Groundscraper
Contents |
[edit] Overview
The term ‘Groundscraper’ can be used to refer to a building that extends horizontally over a large distance while only being of a low to medium height. The term can also be used, along with ‘earthscraper’, to describe buildings that are constructed below ground level.
One of the early instances of a building being labeled a groundscraper was the 1930s Merchandise Mart in Chicago, which, having a 372,000 sq m floor area was almost 50% bigger than the Empire State Building.
There are several notable groundscraper projects:
[edit] New Century Global Centre, Chengdu, China
With 1.7 million sq m of floor area, this multi-purpose shopping mall is the world’s largest building in terms of floor space.
[edit] Intercontinental Shimao Shanghai Wonderland, China
This hotel complex is the first to be built below ground level, descending by 19 storeys into a disused quarry.
[edit] The Pentagon, Arlington County, USA
One of the largest and most famous groundscraper buildings, this military complex has around 600,000 sq m of floor space.
For more information, see The Pentagon.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- 7 Engineering Wonders of the World.
- Architectural styles.
- Google King's Cross campus.
- High-rise building.
- Megatall.
- New York Horizon.
- Skyscraper.
- Super-slender.
- Tallest buildings in the world.
- The Big Bend, New York.
- The history of fabric structures.
- The Pentagon.
- Types of building.
[edit] External references
Featured articles and news
Read about RSHP's British Museum extension which has been shortlisted for the 2017 Stirling Prize.
Read our introductory article to building a house extension.
More updates from DCMS about the large-scale testing of cladding systems and the number of buildings affected.
UandI secure resolution to grant planning consent for major new regeneration project.
Infrastructure and the historic environment
IHBC article considers how heritage is dealt with when infrastructure schemes are authorised.
It was the tallest structure in the world for 3,800 years, but to this day the exact construction techniques are a mystery.
Shortlist for the industry's most coveted award announced.
Government responds to Mark Farmer's review of industry, rejecting the call for a levy on clients.
Peter Hansford to examine what wider lessons can be learned from the fire.
Every project is subject to uncertainty. How can construction better understand uncertainty for performance improvement?
MAD Architects reveal their designs for a futuristic campus for electric car manufacturer.
Homebuyers could borrow more with better forecasting of energy bills, according to industry consortium's new report.
Read our introductory article on carbon capture and storage.
Grenfell Tower articles updated daily
