Thursday Posting: Terror-proof buildings

Repellent

“Attempting to design a terror-proof building is the epitome of arrogance, a sense of hubris that deliberately ignores the boundaries of the human mind. We do this at our own peril by underestimating our enemies,” says Raymond T. Mellon, partner at a NY construction law firm.

Geoghegan, Tom and Casciani, Dominic.  “How to terror-proof shopping centres and other buildings.  BBC News.  15 Nov. 2007.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7095884.stm

In this article Geoghegan and Casciani discuss the UK’s desire to terror proof public buildings after the attacks on Glasgow airport and car bombings in the West End of London.  The article is divided by categories of buildings.  The authors go into depth about plans of terror-proofing airports, sporting venues, railway stations, shopping centers and nightclubs, and of course key political buildings.  Although these different buildings all require unique protection, the concepts behind protecting them from terrorists remain the same.  After learning that terrorists were planning on poisoning beer and burgers at football games, the Arsenal Football Club’s Emirates Stadium in north London designed their new building with security as their top priority.  Geoghegan and Casciani state in the article: “Emirates' strength, say officials, is that it has limited access to vehicles. The stadium's apron is ringed with subtle obstacles that would prevent a car bomb from getting near. Concrete planters and benches are deliberately placed to prevent a car weaving through them to reach the stadium itself.  Giant cannons, part of the club's insignia, can stop a moving vehicle. The architects placed the club's name in dramatic giant lettering at a critical access point. Those letters are not just there for aesthetic effect - they could stop a seven-tonne lorry.” 

After reading about the security of all the different types of buildings, there are definitely similar concepts used to strengthen security.  Using barriers to reduce car access close to the buildings, using non-fragmenting materials to reduce shrapnel in the case of an explosion, and having security screening outside of the building to have a better opportunity of identifying a security risk without compromising the security of the buildings.  Not everyone is so sure about the idea of terror-proofing buildings.  According to the article, “Austin Williams of the National Building Specification believes it is contributing to the "death of architecture" because aesthetics are being sacrificed for the sake of precaution. Public buildings, he says, are becoming "fear of public" buildings.”

This article was very interesting to me in light of recently studying different types of architecture.  While I was aware that post 9/11 buildings are being designed to withstand terrorist attacks, I didn’t realize the scale on which this is being done.  Its not just skyscrapers that are being terror-proofed, its everything from shopping malls and grocery stores to airports and stadiums.  The subtle placement of planters and benches as a way of strengthening security really intrigues me, and I think I can incorporate this theory into my images.