Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

A 47-story Spanish skyscraper forgets the elevator
www.smartplanet.com ^ | August 8, 2013, 1:28 PM PDT | By Tyler Falk

Posted on 08/09/2013 12:40:53 PM PDT by Red Badger

In China they’re building the second-tallest skyscraper in the world with the world’s fastest elevators, stark contrast with Spain where, apparently, elevators in skyscrapers can’t be taken for granted.

At least not in The Intempo skyscraper in Benidorm, Spain, according to Gizmodo’s Jamie Condliffe:

Initially designed to be a mere 20 storeys tall, the developers got over-excited and pushed the height way up: now it boasts 47 storeys, and will include 269 homes.

But that push for more accommodation came at a cost. The original design obviously included specifications for an elevator big enough for a 20-storey building. In the process of scaling things up, however, nobody thought to redesign the elevator system—and, naturally, a 47-storey building requires more space for its lifts and motor equipment. Sadly, that space doesn’t exist.

Ouch. Can we assume there are at least stairs?

It’s hardly a surprise though. The project has had its share of issues from the builder going bankrupt in 2009 (when the project was originally supposed to be completed) to an elevator collapse that injured several workers. And while the tower is 94 percent complete with a new projected end date of December 2013, only 35 percent of apartments have been sold, El Pais reports.

The project is part of a skyscraper-building boom in the city, earning it the nickname “Beniyork.” But it hardly seems to be following a similar trajectory as New York.

Instead, as El Pais points out, the project is a good symbol for the country’s economy, just not the way it was intended. “The building meant to symbolize an era is just that - a symbol for an era of excess.”


TOPICS: Society; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: costablanca; euro; europe; oops; spain; stupidpeople
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061 next last
To: Red Badger

Reminiscent of American democrats. “Elevators that don’t go all the way to the top”. Particularly mayor Bloomberg.


41 posted on 08/09/2013 2:15:29 PM PDT by BerryDingle (I know how to deal with communists, I still wear their scars on my back from Hollywood-Ronald Reagan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

bookmark


42 posted on 08/09/2013 2:15:31 PM PDT by sport
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger; All
This story misses the point. It doesn't matter whether the building has lifts or not. The purpose of this exercise was NEVER to build something of use. The sole purpose was to line the pockets of corrupt politicians and corrupt developers with other people's money. It is just another stunning example of why Spain (with the rest of the EU close behind) is in the mess it is today.

See: Ciudad Real Airport – a massive white elephant – that sits abandoned in central Spain http://www.airportwatch.org.uk/?p=548

What's realy sad about Ciudad Real Airport is that to build it they had to bull-doze countless small farms, ruining much local agriculture and saddling the locals (who opposed the construction) with a massive debt as well.
43 posted on 08/09/2013 2:28:50 PM PDT by Mr Radical
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger
How do you say 'OOPS!' in Spanish?

LA MIGRA!

44 posted on 08/09/2013 2:38:10 PM PDT by Utilizer (Ba-con Ah'hkkba'aar! <- In muzlim world, men are men, and goats are nervous. ->)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger
New 'Health' Plan: Deliberately 'Slow' Elevators Make People Climb Stairs (Bloomberg)

Why slow the elevators when you can eliminate them?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?1/1/1/1?1?! Other than the obvious discrimination against those with Different Abilities, this would be a wonderful plan!!!!!!11!

45 posted on 08/09/2013 2:39:30 PM PDT by Lonely Bull
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Advertise that the top floors are only accessible by helipad, the stupid rich will eat it up. Where’s Matt Damon?


46 posted on 08/09/2013 2:51:35 PM PDT by Teflonic
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

This sounds like the new elevator-less building will be imploded soon. It can’t be reasonably fixed, so tear it down and start over.


47 posted on 08/09/2013 3:10:28 PM PDT by MasterGunner01
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

A while back, maybe a couple of years ago, there was an article that I found to be fascinating, in it the author showed a direct correlation to the state of a nation’s economy and the height of the Skyscrapers that were being built.

In particular was one statistic that showed that whatever country built the ‘Tallest’ skyscraper was also the next one to experience a severe economic downturn. I know that that one doesn’t apply here to this Spanish skyscraper. On the other hand it is a pretty unusual design for one too. Let’s just place it in the ‘special’ category.


48 posted on 08/10/2013 5:23:06 AM PDT by The Working Man
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

49 posted on 08/10/2013 5:27:07 AM PDT by Lazamataz (Early 2009 to 7/21/2013 - RIP my little girl Cathy. You were the best cat ever. You will be missed.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger
Would not be too difficult to build external escalators that would run up the sides. I doubt very much that the engineers "forgot" about the elevators. People are just too gullible about what they read on the internet.

This is actually a very attractive building.

50 posted on 08/10/2013 10:29:47 AM PDT by SamAdams76
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

I believe the technical term for being unable to surface is called “ sinking”.


51 posted on 08/10/2013 12:15:54 PM PDT by Kozak ("Send them back your fierce defiance! Stamp upon the cursed alliance! To arms, to arms.....")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

52 posted on 08/10/2013 12:25:02 PM PDT by blam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: blam
Not sure if I like that *Log Splitter* design.
53 posted on 08/10/2013 12:29:42 PM PDT by The Cajun (Sarah Palin, Mark Levin, Ted Cruz......Nuff said.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: blam

Many years ago in New Jersey they had a problem with the sewer in a fancy new office building that was only a year or so old. Turns out they had got the sewer pipes all the way out to within 20 feet of the main line during early construction, but for what ever reason were supposed to not connect until the project was near the end. Except they forgot to make the connection!

I don’t recall if it was a year or not, but I do know I was surprised at how long it took to fill up the sewer pipes to the point of not flushing and backing up into the building!


54 posted on 08/10/2013 12:32:30 PM PDT by 21twelve ("We've got the guns, and we got the numbers" adapted and revised from Jim M.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger
Guess it's time to build that Transporter Room!


55 posted on 08/10/2013 12:32:57 PM PDT by COBOL2Java (I'm a Christian, pro-life, pro-gun, Reaganite. The GOP hates me. Why should I vote for them?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Sigh....it’s a hoax....

“THAT STORY about the Spanish skycraper, the tallest residential building in the EU whose builders forgot the elevator? Another hoax.”

http://barcepundit-english.blogspot.com/2013/08/that-story-about-spanish-skycraper.html


56 posted on 08/13/2013 6:03:47 AM PDT by JoeDetweiler
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JoeDetweiler

Gizmodo got it wrong! Who’da thunk it?!?!?!?!................


57 posted on 08/13/2013 6:36:07 AM PDT by Red Badger (Want to be surprised? Google your own name......Want to have fun? Google your friend's names........)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: JoeDetweiler

Technically not a ‘hoax’ per se, in that it was unintentional, just really bad communications.................


58 posted on 08/13/2013 6:37:25 AM PDT by Red Badger (Want to be surprised? Google your own name......Want to have fun? Google your friend's names........)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: JoeDetweiler
I'm told that several American TV crews (CNN, CBS etc) arrived yesterday in Benidorm to cover the story. If so, the trip's gonna be wasted...

They got 'punked' but the crews got a free Spanish vacation...............

59 posted on 08/13/2013 6:39:37 AM PDT by Red Badger (Want to be surprised? Google your own name......Want to have fun? Google your friend's names........)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

“They got ‘punked’ but the crews got a free Spanish vacation...............”

I suspect that is what lies at the bottom of a lot of UFO hoaxes etc ;-)


60 posted on 08/13/2013 6:42:46 AM PDT by JoeDetweiler
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson