Which city do you think has the best quality constructions?

There are many photos i have seen where they used very thin floorplates and untreated steel in their construction foundation. Some buildings have poured contrete way too quickly or rushed through to building the foundation/base.

There are many skyscrapers (especially apartments) which try to compromise the floor-to-ceiling height and the thickness of the plate for additional storeys. That's to be is tragic because of the safety concerns.

your concern reminding me of the collapse of 1995 samsoong plaza in seoul. the owner made drastic measures during the construction phase. they had decided to trim away the slab drop panel at each column under the flat slab panel. this is stupid, really stupid thing engineer can do. engineers wont dare to compromise on structural safety, but may cut on other parts or hidden part that definitely would not lead to critical structural failure.

the best quality construction place u can get is probably in japan.

I think you need to put this question in greater context. By Best quality do you mean design quality which is high level of specifications , materials , tolerances and aesthetic consideration or production quality which is how well it is done or constructed as to given design.

In general there are obviously some countries where the building authorities are much more detailed and strict with regards to new building, as in the same country there are certain cities which are more strict and demanding than others. For these , am sure you can find the total number of building failure with consideration as to cause compared to those built.

For design quality, there is a correlation between budget and well designed buildings. This is not to say you can't do a well designed cheap building but in general one is limited by US$100 per sq.m. construction budget with a Titanium skinned over the top museum in Bilbao. You just have that much more flexibility to make a statement. Needless to say you generally won't find such buildings in poorer countries.

your concern reminding me of the collapse of 1995 samsoong plaza in seoul. the owner made drastic measures during the construction phase. they had decided to trim away the slab drop panel at each column under the flat slab panel. this is stupid, really stupid thing engineer can do. engineers wont dare to compromise on structural safety, but may cut on other parts or hidden part that definitely would not lead to critical structural failure.

the best quality construction place u can get is probably in japan.
Yeah well Japan has to build to cope with Earth quakes so I hope so.

Despite the fact that Japan has to cope with earthquakes, they dont necessarily have the highest code either..

Los Angeles has to cope with them too, but we dont get quite as much as Japan on a whole.. but then look at the Library Tower (US Bank Tower)... in fact, the entire downtown LA skyline.. all those buildings have to be built of extreme high quality, and cost massive $$$ to make! thats another reason why we dont currently see anything taller than this around here..

The US bank tower that I mentioned above (just over 300m) is the tallest building ever built in a major earthquake zone. It it supposedly one of the most sturdy supertalls out there as well, due to the massively reinforced concrete core inside the steel frame.. They say that this building will be able to handle the "big one" and withstand it without much problem.

The "big one," meaning 8-9 on the richter scale (10+ on the mercali), and were looking at anywhere from 2-7 minutes long should the area of the San Andreas fault break anywhere near LA.. :nuts:

They just discovered another fault line last year that is apparently more of a threat to downtown Los Angeles than the San Andreas even, called the puente hills fault.. its a small thrust fault (that creates the most violent type of earthquake) about 15 miles from downtown, and its good up to a 7.5.

Despite the fact that Japan has to cope with earthquakes, they dont necessarily have the highest code either..

Los Angeles has to cope with them too, but we dont get quite as much as Japan on a whole..

I agree that japan dont necessarily hv the highest code either, but they (japanese builders) are really the world leading pioneered in innovative construction solutions of building skyscrapers. They need it because they got to build skyscrapers, though its expensive. their land space is very limited compare to los angeles. Its probably shows that their quality of construction has to be very good, or else, y shld they build a trembling shaken towers?

Japan

Turning Torso is said to have been built without using "as-cheap-as-possible" materials etc. Building cost ended up like 4x the predictions.

Turning Torso is said to have been built without using "as-cheap-as-possible" materials etc. Building cost ended up like 4x the predictions.
All Calatrava buildings cost at least 3 or 4 times more than predicted & expected... :eek:
:runaway:

I would say that the following towers are from high quality:

Berlin Radio Tower ( http://en.structurae.de/structures/data/index.cfm?id=s0000339 , it survived two fires and at the end of World War II one of his legs was destroyed)

Main radio mast Mühlacker ( http://en.structurae.de/structures/data/index.cfm?ID=s0010708 , 273 metre high standing on an insulator and divided by an insulator into two parts. Such insulators are of caramic and therefore always a critical element in the construction)

Radio Tower Gliwice ( http://www.structurae.net/structures/data/index.cfm?id=s0012024 , it survived all other wooden radio towers by decades and is still in good state!)

I would say that the following towers are from high quality:

Berlin Radio Tower ( http://en.structurae.de/structures/data/index.cfm?id=s0000339 , it survived two fires and at the end of World War II one of his legs was destroyed)

Main radio mast Mühlacker ( http://en.structurae.de/structures/data/index.cfm?ID=s0010708 , 273 metre high standing on an insulator and divided by an insulator into two parts. Such insulators are of caramic and therefore always a critical element in the construction)

Radio Tower Gliwice ( http://www.structurae.net/structures/data/index.cfm?id=s0012024 , it survived all other wooden radio towers by decades and is still in good state!)

Generally, germans products are seen strong and very good, it's the same with construction.

Generally, germans products are seen strong and very good, it's the same with construction.

Yup.. Even my Bangladeshi lecturer told me once.