The most unpleasant challenges are temperature differences.
The city of the future is usually associated with skyscrapers. And sometimes it seems that high-rises will completely displace familiar homes, and we will all have to live far above the ground. But is this good for health? What are the pros and cons of apartments in the clouds?
Life on a high floor seems like a dream from the outside. But it’s not all that wonderful.
To minimize the instability of these giants, architects come up with various solutions. For instance, the balance of the 101-story skyscraper in Taiwan is maintained by a huge pendulum weighing several hundred tons. When the wind blows and the building tilts, the heavy steel ball, suspended by cables, creates a counterbalance. A simpler, yet no less elegant solution was chosen by the creators of the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Its very shape—a pyramidal cone—makes the building more stable.
Another feature of high-rises that worries many: you cannot open a window! The draft, or the chimney effect, is too strong! How do you ventilate? You have to rely on the supply ventilation system, which, when functioning properly and regularly maintained, will provide quite comfortable conditions. However, there is no balcony and there will be none.
Washing the windows here turns into an expensive procedure involving industrial climbers.
Moreover, constant presence at a great height can provoke an inexplicable feeling of anxiety in some people.
In summer, the rooms heat up significantly under direct sunlight, forcing constant use of air conditioners. In winter, due to heat loss in the heating system, the radiators can often be insufficiently warm, requiring additional expenses for heaters.
On one hand, there is a stifling silence in such apartments, but on the other hand, this same silence makes any sounds from neighbors above particularly distinct and annoying.
A broken elevator, which can happen at any moment, instantly turns every movement into an exhausting journey through stairwells. By the way, even with a functioning elevator, daily trips during peak hours resemble a complicated process with numerous stops.
Some residents also note the impact of height on their well-being. For example, people sensitive to pressure changes may experience inexplicable weakness, headaches, or general malaise.
Couriers and guests are not always willing to climb to high floors.
For families with small children or elderly relatives, an apartment on high floors can become a real challenge.
Remember that good and simple apartments are available, so it’s better to choose what will be more convenient for you.
However, if you want to live in solitude and all these downsides do not deter you, then a high-rise apartment can be a very good solution for you, as you can truly feel your detachment from the world and tranquility.
Leave a comment