D00d! That Building's Taking a Nap!

[Tuckerfan]

13 story building in China just literally falls over! (http://gizmodo.com/5304233/entire-new-13+story-building-tips-over-in-shanghai/gallery/)

http://cache-foo.gizmodo.com/gawker/assets/images/4/2009/06/504x_timber2.jpg

[HenrikOlsen]

Original material is licensed under a Creative Commons License permitting non-commercial sharing with attribution.
Copyright shouldn't be a problem, the article is clearly attributed through the link, and the legalese on the site does not prevent hotlinking.

Additionally, it's a fairly small image.

[Argos]

There are two identical buildings in the vicinity still standing. The propects don´t seem so good, eh?

[Metricyard]

On the bright side, you won't have to walk up a long flight of stairs to get to top floors.:shifty:

[korjik]

I am not sure that I shoud be horrified that the building fell over, or impressed that it fell over intact.

[HenrikOlsen]

I'd suggest both.

[Trebuchet]

Looks like they just built it right on top of the ground with no site preparation at all other than a few shallow pilings that pulled right out. As Argos said, the prospects for the similar buildings don't appear too bright.

[novaderrik]

that's why we have those pesky rules that we call "building codes" over here..

[Tuckerfan]

that's why we have those pesky rules that we call "building codes" over here..
Stupid government regulations interfering with my right to have a shoddily constructed house! ;)

[Celestial Mechanic]

D00d! That Building's Taking a Nap!
Looks to me like it's pining for the fjords ... :lol:

[Metricyard]

Stupid government regulations interfering with my right to have a shoddily constructed house! ;)

Actually, the building itself looks in good shape.
The foundation, not so good.

It is pretty amazing that the building stayed together.

[Trebuchet]

Actually, the building itself looks in good shape.
The foundation, not so good.

It is pretty amazing that the building stayed together.

Even the foundation doesn't look so bad. It just wasn't attached to the earth!

[Bearded One]

Looks like the wiindows on the (now) top half didn't even break.

[JMV]

Shanghai Daily articles on the collapse:
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2009/200907/20090701/article_405989.htm#
A large amount of dirt from the garage excavation was piled up alongside the building, and the weight of the dirt combined with heavy rain apparently caused the building's foundation to shift and the structure to tip over.

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/?id=406263&type=Metro
Workers piled excavated earth up to 10 meters high on the north side of the building at Lotus Riverside complex while digging a 4.6-meter underground garage at the same time.

The pressure on both sides moved the foundations horizontally and they were unable to support the building, Huang Rong, director of the Shanghai Construction and Communication Commission, told a packed press conference.

[Ara Pacis]

So, they thought the building would act as a huge retaining wall?

[HenrikOlsen]

Basically they though the pile of dirt would stay where it was put.

It's not everyone who's trained to think of earth as a (very thick) liquid.

[Nicolas]

Looks to me like it's pining for the fjords ... :lol:

:lol:

It appears to me the Norwegian Pink prefers keeping on it's back?

[Celestial Mechanic]

Looks to me like it's pining for the fjords ... :lol:

It appears to me the Norwegian Pink prefers kipping on its back?
And it would still be standing if only they had nailed it to the bedrock! :)

[TrAI]

:think:

I suppose that if they just clear out a bit in and around the building, and perhaps see to it that it is secure, it could be made in to an hotel and/or a tourist attraction or something of that sort..

[Ara Pacis]

They could use it for film and ad shoots. I can see it now... "Has your laxative got you feeling sideways?"

[Nicolas]

I suppose that if they just clear out a bit in and around the building, and perhaps see to it that it is secure, it could be made in to an hotel

Perhaps that was already the idea before it fell over.

[Nicolas]

I've heard that they recorded the clip for Dancing on the Ceiling at this location. ;)

[mugaliens]

It is pretty amazing that the building stayed together.

I'll bet the insides didn't fare as well...