Episode Details

In this episode of pplpod, we look up to explore the architectural evolution and engineering marvels of the skyscraper. While definitions vary, these structures are generally described as buildings with habitable floors standing at least 100 to 150 meters tall. We trace their origins from the high-rise apartments of ancient Rome and the "Manhattan of the Desert" in 16th-century Yemen to the steel-framed boom in Chicago and New York City during the late 19th century.

Join us as we discuss:

• The Tech That Changed Everything: How the invention of the safety elevator by Elisha Otis and the shift from load-bearing walls to steel frames made vertical living possible.

• Structural Innovation: The impact of engineer Fazlur Rahman Khan, whose "tube" structural system allowed for new shapes and record-breaking heights, paving the way for supertall giants like the Willis Tower and the Burj Khalifa.

• A Global Shift: Why the skyscraper boom moved from North America to Asia and the Middle East, with Hong Kong now holding the title for the city with the most skyscrapers.

• Future Frontiers: The economic rationale behind building up rather than out, the environmental controversy surrounding "vanity height," and the modern push toward wooden skyscrapers.