Professional Documents
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Future Directions The Development Tall Buildings: FOR OF
Future Directions The Development Tall Buildings: FOR OF
PETER AYRES
Ove Arup & Partners HK Ltd.
average investment amongst mature US industries and team. Our approach must be interdisciplinary at all
probably typical of industry worldwide. levels.
If we can truly face up to these challenges then we
4. Areas for Development can believe in a sustainable future for our developing
We all need to make changes in the way that we cities.
approach these projects in the future. There follow some
5. Actions
examples of opportunities we have and things that we
should do better. In order to maximize the benefits that can come from
Understanding - we now have sophisticated readily the huge challenge of the construction of taller and taller
available modeling and analysis software to help us city towers and to ensure that the legacy we leave
understand static, dynamic, social and succeeding generations is responsible and sustainable
environmental issues. This better understanding has we all need to take action:
to be translated into more refined approaches Governments - need to formulate planning
including regulatory ones. approaches which recognize that whole new
Form - we no longer have to be constrained by communities are being created. These should
simple forms, although I do not advocate encourage multi-use and social integration.
complexity for it’s own sake. The form of our Owners - must understand that these buildings are
buildings can now respond to their function. very long term investments for society and they
Habitat - super-tall buildings will need to house need to be able to respond to the inevitable changes
communities, places to live, work and play. We in use, technology and expectation.
must recognise that a single building could Regulators - must develop methods which
represent a “township” of 50000 people. encourage innovation and new techniques. In many
Materials - we must be seriously exploring the use cases this will involve a significant change in
of new materials and construction systems for our mindset which will need to be explained to society.
industry as well as continuing to develop our Educators - must understand the big picture for
existing ones. We must have a more open mind to which they are preparing their students, the role
new ideas. these students will aspire to play and the need for
Energy - we must identify the real needs of users much better interdisciplinary and social
as opposed to their desires and use the most energy understanding.
efficient methods to deliver. Green and sustainable Construction industry, builders and designers -
have to underpin our future projects. must respond to the opportunity by becoming
People Movement - we will have to integrate better braver and making a very significant increase in its
the various uses within our tall townships using commitment to R&D, the costs of which must be
current technology and developing new. We must accepted by society at large.
consider the social needs of the users. A new millennium is a grand opportunity to take
Security - we must adopt a performance based stock. We have two choices:
approach to robustness and means of escape. Proper Carry on as we are making small incremental
management plans, training and communications improvements and developments - we can see
systems must be in place. We must properly where we will be in 50 years and it won’t be very
understand risks and offer practical solutions. impressive I’m sure.
Adaptability - we need to take current multi-use Rise to this challenge now and together, and it has
concepts forward to allow for future change in both to be together, start to make a real difference to this
use and technology throughout the building’s life. vital industry of ours.
We must recognize that these projects will have a I hope we can take the second of these. It will of
huge impact on society over a very long period. course benefit the whole industry but such change is
Integration - these very complex projects will always best led by the greatest challenges in my view. If
require that we all work together constructively, we succeed even in small part society will be the richer
understanding and sharing the challenges as one
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