Skyscrapers Essay -- essays research papers

skyscraper architecture "http//www.coshe.com/search/" The architectural throw of the 20th century skyscrapers has been redefined repayable to the advancement of our untested-fashioned technology. Benny Louie Humanity 450 Dr. Maureen Schmid 17 May 1999 The architectural design of the 20th century skyscrapers has been redefined due to the advancement of our modern technology. In our modern society, the architectural design of skyscrapers is changing the downtown landscape of metropolitan areas. Due to the change of technologies, it has changed the architectural design of skyscraper dramatically in terms of the its function, design structures, warmth and cooling frames and it social status in society. The basic function of the architecture is to provide a roof over peoples head. The main purpose of architecture is to work as a harbor for people to protect themselves against Mother Nature. As civilization development advances, we increased our knowledge and became more c reative. People start to design buildings for means of displaying wealth and social status. The skyscraper fits the criteria to show the social status of such building with great height and elegance to the society. According to OGorman, architecture is a form language, of communication. (P.89) This communication is represented in the forms of texture, shape and style that reflects certain period of time. In the early period, architectures were associated with style and culture. The Greeks built marble temples with Doric, Ionic or Corinthian columns. Egyptian architecture used heavy lotus columns, massive battered walls and pyramidal forms. The Gothic style used point arch, vast areas of stained glasses, pointed rib-vault construction. (P. 92) Each had its unique characteristic feature to express its message. In the 20th century architectural design, architecture is no longer viewed as simple shelter to provide a roof over peoples head. Architectures are designed with a more environ mental conscious issue like cost, energy conservation and practicality of the structure. The interior(a) environment is designed according to the space function of the structures. For example, a dance hall, needs a large open-space with sufficient room for the band and a terminate and maybe for tables and chairs around the edge so that people can sit and chat. (Conway & Rowan) This concept always applies to real life s... ...e is a sense of prestigiousness for having offices or shops in these skyscrapers. Modern skyscrapers are being redefined by the use of advance technologies. Due to the advancement in technology, skyscrapers are able to reach new height easily. It changes the way architects design the structure of these buildings. The new function of the skyscraper is to provide great views, house antennas for communications, telebroadcasting and for entertainment purpose. The use of computer climate control system made the building a more comfortable environment for every one. The great height of the skyscraper like the Sears Tower, it associates itself with the prestige of being the tallest of all. With the rapid advancement of technology and the persuade of fame and wealth, sky is limit for the next generation of skyscrapers. Work cited Bennett, David. Skyscrapers Form & Function New York 1995 Conway, Hazel and Rowan, Roenisch. Understanding Architecture An introduction to Architecture and architectural History. London and New York Routledge 1994. OGorman, James. ABC of Architecture Philadelphia University of Pennsylvania Press, 1998 Online www.infoplease.com May 15, 1999 Word Count 1429

A Meteor will Strike the Earth and Destroy All Life Forms Essay

A Meteor will Strike the solid ground and Destroy All Life FormsWith millions and millions of meteors hurtling well-nigh in oursolar system, theres always a chance that one could pip Earth atany moment. But what would be the consequences and how wouldthe Earth be affected if one does happen to hit? If an object fromspace hit the sea, a huge tidal wave would be formed, hundreds ofmeters high, which would leave most(prenominal) of the world under water for aperiod of time, destroying and killing everything in its way. Thiswould have a catastrophic effect on the Earth, as most peoplewould be killed, and leaving countries powerless, unable to doanything. Crops would also be destroyed, starvation would kill allof the survivors, homes would be washed away leaving no shelters,and without hospitals or medication disease would spread quicklykilling even more people. As it can be seen, the effects of ameteorite hitting the sea would only cause a temporary, yetcatastrophic flooding. Thoug h a direct impact on the ice capscould cause a larger weighing machine of destruction. The caps would melt,increasing the sea level a few hundred meters high. On the otherhand, if an object from space hit land, it would cause a huge join of dust and dirt to be thrown into the atmosphere. Thisdust would stay in the atmosphere for many long time and would blockout the sun, causing the Earth to turn back into a darkness, as well asleaving many consequences on the planet. Crops would fail due tothe lack of light, which would cause massive starvation and death. It would be tough to breathe without special masks to filter outthe dust. With no sunlight or heat, being able to penetrate theatmosphere, the overall world temperature would fall dramatically,causing a possible ice age to occur. - Death in June (Discoverpage 16). With all the facts and governmental resource, there is agood chance that a meteor could hit the earth at any momentcausing the world to endOver the millions of years that Earth has existed, there havebeen billions of meteors that hit, but of all the ones that hit,scientists think that they were not Earth threatening. Themost recent meteor that struck Earth, that caused serious vituperate,was on the morning on June 30, 1908 in Siberia. When it hit, it hadthe force of a 20-megaton nuclear bomb. The smash causednearly a t... ...ll 100 or more people. They also feel that 1,000 people ormore would get killed once in every 1,000,000 years due to ameteor. Just to warn you, there hasnt been a major strike thatkilled that many people or left serious damage to Earth in a fewmillion years. The last time a meteor caused great damage was inprehistoric time when a meteor weighting about 132,000 poundslanded in Southwest Africa. That meteor is the biggest one thatscientists ever found on Earth. Sadly for us though, there bemillions of meteors that are hundreds of times bigger then the onethat hit in Southwest Africa. Just imagine the damage that couldoccu r if one does hitIn conclusion, a meteor will hit the Earth in the near futuredestroying the human race and every other form of life on Earth. It probably wont happen in the next ten years, but maybesomewhere between the next hundred to thousand years. thitherhave been many meteors that have struck the Earths surface, andtheres still millions of huge ones out there. Probably the only good intelligence regarding a meteor hitting the Earth, is that both theGovernment and NASA are working on many ideas to prevent itfrom happening.