1. 3.4 Buildings
By Lau Wei Ling
Buildings at urban zone are buildings in the core of a city or
metropolitan.
By investigating the chosen site, Times Square area, I
discover features of the building in the city are different.
Building Functions
The buildings at urban zone have multiple functions. Living,
working, eating, resting, leisure and entertainment, tourism and
commercial activities, industrial and management are all focus in
the Times Square area. The Times Square building is a 48 storeys
twin tower to provide sufficient space to carry out different
occasions. The Times Square building has more than 1000 suites,
over 1000 of retails stores, leisure theme park, cinemas and food
outlets to provide convenient shopping and entertainment for the
tourists.
2. To fulfil all the requirements, the buildings at the Times
Square area are mostly skyscrapers that envelopes different type of
units.
Figure 3.4.1
Facilities provided by Times Square building.
Figure 3.4.2
Skyscrapers in Times Square area.
3. Building Materials
As the buildings in Times Square area are skyscrapers and
large building, which require strong steel framework for their
building support. The requirement toward professional workmanship
and materials also increased. Steel framework is the steel structure
of the building.
Figure 3.4.3
Steel
Framework
For construction of skyscraper, strong framework and good
engineering can help to build a building without requiring too many
expensive materials. While the concretes, glass and steel are still
the main materials to be used in the construction of building in
modern area.
4. Building Features
Due to high density of people in the urbanised area, buildings
are built more than 30 floors to support the huge capacity of
residents. The extremely high priced land costs boost the
construction of skyscraper for partition of the costs of the housing
units. Skyscrapers serve smaller lands and bigger space in the
urban core area like Times Square.
Figure 3.4.4
A view of
Times Square
building from
the bottom.
Urbanised area is a place that is highly developed with
constructions in which green plants are rarely found in the places.
The buildings in urban zone are encourage for not using too much
glasses as it will absorb heat and increase the indoor temperature.
The buildings are equipped with air-conditioner to regulate the
temperature inside. Green Building Codes are also introduced to
the construction industry in this city.
5. Figure 3.4.5
Panaroma View of Times Square Area (source: flickr)
Architecture
The buildings at Times Square area highlight the architecture
for aesthetic value and attraction especially when Times Square is
one of the famous tourist spots. The skyscrapers at Times Square
also focus on architecture so the building would be eye-catchy to
attract attentions from the shoppers and tourists. The buildings at
this area are focusing on contemporary architecture, modern
designs or even futuristic and unique architecture.
Figure 3.4.6
The Ceiling of Time
Square shows architecture.
