the bird on fire

A “reality” that may be closer than you think

April 12, 2021 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

Blogger Roman takes inspiration from futuristic flicks as he peers into alternate realities. This future is full of safer and more advanced modes of transportation. Interested? Take a read, and find out more. –Alternate Realities Editor Hannah Hall

By Roman Rickwood

When you think of alternate realities, a common thought that comes to mind is virtual reality or sci-fi movies where life as we know it is unrecognizable. However, if we took certain aspects of life and advanced them even 50 years, much of how we live would change. For example, in most “alternate reality” movies, transportation is often the most advanced feature in the made-up world. However, what if we took the portrayal of transportation in these movies and implemented them into real life?

The Future of Transportation businessinsider.com

Think of our society today; the large majority of our society owns or has easy access to a car, motorcycle, or some form of transportation. However, when we watch these sci-fi and alternate-reality movies, we see very efficient methods of transportation such as air tubes, aerial mass transport vehicles, as well as connecting walking tunnels. All of these things have the same goal–mass transportation in the quickest and most efficient way possible. Living in Southern California, we all know and understand the horror of traffic and congested roads. Seriously, how many times have you been late or even missed something because of the traffic or congested roads??! Now, we do have mass transport systems in place in our world today such as subways, buses, trains, and planes. Most people, specifically people in California, do not rely on these systems of transportation because they are all too often late and inefficient. The culture in most parts of the United States is that each household has access to a form of transportation. With all that being said, try and even imagine our society and how we transport ourselves with even half of the technology shown in movies. Imagine a world where traffic did not exist and where you could rely on mass transportation to be both quick, effective, and most importantly reliable. A few major societal changes that could occur would be decrease in emissions and gasses, decrease of people on the roads, which would inevitably lead to a decrease in traffic-related accidents.

When you break down all these factors and see how many issues and accidents are caused by “outdated” modes of transportation, we see just how much an alternate reality of transportation would improve and help our world. We need a change, and we need it now.

Alternate Realities Editor: Hannah Hall

Alternate Versions of Superman

April 12, 2021 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s Superman! Blogger Erik describes the lives of four superbeings which all have strikingly similar characteristics to Superman. Are they good; are they evil? Read more to find out.–Alternate Realities Editor Hannah Hall

By Erik Bearman

*Warning: spoilers for Megamind, Brightburn, and Amazon Prime’s The Boys below.

Even if you’re not a comic-book fan, you’ve probably heard of Superman. He’s a modern-day paragon of truth, justice, and heroism and is inspiring to people inside his universe and in the real world. So, it shouldn’t surprise you to know that many artists have been inspired by the iconic superhero. Some spin-offs and allegories are just as heroic as the original. Others are flawed characters. And, some are straight up evil! When Hannah gave us the theme of “Alternate Realities,” I chose to write about these alternate supermen because it’s interesting how different characters, many flawed, use the same set of superpowers.

Sentry

First appearing in The Sentry #1 published July 19th, 2000, Sentry has become one of Marvel’s most powerful characters and has fought against and alongside heroes such as the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men.

Scientists working on Project Sentry were attempting to recreate the serum that granted Captain America his super strength. Many decades of failure were about to bring an end to the project. Until Robert “Bob” Reynolds broke into the laboratory and drank the serum. The serum granted him “the power of a million exploding suns” which included abilities such as flight, superhuman strength, and teleportation (marvel.fandom.com).

Over the past several years, Sentry has only grown more popular with the fanbase and even more powerful in the comics. His greatest threat is arguably the Void; an evil alternate personality implanted in Sentry’s brain by the villain Mastermind.

Metro Man

Megamind introduced us to the Metro Man; the beloved hero of Metro-City and certified baby kisser. Much like his rival Megamind, Metro Man’s planet was in danger of being swallowed by a black hole. So, Metro Man’s parents sent him offworld. Metro Man landed in an upper-class neighborhood and was adopted by a very wealthy family. Even as a child, Metro Man was adored by his community and was always the popular kid in school.

During his adulthood, Metro Man dueled with Megamind countless times and always won. But, one day, Metro Man got tired of being the hero. He realized he never had a choice to explore his dreams. In order to free himself, Metro Man faked his death during a fight with Megamind. While Megamind was busy wreaking havoc across the city, Metro Man was expanding his career as a musician. Megamind and Roxanne (Megamind’s version of Lois Lane) asked for Metro Man’s help in fighting Metro-City’s latest threat: Tighten. But Metro Man declined and continued his doomed career as a musician.

