How Elevators Changed the World

 Modern office towers and apartment buildings wouldn’t exist without mechanical lifts needed to get people higher than a typical four-or-five-floor building. While steel construction accelerated high-rise development in big cities, elevators boosted the urban density over the last century, redefining urban life. Just as cars made it possible for people to spread out horizontally, elevators enabled vertical exploration. 

 “The entire history of skyscrapers contains a homage to the inventors of elevators,” wrote architect and historian Francisco Mujica in 1929.

                          Source: BBC Culture

The Origin

The first elevator was invented by Greek mathematician Archimedes in 236 B.C.( source: BBC).  Elevators took a leap forward during the Industrial Revolution in the 1800s. The use of elevators drastically increased as it proved vital for mining. Early elevators had safety issues, however, in March 1857 Elisha Otis designed the world’s first successful safe passenger elevator. (source: National Geographic documentary) After this designers and architects began to appreciate the possibilities offered by elevators, much higher buildings became feasible, eventually leading to the enormous skyscrapers of today.

The Impact on Urban life

 Elevators catalyzed the development of skyscrapers and forever transformed urban architecture, landscapes and living. Not only did skylines change but the elevator also had a significant socio-economic impact. The upper levels of buildings which previously were harder to reach via stairways, and therefore inhabited by people with less money, became attractive to the wealthier class. The luxury apartments which previously were on lower levels, for easier access, moved to the top floors which offered better views, more light and less street noise. Due to the increased use of elevators the top floors of buildings that once held servant quarters have become the most desirable accommodation today. 

New york city skyline (1902)                                                                                     Source-old.skyscraper.org 

New york city skyline (1999)                                                                                      Source- old.skyscraper.org

The invention of the safety brake made it possible to use elevators in tall buildings, which paved the way for modern marvels. The ability to create tall buildings made it possible for cities to grow. With the ability to build higher, it became possible for large numbers of people to live in a single building. This in turn gave rise to the formation of urban cities with a high density of population. 

References:

1.BBC Concrete ideas,  Architecture.

2. National Geographic documentary.