Race for skyscrapers
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-12-01 07:37
The ground-breaking on Saturday of the 632-meter Shanghai Center symbolizes that blind worship and race for skyscrapers has reached a new high.
The dragon-shaped structure, to open in 2014, will dwarf its two landmark neighbors: the 492-meter Shanghai World Financial Center, inaugurated just in August, and the 420-meter Jinmao Tower, completed in 1999. It will be a milestone in turning Shanghai into a less pleasant concrete jungle, considering the 4,000 high-rise buildings built in Shanghai in the last three decades, more than any other city in the world.
For many, skyscrapers represent modernity and future. That is why many Chinese cities have shown an extraordinary zest in reaching out to the sky in the last decade, regardless of the many drawbacks of super-tall structures.
While an excessive number of tall buildings is cited as one of the major reasons for Shanghai sinking, this 121-storey tower will make the city subside faster. No wonder this has caused grave concern over the safety of the city's high-rise buildings and the labyrinth of its subway system.
The super structure, which could accommodate tens of thousands of people, will also add more pressure to the congested traffic in the Lujiazui area, the financial hub in Pudong, where commuting is already nightmarish during rush hours.
The urban heat island effect, caused by dense high-rises in the area, is also set to deteriorate, making Shanghai's sultry summer even less bearable.
Of course, there is always the safety issue regarding skyscrapers. They are much more vulnerable to various attacks, disasters, and evacuation would usually take too much time.
The risk regarding the 14.8-billion-yuan astronomical investment, to be shared by three State-owned enterprises, is also a big concern, since super skyscrapers are less efficient in economic terms. The Jinmao Tower, for example, has to digest a daily operation cost of over 1 million yuan.
Although investors of the Shanghai Center claim that the construction of the building will help stimulate domestic consumption, the money could still be better spent elsewhere on so many priorities.
Shanghai is in urgent need to rescue its historical architectures, which are still being ruthlessly demolished. The city also needs more money to upgrade its bus system to make its public transportation more convenient, comfortable and environment-friendly.
The metropolis also calls for more services for its gray population, ranging from community cultural, sports and recreation facilities to nursing homes, since 20 percent of its population is now over the age 60, the fastest aging city in the country.
Building super skyscrapers is not a priority for Shanghai. It could cause more harm than add to its glamor.
周六632米的“上海中心”摩天大楼破土动工。象征对高楼的盲目崇拜与竞赛已达到一个新的高度。
该楼为龙形结构，将在2014年开放，届时将与另外两个比它矮一些的大楼为邻：一个是刚刚于今年8月落成的492米的上海环球金融中心，
另一个是于1999年完成的420米的金茂大。这将是一个里程碑。把上海建成令人不愉快的的水泥丛林。考虑到在在过去三十年中在上海建立4000座高层建筑，比世界上任何城市的高层建筑都要多。
对于许多人来说，摩天大楼代表着现代和未来。这就是为什么过去十年中中国的许多城市已经对向高空发展显示出非凡的热情，即使是许多弊端的超高层结构。
虽然过多的高楼大厦被视为导致上海下沉一个主要原因，这121层的塔楼将使城市消失得更快。难怪这些高层建筑和迷宫一样的地铁系统已经引起对城市安全的关注。
超级的建筑结构，可容纳数万人，这也将增加更多的压力，拥挤的交通中心的陆家嘴地区以及浦东的金融中心，在上下班的繁忙时间已经成为大家的恶梦。
在该地区建立密集的高楼大厦将会造成使得城市热岛效应更加恶化，使得上海的闷热的夏天更加难以忍受。
当然，还有始终成为城市安全隐患的摩天大楼。他们更容易受到各种攻击，灾害，疏散人群通常会需要太多的时间。
另外一个方面就是风险。14.8亿人民币的天文投资，由三个国有企业分享，也是值得关注的，因为超级摩天大楼经济效益不是立竿见影的。例如，金茂大厦例每天的营运成本超过1亿元。
尽管投资者声称：上海中心的建设将有助于刺激国内的消费，但这些钱仍然可以更好地用于其他更迫切需要的地方。
上海迫切需要的是拯救的历史建筑，这仍然在被无情地摧毁着。该市还需要更多的钱升级其公交系统，使公共交通更加方便，舒适，环境宜人。
大都市还应呼吁为老年人口提供更多的服务，从社区文化，体育及康乐设施到养老院，因为现在百分之二十的人口是年龄超过60岁，老龄化速度最快的城市就在该国。
建设超级摩天楼不是上海应该优先考虑的问题。最终将会导致弊大于利。
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发表于 2008-12-6 09:56
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