Brightburn

In the 2019 horror film Brightburn, Kyle and Tori Breyer wanted to have a child but were unsuccessful. One night, while attempting to overcome this problem, the Breyers heard a thunderous noise outside their farm. The couple investigates and finds an alien pod containing something that resembles a human baby. Finally happy that they’ll be able to raise a child, the Breyers hide the pod beneath their barn and raise the baby, which they name Brandon, as their own. The name “Brandon” is a possible reference to Brandon Routh, the actor who played Superman in Superman Returns.

For the most part, Brandon seems like a normal kid. He’s socially awkward, occasionally mouths off to his parents, and hides diagrams of human body parts under his bed. His parents pass these incidents off as typical teenage hormones. But, these are actually indicators of Brandon’s aggressive and cunning nature.

Things truly take a turn for the worse when Brandon wakes up in the middle of the night and hears mysterious voices commanding him to “Take the world.” After discovering and mastering his powers of super strength, laser vision, and invulnerability, Brandon begins a brutal killing streak across his hometown of Brightburn, Kansas. He eviscerates his family’s chickens, the mother of his childhood crush/best friend, several police officers, his own relatives, and finally, a passenger plane. In the end credits of the film, Brandon is revealed to be continuing his rampage across the U.S. with seemingly no way to stop him.

Another major hint of Brandon’s true nature comes earlier in the film in Brandon’s science class. Brandon describes how a species of parasitic wasp lays their eggs in other nests. The students respond by teasing Brandon for being a nerd, but this moment is further alluding to Brandon being sent to Earth for the purpose of taking over the planet.

Homelander

First appearing in The Boys comic book series written by Garth Ennis and illustrated by Darick Robertson, and later played by Anthony Starr in the Amazon Prime original series of the same name, Homelander is the paragon of heroism. He is the crown jewel of Vought International and dedicated to fighting for the peace, security, and freedom of the United States of America. There’s just one problem…

It’s all a lie.

These stories of a Clark Kent-like upbringing are fed to the public by Vought’s expert PR team. The sad reality is that, as a human infant, Homelander was subjected to experiments involving Compound-V: the volatile, superpower-gifting serum created by Vought scientists. With the goal of creating the world’s greatest superhero, Vought bred Homelander to be the ultimate weapon. But, they neglected to teach him lessons in empathy, humility, and modesty. Which has resulted in the arrogant, narcissistic, man-child that is Homelander.

Among the most heinous crimes (that we know of) Homelander has commited are the attack of Rebecca Butcher (wife of Homelander’s arch-nemisis Billy Butcher), intentionally letting a plane full of innocent people crash just so he could convinvce the government to allow “supes” in the military, and teaming up with the superpowered-nazi Stormfront.

As despicable a creature Homelander is, he was not born evil. Remember, Homelander was never raised with loving parents, nor was he ever surrounded by friends. In the lab, he was constantly forced to impress his superiors, which is why Homelander is always seeking admiration from the public and why he goes berserk when he doesn’t receive it. When you boil it down, Homelander is the result of decades of loveless scientists and barbaric experiments.

***

I’m pretty sure that we’ve all imagined what it would be like to have superpowers. I know I have. It’s pretty jarring to see how different people have used Superman’s powers, whether it’s for lawful good or chaotic evil. I think it’s interesting to learn about how different artists have twisted our understanding of a heroic paragon.

Alternate Realities Editor: Hannah Hall

Sources:

https://www.marvel.com/characters/sentry-robert-reynolds
https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Robert_Reynolds_(Earth-616)
Megamind (2010)
The Boys (2019-present)
Brightburn (2019)

Foods From Far-Off Worlds

March 31, 2021 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

Alternate Realities mean many different things to our on-site bloggers. Some take a fantastical interpretation, while others venture into more concrete topics. Writer Elizabeth decides to take inspiration from YouTube’s Good Mythical Morning’s “Alternate Universe Snacks Taste Test” and discusses her favorite parallel universe snacks. –Alternate Realities Editor Hannah Hall

By Elizabeth Shay

Good Mythical Morning (GMM) is a YouTube series hosted by Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal, which first aired in 2012. The channel posts daily videos, and now has 17 million subscribers and over 7 billion views (Wikipedia). When Hannah proposed the theme of “Alternate Realities,” I was reminded of a series that the GMM channel creates: Alternate Universe Snacks Taste Test. Here are three of my favorite snacks from the GMM parallel world.

