Earthscraper

With more and more structures being built, less and less ground space is available for new structures, and with a growing population this problem becomes even greater.  But what if there was a way around all this?  What if you could build more structures for the growing population, while conserving ground space?  That is just what architects in Mexico City are proposing.

It's called an "Earthscraper".

An online article speaks of the proposed plan and all the pros that could come from this underground structure.  Not only is space limited in Mexico City, but height regulations limit new buildings to a mere eight stories.  Architects feel as though building down is not only a logical option, but the only option they have, needing to fit retail, housing, and office space within a somewhat small square of the city.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2048395/Earth-scraper-Architects-design-65-storey-building-300-metres-ground.html

This idea reminds me of an article in BULDBLOG, called Mine Plug.  In areas where structure is difficult to build due to less than perfect conditions, such as in Picher, OK, architects are looking at digging into the earth to use underground space, rather than aboveground space.

http://bldgblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/mine-plug.html

Whether or not this structure will actually get built at this point is up for debate.  The article does not address the cons of building a giant "earthscraper" yet, but it is important to remember that it is only in a proposed state at this point and many questions still need to be worked out.  The fact that this option could possible become a reality proves how far we have come in the world of architecture.  Architects are good at pushing the limits and designing seemingly impossible structures, only to be later built and used.