One reason Americans can't have quaint, walk-up apartments like Europeans do (architect, area)
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Apparently it has something to do with regulations in North America, that have made these quaint walk-up apartments, known by architects as point access blocks, nearly impossible to build - and the reason why? It really comes down to one reason: staircases (and... fires).
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Many if not most states require fire sprinkler systems for any new buildings over 5,000 sf. That would help people reach the exits. Even if there are elevators they would probably go out during a fire, so anyone with a mobility disability should live on the first floor.
Apparently it has something to do with regulations in North America, that have made these quaint walk-up apartments, known by architects as point access blocks, nearly impossible to build - and the reason why? It really comes down to one reason: staircases (and... fires).
This is not to be negelated. Having more than one way out of an building allows a building to empty faster and also helps people have another route out should one get blocked. Grenfell Tower in london for instance only had 1 staircase. The biggest danger in fire isn't the fire itself. It is the smoke. In addition buildings without elevators are much harder for people with mild disabilities to live with. It is one thing to take yourself up or down stairs every so often. It is another to have to do so repeatedly or have to haul stuff up or down stairs with you. Anyway that article was more about ascetics than about being able to fit more people in an area of land.
I suspect it has far more to do with Americans being able to have quaint Craftsmen, Victorian, Cape Cod, etc detached single family homes. And especially ranch style/bungalows where you might not even have to deal with stairs at all.
Still, the YouTuber has s point. We have housing crisis and some old laws (from the 1800s) could be re-evaluated.
I was speaking with a commercial real estate guy the other night and I asked why can't they take all the empty high rises in cities and turn them residential with the housing crisis. He said they didn't meet ceiling height and fire regulations. He said it would be cheaper to tear them down and rebuilt than retrofit them all.
Anyway that article was more about ascetics than about being able to fit more people in an area of land.
You meant esthetics, but that was a pretty awesome Freudian slip.
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