The Earthscraper: A 65-Story Building Buried Under Mexico City

Category: General News
Posted: October 9, 2011 05:16PM
Author: edwardquilo

Instead of building a skyscraper from the ground up, BNKR Arquitectura has proposed the complete opposite: to build an inverted building 300-meters deep, underneath Mexico City's surface. The firm explains that Mexico City is in dire need of new infrastructure for business and living space, but the scarcity of available land to build on has made this a problem. Local laws also make it difficult, as new structures are limited to a height of only eight stories.

As such, BNKR Arquitectura's ambitious solution is to build the Earthscraper, a massive 65-story skyscraper deep below the metropolis of Mexico City. The first half of the Earthscraper is planned to house a museum containing Aztec and Mayan artifacts, as well as retail and housing space, while the remaining 35 stories below will be used for office space. The firm will construct it in the appearance of "an inverted pyramid with a central void," which provides access to natural lighting and ventilation for all its 65-floor residents down to the lowest levels. Construction of the building would not impede daily city activities, as the colossal hole in which it will be built under is going to be covered with a glass floor. A potential obstacle is the danger of earthquakes, but for now it appears that the Earthscraper hasn't been given the go signal yet.

So how do you guys feel about going to work 220 meters below the surface?