Building

Of course every architect's dream is about building. After one hundred postings about all and nothing in Japan it is about time to show how building is done here.
Construction workers wear a very elegant head cover here. A neat clean white towel is worn like a turban. Ideal in hot conditions when sweat has to be wiped off. When the towel is worn loosely over the head the hard hat will fit normaly and the towel will also serve as a sunscreen.


Safety is probably invented here, considering they don't no where to stop with it. As you know all electric cables are hanging from poles along the streets here and of course that is far from convenient while hoisting around with your crane. To prevent crane drivers getting entangled in wires, the cables are wrapped in thick yellow plastic tubes. (click on the image to enlarge).


Also for minor diversions all means are rolled out. As Harold once wrote about man with torches also here a uniformed man is channeling the traffic. To safeguard the safetyman's safety, a 10 meter in front of him a mechanized safety colleague is installed. That one in his turn makes little chance of being run over by all kinds of pilons, fences, lamps, lorries an lights. And for those who missed the point: the sign says 'roadworks ahead'.


To ensure safety for passers-by all building sites are always closed of with neat fencing.
By the way there is no construction possible in Tokyo without demolishing first.


As all fences are always clinically white, things tend to look a bit dull.
Good flower wall paper is most welcome then. Like this ivy version.


Even better is this touchable fake greenery.

And how about this wall paper with silhouette?

Together with a tree that actually grows in these streets.

Construction start with demolishing. And also demolishing sites are shielded off with fences. As you see it reaches really high.

And then of course the real construction work. The skeleton of the building is nearly always made of steel. It is a curious sight to see a brand new structure already rusting a bit.

The teamplay of structure and nets creates nice images.

Then in one go the final façade is mounted. Most times the parts are hoisted in directly from the lorry. There is no space available for storage on the site. De trucks come exactly on time as parking is not allowed either. Any delay in this logisitic chain is a major drama.

After completion the window cleaner may hang about...