|
What is a Skyscraper?
When you hear the word 'skyscraper', what do you think of? Webster Dictionary
defines it as "a very tall building".
However, the word skyscraper was a nautical term for the tall sail on a sailing
ship.
Today’s image of a skyscraper in our urban society is that of a mega structure
rising to the sky that can only be found in a world class city such as Hong Kong
or New York.
People must remember time as it was in the late 1800s, when 'tall buildings'
were just first introduced. As buildings reached six floors and above, a problem
arose—water pressure. Normal city lines were not adequate to supply a whole
building. To fix this problem, water tanks were installed on the tops of
buildings taller than five floors (about 50 ft, 15m). The word 'skyscraper' was
then assigned to these buildings over six floors.
It was also very impractical to make people walk up all those stairs. The
invention of the elevator was needed.
The structural make-up is different for skyscrapers. Buildings not exceeding
four floors can be supported by their walls alone; while skyscrapers, as they
are taller and heavier have to be supported by large a large network of steel
and concrete known as a skeletal frame. The walls then hang from this skeletal
frame.
People do not normally think of the 'shorter' buildings being 'skyscrapers', but
really if they are over six floors, they are. You never know, there could be a
skyscraper right around the corner from you!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First Skyscraper, Home Insurance Building
Debatably, the first skyscraper erected is the Home Insurance Building in
Chicago, which was 10 stories, supported by steel. In fact, the building weighed
1/3 of what it would have weighed if it had been constructed from stone.
In 1890, two additional floors were built on top of the original 10-story
building.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tallest Vs. Highest
We would like to set the record straight about the following grammatical error
that often comes up when talking about skyscrapers. There is a fine difference
between the highest and the tallest building. Let us explain:
By definition:
Highest - "Having a relatively great elevation"
Tallest - "Having a specified height: a plant three feet tall.''
This is meaning height is in elevation terms and tallest is meaning the distance
from the top to the bottom of the structure itself.
Here's an example:
B is higher than A, but A is taller than B
So if someone says the Taipei 101 is the highest building in the world, they are
incorrect. There are many other buildings with higher elevations.
|