parades to go ahead.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2048395/Earth-scraper-Architects-design-65-storey-building-300-metres-ground.html#ixzz1d9VxnGf1

Nope! Nor would I live in anything under water.

WAIT!!! This is in Mexico City!?! HELLS no!!!

They have earthquakes there....regularly....big ones!!

NO WAY!

WAIT! edit...

[Edited 11/8/11 13:44pm]

Nothinbutjoy said:

Nope! Nor would I live in anything under water.

WAIT!!! This is in Mexico City!?! HELLS no!!!

They have earthquakes there....regularly....big ones!!

NO WAY!

WAIT! edit...

[Edited 11/8/11 13:44pm]

I'm thinking they must've made provisions for the building to sway (and I'm guessing its inverted pyramid design probably will hold up well during tremors).

The only problem I SEE is that Mexico City used to be a big lake.

So Hotgritz...you could wind up underground AND underwater at the same time!!!

PurpleJedi said:

Nothinbutjoy said:

Nope! Nor would I live in anything under water.

WAIT!!! This is in Mexico City!?! HELLS no!!!

They have earthquakes there....regularly....big ones!!

NO WAY!

WAIT! edit...

I'm thinking they must've made provisions for the building to sway (and I'm guessing its inverted pyramid design probably will hold up well during tremors).

The only problem I SEE is that Mexico City used to be a big lake.

So Hotgritz...you could wind up underground AND underwater at the same time!!!

I was going to say...isn't Mexico City built on a swamp?

Hellz no.

Yeah, they can maybe design the building to minimize the damage, but no, I would not live in a building like that, especially in Mexico City.

yeah, if it was built into solid ground, sure (all skyscrapers also go underground to some extent), but not Mexico City

No, I need access to natural sunlight at home and at work. I once lived in a "garden apartment" in Chicago (below street level, so the windows were about 18" and all you saw were peoples' feet. It was too depressing.

jone70 said:

No, I need access to natural sunlight at home and at work. I once lived in a "garden apartment" in Chicago (below street level, so the windows were about 18" and all you saw were peoples' feet. It was too depressing.

That too. I cannot imagine living in a dark place

Living in such a place not a chance.

I may visit tho'.

Reminds of the 'war'

It is pretty cool though!

There is a long history of digging into rock. India has incredible temples carved into rock. And in a hot place you might save on AC costs.

NDRU said:

It is pretty cool though!

There is a long history of digging into rock. India has incredible temples carved into rock. And in a hot place you might save on AC costs.

lol, definitly, but 100fte UNDERground is something way different.

I can most definitly see this happening tho' and many people going for it too.

Tremolina said:

NDRU said:

It is pretty cool though!

There is a long history of digging into rock. India has incredible temples carved into rock. And in a hot place you might save on AC costs.

lol, definitly, but 100fte UNDERground is something way different.

I can most definitly see this happening tho' and many people going for it too.

The nice thing is that skyscrapers block the sun, too, but this would not block it for anyone except those in the building

Don't miners already do this?

jone70 said:

No, I need access to natural sunlight at home and at work.

'It is an inverted pyramid with a central void to allow all habitable spaces to enjoy natural lighting and ventilation.

Nope. Mildly claustrophobic. I'm not sure I'd do well driving in a long underground tunnel, let's not talking about the underwater tunnel. Heck that thing at sea world makes me a bit uneasy and it's beautiful to look at. Heights, no problem.

Then again if something like that existed close by my curiousity would get the better of me and I'd have to try just once.

sextonseven said:

jone70 said:

No, I need access to natural sunlight at home and at work.

'It is an inverted pyramid with a central void to allow all habitable spaces to enjoy natural lighting and ventilation.

Details! I think it would still be dark; how would the sunlight reach to the back of the offices? Or if the sun was in the east how would the east side get light? (Because the sun would be 'behind' that side of the building.)

the design is definitely better than a straight hole in the ground, and a few places would certainly get a bit of light, but I still think a lot of it would be very dark

The inverted pyramid design is supposed to allow sunlight to reach down all the way.

Hell no cuz then some renegade employee motivated by greed will come into the facility and steal samples of the biological weapon/virus the company is working on and then as he leaves he will purposely toss one of the vials on the floor thus breaking it and releasing the deadly virus (which is air borne mind you) into the air. This will set off the alarm which will seal any and all exits to the underground facility and then the master computer will release a neurological gas to make us all pass out. By the time we awake...we're all freakin' zombies trying to eat the flesh of the rescue team and spread the deadly virus to the outside population. NO THANK YOU!

How are you supposed to get cell phone or wifi service?

HotGritz said:

Hell no cuz then some renegade employee motivated by greed will come into the facility and steal samples of the biological weapon/virus the company is working on and then as he leaves he will purposely toss one of the vials on the floor thus breaking it and releasing the deadly virus (which is air borne mind you) into the air. This will set off the alarm which will seal any and all exits to the underground facility and then the master computer will release a neurological gas to make us all pass out. By the time we awake...we're all freakin' zombies trying to eat the flesh of the rescue team and spread the deadly virus to the outside population. NO THANK YOU!

Put down the Xbox and step away from that Resident Evil game...

Revolution said:

How are you supposed to get cell phone or wifi service?

PurpleJedi said:

HotGritz said:

Hell no cuz then some renegade employee motivated by greed will come into the facility and steal samples of the biological weapon/virus the company is working on and then as he leaves he will purposely toss one of the vials on the floor thus breaking it and releasing the deadly virus (which is air borne mind you) into the air. This will set off the alarm which will seal any and all exits to the underground facility and then the master computer will release a neurological gas to make us all pass out. By the time we awake...we're all freakin' zombies trying to eat the flesh of the rescue team and spread the deadly virus to the outside population. NO THANK YOU!

Put down the Xbox and step away from that Resident Evil game...

I love me some Resident Evil. That is just the type of shit that would happen too. No reason to have a facility underground unless you are planning to do some major wrong above ground. Historic Centre needs and upgrade.

The truth shall be revealed when this facility starts employing scientists and agricultural specialists and the "city" housing will be available only to military personnel and those who meet certain "genetic" requirements. Yeah this some bullshit here.

Doesn't the earth keep "shifting" ?

The earth underneath us moves... if it moves then after about 50 years or so wouldn't this structure get leaks, cracks, settlement...... and if an earthquake hits!???

Think of pipes bursting, electrical wires that work the elevators go offline... and you may be stuck down there.

It's like when they thought the big dig was a great idea.... now the Atlantic is leaking its way in.

We just never learn do we?

I definitely would like to see a building like that though

So what is up top? Is there something to keep people from falling to their deaths?

HotGritz said:

PurpleJedi said:

Put down the Xbox and step away from that Resident Evil game...

I love me some Resident Evil. That is just the type of shit that would happen too. No reason to have a facility underground unless you are planning to do some major wrong above ground. Historic Centre needs and upgrade.

The truth shall be revealed when this facility starts employing scientists and agricultural specialists and the "city" housing will be available only to military personnel and those who meet certain "genetic" requirements. Yeah this some bullshit here.

I gots fam in Mexico City.

When the zombie apocalypse hits, I'm headed to the earthscraper!

Wanna come?

What will they do with all their trash because we obviously are having a hard enough time recycling as it is and we have plenty if not too many landfills. I still think something wicked is being plotted. This proposed structure is just a cover for something sinister.

NDRU said:

I definitely would like to see a building like that though

So what is up top? Is there something to keep people from falling to their deaths?

GLASS.

...and a giant flagpole.

PurpleJedi said:

NDRU said:

I definitely would like to see a building like that though

So what is up top? Is there something to keep people from falling to their deaths?

GLASS.

...and a giant flagpole.

Pretty wild!

PurpleJedi said:

HotGritz said:

I love me some Resident Evil. That is just the type of shit that would happen too. No reason to have a facility underground unless you are planning to do some major wrong above ground. Historic Centre needs and upgrade.

The truth shall be revealed when this facility starts employing scientists and agricultural specialists and the "city" housing will be available only to military personnel and those who meet certain "genetic" requirements. Yeah this some bullshit here.

I gots fam in Mexico City.

When the zombie apocalypse hits, I'm headed to the earthscraper!

Wanna come?

When the apocalypse hits I think we should retreat to colder climate. It has been proven that zombies don't like cold weather. You never see zombies in Antarctica or Siberia.