The ANNOTICO Report
The Tower of Pisa is the bell tower of the Cathedral, and is 800 years old, is 185 high, of 8 stories, and according to different sources over time has leaned 12 to 16 ft.
Its construction began in the august of 1173 and continued (with two long interruptions) for about two hundred years, in full fidelity to the original project, whose architect is still uncertain.
In the past it was widely believed that the inclination of the Tower was part of the project ever since its beginning, but now we know that it is not so. The Tower was designed to be "vertical" (and even if it did not lean it would still be one of the most remarkable bell towers in Europe), and started to incline during its construction.
Both because of its inclination, and its beauty, from 1173 up to the present the Tower has been the object of very special attention. During its construction efforts were made to halt the incipient inclination through the use of special construction devices; today, interventions are being carried out within the sub-soil in order to significantly reduce the inclination and to make sure that Tower will have a long life.
http://www.endex.com/gf/
buildings/ltpisa/ltpinfo.htm
This New Multi Use Tower will contain Office, Apartments,
and Shops, and will be approximately the same height, 190 ft, and
near 20 stories
The tilt will be effected by lighting techniques.
It is sure to raise controversy, but might be an interesting
counterpoint.
Some of you might hate it, but the more I think of it,
the more I like it !
The Peninsula
March 29, 2005
PISA, Italy: The city of Pisa is set to get another leaning
tower. More than 600 years after this city’s most famous monument went
up, officials here have approved construction of a modern office building
about three miles southeast of the original that will simulate a tilt with
a trick of lighting, the Milan daily Corriere della Sera reported.
Construction of the steel building — designed by architect
Dante Oscar Benini — is scheduled to begin at the end of the summer and
last four years, according to the newspaper. It also will house apartments
and shops and is expected to cost $64.8m.
Already, some in this Tuscan city are denouncing the
project as a scandal. “Towers of steel and glass 190 feet high serve only
to deface the view,” Fabio Roggiolani, a Green Party representative in
the regional council told Corriere.
The design calls for the tower to be in a plaza that
also would include two shorter buildings that recall Pisa’s cathedral and
the baptistry, which are next to the original Leaning Tower.
Benini said the view from the top of his tower will include
the older tower that inspired it. “The two towers will look at each other,
and historic Pisa and the Pisa of the future will be virtually united,”
Benini told Corriere.
http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?
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