Get your own Free Home PageThis department is in control of the design and maintenance of all of Mort’s buildings. Held accountable for the fall of Salvation Tower this department has long been working to increase it’s reputation and make Mort the “place to live”. The workload of this department is high with the amount of buildings that are constantly collapsing in Lower Downtown’s dark and ill-managed areas.
“Are you sure this roof is safe I can see cracks along it. Yeah Yeah I hear you continue ahead. You guys best be right about this ‘cause I think this roofs gonna collapse any second and I don’t want to be on it when it does.” Harry Justin. Human with 'Klip Krocks'(Deceased)
“Good morning class. As you should know by now the prevalent type of Architecture on Mort is in the style of Gothic. If you are unsure of this fact I conclude from the last lecture that by the nature of 40-storey buildings that the structural support required at the base is approximately 3-6 metre wide columns leaving no room for windows or such. However as you approach the top the need for support reduces dramatically, and openings for windows can be accommodated in the design, especially above ground. This dominance of structure is found in gothic architecture.”
David Bryan, Mort Architect (extract from Architecture 101)
The new continual rain on Mort meant that any cladding system such as glass or concrete panelled buildings would eventually leak and the life span of these structures would be dramatically reduced. Thus solid construction of previous era’s was required. The easily reproduced styles would be Roman, Greek and Gothic. These styles were hashed together by amateur architects into what can only be described as “Mortian Architecture” or “Mort Gothic Architecture”. The strongest dominant style however is the Gothic due to construction needs as explained later.
The average building has the typical three portal entrance of gothic churches, or in alternative designs the temple fronts of classical design. The lower levels are almost solid concrete with no room for windows and any doorways are small and dark as most doors are recessed against the rain or sludge. The higher levels gradually open up with and more windows, as the building pinnacles upwards towards a point, perforated by the abutments looking similar to spiders legs descending down the external facade. With their gargoyles spewing the rain on the unwary below. All windows are deeply recessed and arched to avoid rain penetration.
Shortly before the fall Mort architecture had to dramatically change for several reasons. As the rain continued it’s relentless fall new building forms had to be considered. Any obvious inlets for water would eventually be found and thus excess windows, doors would eventually lead to moisture damage to buildings.
The main concerns were the concrete reinforced structure’s. With continual rain the structure would be unable to dry and eventually expansion would occur as salts absorb water and expand. Through these expansion cracks moisture would reach the steel and corrode it, leaving internal supports weak and eventually they would collapse. Thus most of the older buildings are almost being constantly sprayed with coatings to repel water moisture.
In the more advanced buildings the construction is done by having an external shell then the internal structure. The clever instillation of Capillary concrete at higher levels allows water to be collected by capillary action into drainage devices located in the abutments of gothic architecture and expelled through the mouth of Gargoyles on the edge of the abutments. Another reason for Gothic design. The lower levels do not require these requirements as sadly very little fresh rain reaches these levels, only globules of grime.
The architects that used flat roofs are now considered foolish as eventually the water would reach the structure corrode it and cause sagging, allowing water to pool and then eventually with expansion cracking, the roof would collapse. The estimated life span for flat roofs of concrete design is 5- 10 years, Metal roofs require higher maintenance, but will last indefinitely if maintained.
Another flaw is the walkways, required for urban planning, the exposed walkways will eventually obtain moisture damage and become highly unstable, unless highly maintained. Causing unwary pedestrians and operatives to plummet to their deaths as unfortunately the higher walkways are the least protected by other buildings.
"The Walkways? The walkways are a nightmare. Most Civvies don't bother thinkin' about the planning that has to go into one. You have to have a drainage system around each wall support and...oh you want to know where the Redfall Walkway is. Second on your right about 12 floors up."
Dr. Upway. Mort Architect.
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