Freezin’ Cold Cheetos

You know Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, the concerningly red-orange snack that stains your fingers when you eat them? In another universe, they don’t exist and are replaced by their counterpart: Freezin’ Cold Cheetos. These chips are a bright, icy-blue color and instead of hot spice, are marked by minty coolness.

Freezin’ Cold Cheetos have not been created yet, but if you are feeling adventurous and want a variation from your typical chip, consider trying Sweetos (sweet Cheetos) or international flavors such as Strawberry and Avocado!

Giant Deborah

Traditional Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies are unheard of by those living in a parallel world. Instead, the delicious treat is bigger and better. Literally. Little Debbie becomes Giant Deborah Oatmeal Creme Pie, and pies become a singular pie in the alternate world. As for this fictional snack, it gets a thumbs up from me. Who wouldn’t want to double, or more than double, the fun with a supersize version of a sweet treat!

Cursed Charms

Finally, instead of the cheerful Lucky Charms cereal that kids know and love, the other world contains something a little more…gloomy. Forget the bright colors of Lucky Charms marshmallows. Instead, open a box of Cursed Charms, characterized by a distinct black color and complete with an ominous scroll containing a curse. I can’t speak to the taste, as this hasn’t been brought to our dimension yet, but I think Cursed Charms would be a hit around Halloween season.

It is always fun to explore the possibility of differing universes and consider what could be. There could be an alternate version of yourself reading this article at this very moment! But would you try any of these special snacks that just might be your parallel self’s favorite treat?

Alternate Realities Editor: Hannah Hall

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Mythical_Morning

What if Women Ruled the World?

March 31, 2021 by szachik@pvs.org 2 Comments

Editor Hannah has decided she is sick of the world, for the moment. Her feelings of restlessness and curiosity sparked the theme of “Alternate Realities,” which she defines as “Any reality that is not our own—currently.” Writer Sara offers a journey through a Women-Run World. Will you take the ride?

By Sara Habibipour

Since March is Women’s History Month and we’re talking about alternate realities, what would life be like if we women ruled the world? Some would say that money and power corrupt anyone (and I’m sure it would), but would anything change for the better?

Studies show that women lead differently than men. They’re more likely to be collaborative, inclusive, and team-oriented (BBC).

The benefits of these female characteristics have been evident in global economic growth. In 2013, women were responsible for $20 trillion in spending, which grew to $28 trillion in 2014 (BBC). Women are also expected to spend money differently. With more money, women are more likely to start businesses that hire other women, and thus, the entire community prospers.

Also, it is predicted that there would be less children in the world if women ran the world. We’ve seen this trend occur within recent years. A 2002 Harvard Business Review article cited 42% of women in corporate America are childless (hbr.org). As women become CEOs and world leaders, there’s really just not time to rear kids. Also, women don’t have to depend on marriage for financial security; they can go out and be breadwinners themselves. Getting married and having children no longer have to be a primary concern.

Wondering what other people thought about female leaders, I decided to interview some women and men that I know.

So many countries around the world have benefitted from strong, successful models of women’s leadership. I think *when* women rule the world, there will be more of a reliance on honesty and sincerity and far less bluster. Women are action-oriented. We cross items off our to-do lists. When women rule the world, I think the greatest effects will be in the eyes of the young girls who get to grow up surrounded by images of leaders who look like them.
Ms. Coffey

If women ruled the world I think we’d have another Cold War. We’re masters of the silent treatment.
Jesse Denyer

I think some of the equality issues would be solved. I think ultimately, though, nothing would change for the worse.
Elizabeth Shay

No one would get in trouble for showing their knees or shoulders when it’s 100 degrees out.
Anonymous Instagram Follower

We sure as hell wouldn’t have the problems patriarchies have faced that’s for sure.
Hambik Madanyan

Let’s just say we wouldn’t be living like modern cavemen.
Isabella Goetschel

No doubt better than what it is. But what would be really cool is if we could rule ourselves so no one ruled the world.
Leo Milmet

If women ruled the world, men would be in a whole lot of trouble.
Andrew Hall

Alternate Realities Editor: Hannah Hall

Sources:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-21661744

https://hbr.org/2002/04/executive-women-and-the-myth-of-having-it-all

Congratulations, Andrew!

