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6 Disaster-Proof Structures Across The World

6 Disaster-Proof Structures Across The World

6 Disaster-Proof Structures Across The World
Often, a need is expressed to have structures that can withstand catastrophes such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes etc. (Wikipedia)

Natural calamities of various magnitudes and intensities hit the earth every year, repeatedly resulting in loss of life and property. Often, the need is expressed to have structures that can withstand catastrophes like earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, etc. 

MakaanIQ takes a look at six such structures (constructed and under-construction) that have been designed to be disaster-proof: 

Coral Reef Project, Haiti

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Inspired by coral reefs, the concept came up after the disastrous 2010 earthquake that wiped off many structures in Haiti. While the country moved on to rebuild, architect Vincent Callebaut came up with the idea of building a disaster-proof floating housing. Once completed, the project will house 1,000 modular apartments in dual wavy stacks. These stacks will be supported on an artificial pier built in the Caribbean. The project will be equipped with hydro-turbines, which would help harvest energy from the waves. The two stacks will have garden terraces for each apartment, allowing the residents to grow their own food. The housing modules of this origami-lookalike structure are aligned and piled up by successive stratums.

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, United States

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The museum of the Crystal Bridges floats on a water body and double up as a dam. It breaks the pond on which it sits into two halves. The structure's roof is supported by cables, giving an illusion of a suspended bridge. So, the project does not break the flow of water but harmoniously stands the natural flow.

Hurricane-Proof Dome House, Florida

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It might appear unusual at the first look, but this home, constructed in Florida, is hurricane-proof. The $7-million project, designed by the owners Mark and Valerie Sigler after their previous home was destroyed by the Hurricane Opal, is a one-piece concrete with five miles of steel. This composition helps the structure withstand strong hurricanes -- it did weather the Hurricane Dennis in 2004.

Noah's Ark – A Floating Hotel

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Designed by Russian design studio Remistudio, the project can endure seismic activities and also magically float when the sea-level rises. A completely transparent structure, once constructed, it will be powered by solar panels with a functional water-conservation system in place. The structure, oval in shape, boasts a basement representing a shell without any ledges or angles. It has a number of arches and ropes that will shoulder the whole bulk in case of an earthquake. 

Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, Istanbul

Istanbul

Opened to the public in 2009, the international terminal of Sabiha Gökçen International Airport is known to be the world's largest earthquake-proof building. Stretching across two million square feet, the project does not completely sit on the soil; rather, it sits on 300 isolators and bearings that move side-to-side during an earthquake, eliminating any chances of the structure being razed to the ground. In the event of an earthquake, the whole building will move, absorbing the seismic energy.

Sticky Rice Mortar Structures, China

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Standing tall for centuries, these structures are some of the oldest innovations in the world of architecture. The construction workers 1,500 years ago created a secret recipe to make buildings withstand earthquakes, which are frequent in China. The combination of sticky rice soup with lime created a product which was mixed with mortar to fill the gap between the stones -- thus the name sticky rice mortar. Well, their existence shows the strength of the innovation made by the construction workers centuries ago.

Last Updated: Mon May 23 2016

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