The discussion of the problems of the construction of high-rise buildings in Moscow began with practical questions - how to build high-rise buildings in conditions of extreme temperature drops reaching 60 degrees: such weather, as the architects rightly noted, is found not only in Russia. It is necessary to create a rigidly compacted facade in winter and good ventilation in summer. Architect Graham Sterk advocated the use of triple glazing and air circulation throughout the structure. The heating problem can be tackled in a more "cunning" way, suggested Simon Olford, "moving heat from one area to another, from where it is needed less, to where it is needed, for example, from the office to the living space." Ken Young noted that the use of additional measures should be temporary, since especially hot or cold days are only 10-20 days a year and a system is needed that only works during this period.
The question of the shape of a high-rise building remains no less urgent for Moscow. In the 1930s, when the first skyscraper appeared, the vertical box shape dominated, but now very different shapes are used. According to the American architect Erich Stolz, the main thing is that the inside of the skyscraper should be designed from the inside out. Simon Olford argues that the question of form is a question of creative freedom, and it is important that the design idea is based on economy and efficiency.
The most pressing issue was, of course, the issue of price. "This is an expensive building," says Graham Sterk, "and the land and the design and construction process itself." The problem of the relationship between the cost of the facade and the entire building caused an unambiguous reaction - one cannot talk about the facade separately, it depends on the degree of its complexity, on the total area of the object, on the amount of money allocated for it; the facade is just a detail. The most practical was Ken, who pointed out that the cost of the facade depends on the goals of the builders - are you building for yourself or for sale? What does the market need - a simple or expensive facade? Where is your building located? How fast do you want to receive money? - by answering them, you will understand how much you should spend on the appearance of the building.
The provocative question, whether skyscrapers are needed in all cities or not, received a fairly logical answer from Ken Young's lips - the development of the city poses the question of where to grow - to expand the boundaries and create satellite cities, thereby penetrating into green territory or developing upward. "Until we find another alternative to the development of the city, skyscrapers will be built."
Finally, the architects talked about what technologies they lack to implement their projects. In the near future, lighter and smarter materials are expected to respond to changing environments. The system of elevators, due to which skyscrapers exist, needs to be rethought, and which needs to be made more mobile, for example, run them diagonally, it is necessary to use knowledge from other areas - automotive, space. And also, since everything in the building is not organic, except for people, in the future it should integrate parts of nature.