March 30, 2021 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

Our Palm Valley nominee Andrew Hall was selected as a South Region finalist for the CSF 2021 Seymour Memorial Award!

Ten nominees from the South Region were selected as finalists. As a finalist, Andrew participated in the South Region Seymour Memorial Award Zoom Interview. Here, he’s pictured with his medal. In addition, he was awarded $2,000.

The winners will be announced at the CSF Virtual Awards Presentation on April 17. Each region’s recipient will receive an additional award of $3,000. Good luck, Andrew!

By Sara Habibipour

The Seemingly Impossible Great Wall of China

March 29, 2021 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

Hannah wrote about the unlikely feat that is the creation of the Great Wall of China. The astonishing achievement was completed with no modern technology. To think that the longest and tallest wall in the world was built 2500 years ago is truly mind boggling. –Architectural Achievements Editor: Roman Rickwood

By Hannah Hall

Most of you, if not all, have heard of the Great Wall of China. But, you probably only know it is an ancient wall in China that is still standing today. Wouldn’t you like to know more? Wouldn’t you like to know the history?? If you do want to know more, read on.

The Great Wall’s history starts in the Warring States period of China in the Zhou Dynasty (nearly 2500 years ago). China’s feudal lords began to build a wall to protect the dynasty from barbarians and intruders. This wall, however, wasn’t anywhere near ginormous. In fact, the wall wasn’t even a wall; it was multiple tiny walls! These small sections were individually constructed by different states as shields from potential conquerors. The cohesive building of a stronger and longer wall began later in the Qin Dynasty. Emperor Qin Shi Huang unified the states in 221 BCE (history.com). And now that they were unified, they had many natural barriers such as the Tibetan Plateau and Pacific Ocean. But, to the north, there were only mountains to act as protection—which was not enough. The emperor then started to enlist soldiers, criminals, and peasants to connect many of the small walls that were built previously. That wall became known as the “Long Wall.” At this point, the wall was nearly 3,100 miles long! (history.com)

The Qin Dynasty merged into the Han Dynasty. They did not add much to the wall in length, but when they inherited the wall they realized it needed some work. So, they fortified it and acted out serious refurbishments. During the same time of this fortification, the Silk Road came about. Chinese Diplomat and Trader Zhan Qian opened this route to trade with other countries and empires such as Rome, Persia, India, and Greece. As this trade flourished, wars began, and the Wall weakened. Then somewhere along the line in the 1200s, the Mongols invaded and destroyed many entry points in the wall.

Flashing forward, time went on, and more dynasty sponsored reparations and lengthening projects occurred. China’s importance and competitiveness as an empire rose and fell multiple times which led to the construction of the Wall also being sporadic and inconsistent. Then, in the 14th century, the Ming Dynasty worked on the Wall again, which failed; the Manchu invaded in the 17th century. The Qing Dynasty came into power and realized that communication was probably a better solution to peace than a wall. And since there was no use for the Wall, it fell into disrepair. Finally, the last restoration of the Wall occurred. The Great Wall of China was restored under Deng Xiaoping in the 1980s. Since then, it has held up. And, today, you can witness the Wall itself in China, all 13,000 miles of it.

Although the Wall may not be used for the same purposes as it was in its prime, we can still observe the feat that it is. It is architecturally astounding! I hope this little history lesson leads you to dive deeper into more ancient architecture. There are bridges, buildings, and even forts out there! Get searching, and get learning.

Editor: Roman Rickwood

Sources:

https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-china/great-wall-of-china

https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-middle-east/silk-road

Amazing Architecture: Marina Bay Sands

March 26, 2021 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

Blogger Elizabeth wrote about the Marina Bay Sands Resort, located in Singapore. Recently it has garnered a lot of attention, and since its creation in 2010 it has been featured in many motion pictures as well as advertisements. It is a design like no other with three beams that consist of hotel rooms holding up the restaurant and activity part of the resort. The top portion looks like a boat.–Editor Roman Rickwood

By Elizabeth Shay

One of the most breathtaking modern architectural feats I have seen in my travels is the Marina Bay Sands resort in Singapore. Most recently Marina Bay Sands was featured in the 2018 film Crazy Rich Asians–a film which brought international attention to the beautiful country. This building is definitely a sight to see. My mom is a Singapore native, and travels there were common in my childhood. Now that I am older, I can properly appreciate the culture. I am excited to write about just one of the iconic structures that Singapore boasts.

