FX.co ★ "Miscalculated!": huge mistakes of architects

Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles

The sight of Los Angeles, according to the architect's plan, was originally lined with steel panels. It was not the best solution, because the metal reflected the sun's rays, and the residents of neighboring houses suffered from the heat in the apartments. Moreover, the pavement was heated to 60°C. As a result, the builders had to change the faсade several times.

Wooden Amphitheater in Fidenah

Not far from Rome, in the city of Fidena, an amphitheater was built. In 27 AD many people came to the gladiatorial fights. The structure collapsed, and as a result, 20,000 people died. This case was a lesson for architects. And since then, when preparing projects, the weight that can be withstanded by the object is taken into account.

Tacoma Bridge in Washington State

This object became the most dramatic architect's mistake in the history of bridge construction.

Takoma Bridge was opened on July 1, 1940. The construction was immediately named "Gallopin' Gertie" since it moved vertically in windy conditions. Four months later, on November 7, 1940, at 11.00 am at a wind speed of about 65 km/h the bridge collapsed. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

The reason for the destruction was the underestimation of wind loads during the design of the structure. Since then, the approaches to the design of the large-span bridges in the world have been completely changed. The bridge was rebuilt.

Lotus Riverside in Shanghai

The Lotus Riverside residential complex in Shanghai consisted of eleven 13-story buildings. Under one of them, builders decided to dig an underground garage, this led to the fact that the house crashed from the one side, as a children's construction kit. The reason was a low-quality foundation.

Vdara Hotel in Las Vegas

Vdara Spa Hotel welcomed its first guests in 2009. Its unique design was conceived in such a way that the accumulated sunlight reflected towards the hotel pool. Because of this, the temperature of the water in the swimming pool often increased, and it was impossible to swim there. Some of the guests even received sunburns, and around the pool, the objects melted. Now the hotel is renovated.

Steel playground in Brooklyn

Designers sought to use a futuristic design and completely forgot that they are building a playground for children. So, almost all the constructions of the Pier One playground in Brooklyn were made of steel which heated in the sun to 50 degrees.

60-storey Plywood House

This is the tallest building in Boston which has a height of 241 meters, or 60 floors. Its construction was planned to be completed in 1971. But due to errors of architects and builders, this date was shifted by five years.

Firstly, the building did not withstand strong gusts of wind and so the skyscraper was very unsteady. Moreover, the people inside suffered from motion sickness.

Secondly, the townspeople avoided this house, fearing for their lives, as windows flew out of the skyscraper. The frames of the double-glazed windows were unsuitable for the large windows of the John Hancock's tower. It was decided to temporarily "sew" a skyscraper in plywood and replace all 10 thousand windows. The opening of the scandalously famous skyscraper took place in 1976.