Ep 1. Tokyo's Sky City

In the season 1 premiere episode of Extreme Engineering, entitled Tokyo's Sky City, viewers are taken on a journey to discover how Japan's capital city is coping with its ever-growing population. With the city's population set to reach 36 million by the year 2025, engineers and architects have had to come up with creative solutions to accommodate so many people.

The episode begins by introducing the concept of the Sky City project - a proposed 200-storey building that would become the world's tallest. The building would offer a range of amenities, including shops, apartments, offices, schools, hospitals, and parks, all contained within a single structure. By consolidating so many functions, proponents of the Sky City project argue that it can help to alleviate some of the problems caused by overcrowding in Tokyo.

The show's presenter, Danny Forster, meets with the architects and engineers tasked with designing and building the Sky City project. He explores the technology behind the building's design, which includes a unique construction method that uses a central core to stabilize the entire structure. The core would be built first, and then the floors, walls, and ceilings would be added around it, in a process that would take just over 90 days per floor.

Throughout the episode, viewers are treated to stunning visuals of the proposed building, which would stand over 2,000 feet tall and feature an aerodynamic shape designed to resist earthquakes and typhoons. The building's design has been compared to that of a rocket ship, and it would have a footprint of just five acres - much smaller than other buildings of its size.

The Sky City project is not without its detractors, however. Some experts worry that such a tall building could be vulnerable in the event of a major earthquake - a common occurrence in Japan - and that its location, near the city's waterfront, puts it at risk of flooding in the event of a tsunami. Others worry about the impact the building would have on the surrounding area, including traffic congestion, noise pollution, and the loss of green space.

Despite these concerns, the architects and engineers behind the Sky City project remain committed to their vision. Proponents argue that the project would be an impressive feat of engineering, and that it would offer a sustainable solution to the pressing problems faced by Tokyo's residents. They believe that the building would help to reduce energy consumption, improve transportation, and reduce pollution, among other benefits.

The episode concludes with a look at the future of the Sky City project. While plans for the building have not yet been approved, the project's proponents remain hopeful that it will one day become a reality. They believe that the building could help to serve as a model for sustainable urban development, not just in Japan, but around the world.

Overall, Tokyo's Sky City is a fascinating look at the challenges posed by urbanization and overpopulation, and the innovative solutions being developed to address these problems. The episode highlights the incredible creativity and ingenuity of the engineers and architects involved in the Sky City project, as well as the potential benefits - and risks - that come with such a bold undertaking. Fans of architecture, engineering, and urban planning will find plenty to enjoy in this captivating episode of Extreme Engineering.