San Francisco's Architecture Puts It At Risk

Nearly 100 years after the city's devastating 1906 earthquake, San Francisco's architecture still leaves it particularly vulnerable to another temblor.

1 minute read

January 8, 2006, 1:00 PM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen

"With the city set to commemorate in April the 100th anniversary of the devastating earthquake and fire of 1906, seismic experts and structural engineers say San Francisco could be devastated again by a major temblor despite a century of improved building design and firefighting expertise.

Much of the problem involves the very architectural styles that give the city its charm.

In contrast to Los Angeles, where most people live in low-slung housing that tends to hold up well in earthquakes, San Francisco is a much denser city and has a far higher percentage of residential structures that experts worry could fail in a big quake."

Read the full story: Charm and Risk in San Francisco

Sunday, January 8, 2006 in The Los Angeles Times

Architecture Infrastructure California

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

Start Learning

Advertise with us

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.