Background

Opened in 2010, the resort consists of a hotel, convention-exhibition centre, mall, theatre, “celebrity chef” restaurants, floating crystal pavilions, art-science exhibits, and a casino. The casino is the world’s largest atrium casino, with 500 tables and 1,600 slot machines. The resort was designed by Moshe Safdie, who says that he was inspired by decks of cards. The main feature of the resort is the three hotel towers, each 55 stories tall and connected by a three-acre (130,680 square foot) roof terrace, the Sands SkyPark.

Design and Construction

The three towers have broad bases that narrow towards the top. Each tower has asymmetrical legs, which presented significant difficulties in construction. While the buildings were being constructed, substantial temporary structures for support and real-time monitoring were required.

The SkyPark connecting the hotel was pre-constructed in 14 separate steel sections before assembly atop the buildings. The park contains the world’s longest elevated swimming pool, with a vanishing edge (infinity pool). The SkyPark also has rooftop nightclubs, gardens and even a public observatory deck. An impressive design element is the cantilevered (horizontal structural element supported only at one end) segment 23 feet off of the north tower. Four movement joints, each with their own unique range of motion, are located underneath the main pool to help withstand the natural motion of the towers over time. The towers are subject to wind as well as gradual settlement into the earth, so engineers, thinking ahead, constructed and installed customized jack legs to “allow for future adjustment at more than 500 points beneath the pool system,” and ensure proper functioning of the infinity pool (Wikipedia).

Attractions

The ArtScience Museum is shaped like a lotus and has a retractable roof that creates a waterfall of collected rainwater when closed in the daytime and laser shows when opened at nighttime.

The Shoppes is the major shopping mall of the Marina Bay Sands Resort, almost 1,000,000 square feet in size and containing over 300 stores and restaurants from celebrity chefs like Gordon Ramsay and Wolfgang Puck! There is even a canal that runs through the shopping mall, with rides available to guests and shoppers.

There are also two crystal pavilions, one of which is home to the largest Louis Vuitton boutique in the world. Not to mention, the pavilion is constructed on a floating island, connected to the mall by an underwater tunnel!

Conclusion

These are just some of the amazing things that the Marina Bay Sands resort has to offer. It is truly the most impressive piece of architecture I have experienced in my travels so far. If you’re ever in Singapore, this is definitely a must-see.

Architectural Achievements Editor: Roman Rickwood

Source:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marina_Bay_Sands

The Truth Behind the Washington Monument

March 26, 2021 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

In further pursuits of architectural achievements, Erik writes about his time in Washington, D.C. Back when he was in 8th grade, Erik was amazed at the creation and construction of the Washington Monument. He’s still amazed today.

By Erik Bearman

A few years ago, I went on a trip with my 8th-grade classmates to Washington, D.C., America’s capital. I spent a few days there, and we had a great time. While we were walking around the city, we passed the Washington Monument. Let me tell you about it.

History of the Washington Monument

The Washington Monument was intended originally to be a memorial statue of George Washington, but Washington got rid of those plans when he was elected President. It wasn’t until 1833 that a group of citizens (later known as the Washington National Monument Society) decided to raise funds for a monument to be built. The leader of the WNMS, Chief Justice John Marshall, held a competition to determine who would get to design the monument.

The winner of the competition was an architect by the name of Robert Mills. Mills envisioned a “pantheon (a temple-like building) featuring 30 stone columns and statues of Declaration of Independence signers and Revolutionary War heroes. A statue of Washington driving a horse-drawn chariot would reside above the main entrance and a 600-foot-tall Egyptian obelisk would rise from the pantheon’s center” (history.com). Obviously, this idea in its entirety didn’t come to fruition. The reason being a combination of low funds and the fact that it took too long to build. Not to mention, the quarry stone that had been initially used ran out. So workers had to use an alternative plan which resulted in “the monument [having] two different shades; lighter at the bottom and darker at the top” (www.history.com).

Construction was finally completed in 1884 (even though the monument didn’t open to the public until 1888)–leaving the U.S. with the monolith you see today.

Traveling to and through D.C. is arguably one of the best life experiences I’ve had that predates high school. I’ve always wanted to learn more about this (honestly) generic-looking monument.

Fun Fact: The Washington Monument held the world record for tallest man-made structure for less than a year when it was beaten by the Eiffel Tower!
washingtonpost.com

Architectural Achievements Editor: Roman Rickwood

Sources:

How the Heck did They Build This Thing?

