Melting Cars: The "Walkie Scorchie" Building | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

The Walkie Talkie building in London, nicknamed "Walkie Scorchie," caused damage to cars, vans, and businesses due to its concave design reflecting sunlight, reaching temperatures of up to 161 degrees Fahrenheit.

Key Insights

• 🥺 The Walkie Talkie building in London earned the nickname "Walkie Scorchie" due to its concave shape causing sunlight reflection to reach scorching temperatures, leading to damage.
• 🥵 The architect, Rafael Viñoly, was aware of the reflection issue but underestimated the heat produced, resulting in unexpected damage.
• 🥵 Temporary and permanent solutions were implemented to mitigate the heat reflection, including a sunshade and aluminum fins.

Transcript

The 525-foot skyscraper at 20 Fenchurch Street in London, England earned the nickname “Walkie Talkie” thanks to its unique design. Slim at the bottom and wider at the top, locals could not help noticing its similarities to a handheld, two-way radio. However the Walkie Talkie also has another nickname- Walkie Scorchie. Construction began on the skys... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the Walkie Talkie building earn its nickname "Walkie Scorchie"?

The Walkie Talkie building earned the nickname "Walkie Scorchie" because its concave shape caused the reflection of sunlight to reach high temperatures, leading to damage to cars, vans, and businesses.

Q: What damage did the sunlight reflection from the Walkie Talkie building cause?

The sunlight reflection from the Walkie Talkie building caused melting of car parts, including plastic mirrors and emblems. It also damaged the interior of a van, melting plastic surfaces and even baking a bottle. Businesses experienced cracked tiles and singed carpets.

Q: How did the architect address the sunlight reflection issue?

After paying for the damages, the owners of the Walkie Talkie building installed a temporary sunshade to prevent further damage. The permanent solution involved installing horizontal aluminum fins on the concave side of the building, reducing the reflected sunlight's intensity.

Q: Has the architect, Rafael Viñoly, encountered similar issues with sunlight reflection in other buildings?

Yes, Rafael Viñoly also designed the Vdara hotel in Las Vegas, which experienced a similar "death ray" phenomenon due to its concave shape. Hotel guests reported instances of hair singeing and objects melting under the intense reflection.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The Walkie Talkie building in London, known for its unique design, reflected sunlight in a concentrated area, causing damage to nearby cars and businesses.

• Construction on the building started in 2011, and it was completed in 2014.

• The architect, Rafael Viñoly, was aware of the potential sunlight reflection issue but underestimated the heat produced, leading to damage and the need for a permanent sunshade solution.