Sliding towards Collapse
15 September 2008You might recall the balcony whose photo I posted on 14 August. I noticed to-day that in the last month there has been a further decline. Here, showing the bottoms of the two eastern supports, is a detail from a photo taken then: ![[image of bases of eastern support posts on 14 August]](wp-content/uploads/2008/09/balcbase00.jpg)
The south-eastern support was the big problem. Here's the base of the north-eastern support: ![[image of base of north-eastern support post on 14 August]](wp-content/uploads/2008/09/balcbase01.jpg)
Here's a photo from to-day: ![[image of bases of eastern support posts on 15 September]](wp-content/uploads/2008/09/balcbase10.jpg)
The south-eastern support is still the worst of the four, but look at the base of the north-eastern support: ![[image of base of north-eastern support post on 15 September]](wp-content/uploads/2008/09/balcbase11.jpg)
The concrete base has been moved a bit, and the wooden post has been further moved in the same direction, so that it's no longer fully on the base.
My guess is that the problem is of the posts repeatedly being hit by vehicles. In any case, unless there's some intervention soon, that balcony isn't likely to stand another month.
Tags: architecture, entropy, Hillcrest
The concrete base has been moved a bit
These concrete bases aren't fixed or set into the ground???
The concrete bases aren't set into the ground or pavement, the wooden posts aren't set into the bases, and the bases are themselves at least partially wooden, rather than solid conrete.
I noticed that last point after I'd posted this entry. If you'll look at that last photograph, you'll see that the top of the base is rough and irregular. It's actually the top of a block of wood. I don't know how much of the base is actually wood, but I'd generally expect the base to be less durable for the wood.