March 24, 2021 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

When I told bloggers to write about incredible architectural feats, I was hoping someone would write about the Burj Khalifa. Blogger Evan expresses amazement for the construction of the Burj Khalifa and what makes its existence so revolutionary. –Ed. Roman Rickwood

By Evan Spry

In just six years, the most iconic modern feat of architectural engineering was built up and opened, piercing its way to the top of every international height list while simultaneously winning world records. The handshake between Western and Arabic powers led to the creation of the sleekest skyscraper in the world, the Burj Khalifa. This symbol of Middle-Eastern power has dominated the Dubai skyline since its opening in 2010. I know that for me personally, when I was a kid, this skyscraper was one of the only things I could confidently say was from the Middle East. Not only was the Burj Khalifa outstanding visually and technically, it was also outstanding construction-wise. The foundation alone had 45,000 m³ of concrete poured, “weighing more than 110,000 tonnes…that’s equivalent to 18 Olympic sized swimming pools” (commercialinteriordesign.com). The Burj Khalifa was also heavily featured in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. The Burj Khalifa is unique–from how it was constructed to how it was named.

Name

The direct translation of Burj Khalifa is Khalifa Tower. Formerly, the tower was known as Burj Dubai or Dubai Tower but was changed to Burj Khalifa when the tower officially opened. The name Khalifa is derived from Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Maktoum, who is the president of Abu Dhabi as well as the United Arab Emirates. According to thetowerinfo.com, “Burj Khalifa and other construction projects in Dubai were once on the verge of halting” due to lack of funds. “[N]eighbor Adu Dhabi provided funds to Dubai in the hard time, this is the main reason for Dubai . . .renam[ing] the tower Burj Khalifa.” In addition, the word Khalifa carries Islamic importance. “It means Islamic world’s supreme leader” (thetowerinfo.com).

Height

The height of the Burj Khalifa, free-standing at a whopping 2,717 feet or 828 meters, is what gives the building its status and prowess. Initially, before 2010, the height of the Burj Khalifa was kept a secret so that potential competitors could be prevented from surpassing it. Eventually, the owner of the tower publicly claimed it was 828 meters tall, making it the tallest building in the world in all categories. Since then, the tower has held the title of World’s Tallest Building, Tallest Free-Standing Structure, and Highest Number of Stories in the World (burjkhalifa.ae). The highest floor in the building is the 154th, which is 1,916 feet from the ground. However, this floor is blocked from the public. I wonder what kind of secret organization operates and owns the top floor. In my opinion, it’s the illuminati. Think about it, why else would a company be located at the top floor of the tallest building in the world? To throw its enemies off! I’m just kidding, you can easily look up who owns the top floor, and it’s just some rich dude, still a little weird though. Anyways, for the public, the highest of the three observation decks is on the 148th floor. This observation deck is 1,820 feet from the ground. It’s the second highest observation deck in the world, trailing behind China’s Shanghai Tower, which is 2,073 feet high. I’m sure you’ll need the same amount of adult diapers when peering over the edges of both decks.

Architecture

Inspired by the Arabian desert’s beautiful hymenocallis flower, the footprint of the Burj Khalifa is triple-lobed with three elements arranged around the central core. The structure of the building is Y-shaped, which “provides an inherently stable configuration for the structure” (burjkhalifa.ae). This intricate architectural design has allowed the Burj Khalifa to remain the tallest building in the world ever since it broke the record over a decade ago. The tower has faced setbacks in regards to expanding upwards because of the upward spiral design that makes the tower decrease in mass as it gets taller. Even though the tower may not be able to expand in height when competition presents itself, the Burj Khalifa will always be the best looking for its height.

In conclusion, the tallest tower in the world, the Burj Khalifa is not only unique and interesting in its height but also in its name, location, history, architecture, and construction. This skyscraper is a sign of Arabian pride and power and has been able to infiltrate the minds of most western communities in a positive way. I believe that the construction of the Burj Khalifa was also an important diplomatic event as it was a giant cooperative effort between both American architecture companies and Arabian property developers in the post 9-11 era.

Architectural Achievements Editor: Roman Rickwood

Sources:

https://www.burjkhalifa.ae/en/the-tower/facts-figures/#:~:text=World%20Records,of%20stories%20in%20the%20world

https://www.burjkhalifa.ae/en/the-tower/design-construction/

https://www.commercialinteriordesign.com/insight/updated-how-the-burj-khalifa-was-built-including-design-foundations-cladding-and-urban-myths#:~:text=28%2C261%20Glass%20cladding%20panels%20make,at%20the%20peak%20of%20construction.

