The population of Mexico continues to grow. To provide housing for all in need, the authorities are building cities with sparkling skyscrapers that obscure the skyline.
BNKR Arquitectura engineers decided to take a different route and developed the concept of a multi-storey building located underground. The house, dubbed "earth scraper", will be located under the Constitution Square, and its top will be decorated with a huge Mexican flag. The roof must let in enough sunlight to illuminate every nook and cranny of the building. The walls of an underground skyscraper are able to withstand soil pressure, and the earth will provide increased thermal insulation, which will require much less resources to heat the building.
The shape of the house resembles an inverted pyramid with a height of 300 meters and 65 floors. This construction is an interpretation of ancient Aztec architecture. 30 floors are dedicated to apartments, shops and museums, while the remaining 35 will be used as office space. The building will house a cultural center dedicated to the history and traditions of the country. It is also planned to equip public areas in which you can take a short break from the bustle of the city.
The architects from BNKR Arquitectura were prompted to design the earth-scraper by a typical problem in megacities - the lack of sites suitable for construction. The founder of the bureau, Esteban Suarez, said: “The historic center of the city is in desperate need of a makeover, but there is simply nowhere to place new buildings. The only way left to move is down."
However, while the "earth scraper" exists only on paper. Many factors can hinder the implementation of the project … For example, increased seismic activity, typical for the region. Experts ask the question: will the building be able to withstand an earthquake? If the walls fall, then people will remain trapped from which they cannot get out.
Similar concerns were raised in 1931, when Japanese architects presented the idea of a 35-story, cylindrical underground structure made up of steel frames. They assured that such a building is not afraid of seismic shocks. Then the project was never implemented due to technical difficulties. Perhaps the Mexican earth scraper has a more optimistic future.
