The Humming Skyscraper
By Anna
@LadyDuck (459353)
Switzerland
December 1, 2015 6:57am CST
Reading the news, this morning I have found this spooky video of a skyscraper that hums.
The building is the Beetham Tower, a 47 story skyscraper in Manchester (England).
It is one of the thinnest skyscrapers in the world and it hums when the wind blows.
It seems the problem comes from the glass blade at the top of the building.
Click on the link and listen to the humming, it's spooky.
What do you think of this eerie sound? I would not like to live in this tower.
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28 people like this
32 responses
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
1 Dec 15
and it might sway when the strong winds blow? humming and swaying building? that is spooky and scary!
3 people like this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
1 Dec 15
@ridingbet all tall man made structures sway as do trees - if they didn't the wind would shatter them
2 people like this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
2 Dec 15
@arthurchappell yes, I believe they put something to make the skyscraper sway with the winds. so it is like you are playing on a swing when you are up high the tower. Those who love to stay up with no agoraphobia should be enjoying their moments as if flying.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
1 Dec 15
That could turn people off toward skyscrapers.
3 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
1 Dec 15
@LadyDuck I guess knocking it down would fix the problem.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (459353)
• Switzerland
1 Dec 15
@AbbyGreenhill I thought to this extreme solution, but it's for the wellness of all the neighbors.
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
1 Dec 15
Apparently the architect bought the top two floors and now lives there, so it cannot really be as loud or annoying as the video suggests (in the documentary video which follows the one you posted, he actually describes his penthouse as "quiet and peaceful").
Of course, aeolian music is very ancient - the Greeks had aeolian harps and I'm sure that people living in caves, even, must have noticed that, with certain wind directions and speeds, all sorts of hums, sighs, groans and whistles were produced.
2 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
1 Dec 15
@owlwings Embarrassingly I had to actually look up the location of this building. Despite having been built some 9 years ago, I have not seen it.
It is situated on a side of Manchester that I rarely have reason to visit, so I would have been just as likely to notice a tall building in Mongolia.
3 people like this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
1 Dec 15
@LadyDuck Well, we have more than one person from Manchester here, so perhaps @Asylum or @arthurchappell could give us a resident's ear view!
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (459353)
• Switzerland
1 Dec 15
As the building is very tall, I am sure that it is more quiet inside (as the windows would not be opened) than outside. I am not surprised that the architect says that his penthouse is "quiet and peaceful", I would like to know what those who live near the tower say.
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
1 Dec 15
I'm attending a convention at this hotel in March next year
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
1 Dec 15
@LadyDuck I have never heard it from getting near the hotel which I pass often. I think the volume has been cranked up on the video to make it more dramatic
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (459353)
• Switzerland
1 Dec 15
@arthurchappell This is a possibility, I believe that people would complain if the noise was too loud.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
1 Dec 15
There is no way I would put up with that noise. It must drive people crazy. I wonder how they can live or even work there.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
1 Dec 15
@LadyDuck That's quite a noise to not hear if you are inside.. it must be built well.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
1 Dec 15
Sounds like a design flaw to me. I wouldn't want to live anywhere near it.
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
2 Dec 15
@LadyDuck The architect would probably be unhappy.
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
1 Dec 15
The worst part is it isn't just those that live in the building it is all their neighbors. I guess we can only hope it isn't windy that often in Manchester.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
1 Dec 15
WOW! I just read through the discussion, @LadyDuck ! I do hope Arthur will let us know about the noise level... I would think he must be right that the volume is cranked up high on that video or too many people would have complained and something would have to be done about that noise!
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
1 Dec 15
that would drive me nuts after awhile
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (79974)
• United States
1 Dec 15
Wow that is weird and eerie sounding
2 people like this
@Fishmomma (11377)
• United States
19 Feb 17
That is an interesting building maybe the neighbors are use to the sound. I live near a railroad and couldn't sleep when I moved in, but now have no problems with the sound of the railroad whistle and the sound the train makes on the tracks.
1 person likes this