Burj Khalifa Facts and Information

https://www.som.com/projects/burj_khalifa

The Intimidating Architecture of Fascism

March 24, 2021 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

By Jake Sonderman

I told bloggers to write about famous and incredible architectural achievements in our world. Jake wrote about the collection of buildings built by the Nationalist Socialist Party while they were in control of Germany. The majority of these buildings were built for mass gatherings and speeches. As well, they were a flex of muscles by a political party.–Ed. Roman Rickwood

Italy is full of Architectural masterpieces. From the Leaning Tower of Pisa, to the Colosseum, to the Sistine Chapel, one can become immersed in thousands of years of history by simply going for a drive. But in the 20th century, the Great Depression hammered the western world. In this dark time, a new political ideology rose from the ashes, Fascism. Through anti-semitism, nationalism, and powerful political speech, Fascism took hold of the governments of Italy, Spain, and Germany. These regimes controlled every aspect of culture in order to peddle their propaganda. This was reflected in the architecture of the period.

Image may contain Monument Art Sculpture Building Architecture Statue City Town Urban and Metropolis

Since Fascism centered so much around passionate, nationalist rallies, many buildings were built largely for speeches.

This is the Palazzo Della Civiltà Italiana or the Square Colosseum, designed by architects Giovanni Guerrini, Ernesto Bruno La Padula, and Mario Romano. Mussolini had this built for the World Fair, which was later cancelled because the world was embroiled in WWII (Juliao, study.com). The structure was built entirely for speeches. It goes without stating that this eerie building draws much inspiration from the ancient Colosseum. Both were built to be spacious, daunting, and awe-inspiring.

This is Casa Del Fascio (Como), or “House of Fascism,” designed by Italian architect Giuseppe Terragni, who designed many buildings for the Italian Fascist Party. It was built in 1936 (architectural-history.org). This became the headquarters for the Italian Fascist Party. As you can see, Fascist architecture aimed for simplicity and symmetry, but also for intimidation.

The Italian Fascist Party took control of Italy in 1919. The Fascists built many more monumental buildings. The National Socialist Party of Germany took power in 1933 and had much less time to build grand buildings, though they did build some. What I find more chilling than the buildings the Nazis actually built are the buildings they were going to build.

The Architecture of Power: Speer's Plans for Nazi Berlin' title of talk: UNM Newsroom — A mock up of Volkshalle, or the “People’s Hall”

Volkshalle, or “the People’s Hall,” was part of a plan Hitler had to tear down and rebuild the center of Berlin to be the grandest city in the world. Volkshalle was to be the center of this revamped center of an empire. It was to fit 180,000 spectators and would have been approximately 960 meters high. For reference, that is almost as high as the Empire state building and significantly higher than the dome of St.Peter’s church in Rome, the largest church in the world (bbc.com).

While it is unlikely that Germany would ever have secured enough materials to complete this task, this was much more than an idea to Hitler. In 1936, Hitler appointed Albert Speer, prominent German architect, as Inspector of General Buildings. Speer’s only job was this Volkshalle project (theguardian.com).

Berlin’s Tempelhof-Schoeneberg now sits in an unremarkable residential area.

This is the bottom of one of the pillars pictured in “The People’s Hall” mock up. The pillar would have been 120 meters high. This base is four stories high and goes 18 meters deep into the ground (theguardian.com). This was built entirely by forced laborers. At just the beginning of this project, tens of thousands of laborers from concentration camps died (theguardian.com).

For all the grandeur of this planned building, it is a stark reminder of the darkness of fascist regimes and the Nazis. For all the grand monuments and wonders of the world–the Pyramids, the Colosseum, the Great Wall of China–I think it is important to acknowledge the work that was behind them, the forced labor, the flexing of nationalist muscles, and the intimidation.

Architectural Achievements Editor: Roman Rickwood

Sources:

https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/fascist-architecture-through-ages

http://architecture-history.org/schools/FASCIST%20ARCHITECTURE.html

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/apr/14/story-of-cities-hitler-germania-berlin-nazis

https://study.com/academy/lesson/fascist-architecture-in-italy-germany-buildings-designers-characteristics.html

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20141106-fantastical-buildings-never-built