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The Secrets Scaffolding Reveals About These 4 Cities

Scaffolding is a common sight in cities around the globe, and all of them serve to protect areas around construction sites. But in my world travels, it became clear to me that scaffolding is a perfect case study for a concept that I preach to proptech founders: Culture has a profound influence on real estate. And no matter what sector of real estate you work in, failure to acknowledge the cultural roots of a real estate market inevitably leads to failure in the real estate industry. So here’s what you can learn about four of my favorite cities from their scaffolding.

New York City Scaffolds: Uniform, Utilitarian, and Ugly

I’ll start with NYC. As a native New Yorker and former real estate developer, I’ve personally had a few scaffolds and sidewalk sheds put up. The first one in 2012 was right after the Department of Buildings passed regulations to make all scaffolds uniformly “Hunter Green.” While the uniformity was a welcome change, it’s been uniformly ugly. And therein lies the scaffolding secret.

NYC developers just want three things out of scaffolds. It needs to meet DOB requirements (uniform). It needs to be cheap (ugly). And it needs to go up fast (utilitarian). This is a microcosm of the quintessential NYC attitude. We’re a diverse group of densely packed people. So construction sites have to be safe. But contractors and developers want to get their jobs done as fast as possible. Every day of construction has a significant carry cost. And the city tries to strike the right balance between the two with regulations. It’s impossible to please over 8 million people. So we end up getting laws that tend to piss off citizens and developers alike, and scaffolding hangs around for years.

Paris Scaffolding: Safety Can Be Beautiful

Paris, a city synonymous with beauty, elegance, and a certain “je ne sais quoi,” extends its cultural flair even to the utilitarian realm of scaffolding design. In the City of Light, where aesthetics permeate every facet of life, the temporary safety structures can’t escape the Parisian touch. While the French capital may not have specific regulations governing scaffolding aesthetics, the unique cultural fabric of Paris significantly influences how these structures are designed and perceived.

Stroll down the Champs-Élysées., and you’ll notice that scaffolding structures usually mimic the architectural style of the buildings they envelop. This practice ensures that the aesthetic disruption caused by construction is minimized. It allows the city’s charm to remain intact even during periods of renovation.

In many instances, scaffolding structures become the medium for public art installations, featuring works by local artists that reflect the city’s vibrant cultural scene. Two of the pictures above are of the largest Louis Vuitton store in the world. And in my opinion, the most creative scaffolding in the world- it was encased in a giant LV trunk.

Tokyo Scaffolding: No, This Isn’t a Completed Building

Unlike in New York, scaffolding design in Tokyo isn’t just about getting the job done. It’s an intricate dance between tradition, precision, and unspoken cultural rules. While many countries have stringent scaffolding regulations, Tokyo relies on something more profound: cultural perfectionism.

From a young age, Japanese children are trained to clean up after themselves. Cleaning (お掃除）is a routine part of their school day. Couple this with layers of polite forms in the language, and you get a community with a high baseline level of respect and cleanliness.

These values are deeply ingrained when they enter the workforce. It ensures Tokyo’s scaffolding is executed with obsessive attention to detail, even without regulations explicitly requiring this level of precision.

Hong Kong Scaffolding: Yes, Bamboo is That Strong

While scaffolding worldwide has largely transitioned to steel, aluminum, and plywood, Hong Kong stands out with its continued use of bamboo. The stark contrast of traditional materials against towering skyscrapers creates a visual contrast that encapsulates the city’s unique character.

Scaffolding in Hong Kong is not just a practical construction tool; it’s a symbol of cultural heritage and an ingenious blend of tradition and modernity. This method, deeply rooted in Chinese culture, demonstrates a remarkable balance between old and new, showing that the old ways are sometimes the best ways.

This distinction isn’t merely aesthetic; it’s a testament to bamboo’s suitability for the city’s construction needs. Bamboo is incredibly strong and lightweight. It can withstand the typhoons and heavy rains that frequently hit Hong Kong. Bamboo’s flexibility allows it to sway with the wind, reducing the risk of structural failure. Further, bamboo scaffolding can be erected and dismantled much faster (and cheaper) than steel scaffolding. Skilled workers, known as “spidermen” aka “taap pang,” can cover an entire high-rise with bamboo in a few days. This speed is crucial in a city where space and time are premium.

  1. Construction Management
    Link: https://www.theproptechscout.com/proptech-segment/construction-management/