Unbelievable: They built a 200-meter skyscraper and forgot the elevator shaft
Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- The Intempo skyscraper in Benidorm, Spain, was built without an elevator shaft due to planning errors during its expansion from 20 to 47 floors.
- Construction began in 2006 amidst a boom in skyscraper development, but was halted by the 2008 financial crisis and plagued by subsequent issues including changing construction companies and wage delays.
- The building's design was ambitious, aiming for two 200-meter towers connected by a bridge, but the oversight of the elevator shaft highlights significant construction flaws.
Benidorm, a coastal city in Alicante, Spain, has transformed from a humble fishing village into a bustling metropolis, earning the nickname "Spanish New York" or "Beniyork" due to its impressive skyline of over 80 buildings exceeding 100 meters. This density of skyscrapers positions it as the second city globally in terms of high-rises per capita.
Benidorm se convirtió en el “Nueva York español” también conocido como “Beniyork” por su gran cantidad de torres
This vibrant tourist destination, popular with both Spanish and European retirees, boasts accessible beaches and a pleasant climate, attracting a quadrupled population during peak season. However, amidst this image of progress and development, a truly astonishing oversight has occurred with the Intempo skyscraper.
El edificio estaba pensado originalmente para tener 20 pisos y terminó con 47
The Intempo, a 200-meter-tall building, was designed with an ambitious vision of two towers connected by a sky bridge. Yet, in a monumental planning blunder, the crucial elevator shaft was completely forgotten during its expansion from an initial 20 floors to a final 47. This error, stemming from a rushed expansion and compounded by financial crises and construction company changes, has left the building with a critical functional flaw, a stark reminder of the challenges that can arise even in a city synonymous with architectural ambition.
Intempo comenzó su construcción en 2006, en el medio de la fiebre benidormense por los rascacielos
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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