In June 2009, a nearly finished, newly constructed building in Shanghai toppled over, killing one worker. As can be seen in the photo below, the 13-story apartment building collapsed with just enough room to escape what would have been a far more destructive domino effect involving other structures in the 11-building complex.Some say, the disaster could reveal some uncomfortable facts about lax construction practices in China, where buildings are put up in a hurry by largely unskilled migrant workers, and developers may be tempted to take shortcuts. However, I beg to differ. As the pictures illustrate, the building unquestionably collapsed, but it stayed nearly intact, which not only bears testimony to its extraordinary high structural properties but also means it is perfectly utilizable. It only requires a minor furniture rearrangement, as the ceiling becomes one of the side walls and one of the walls turns into the ceiling. There's no longer need for the elevators and all the units are fitted with the luxurious skylights!
