Lloyd Alter on Treehugger.com discusses a life lesson:
I have learned this the hard way. When I built my first condo in Toronto, the penthouse had a balcony that was on top of a unit below. When the window washers threw their lines over the handrails on that balcony, it bent the handrails in, penetrating the membrane, letting in water to the unit below and costing me $16,000 to repair. One silly mistake and there you go. There is a reason that although I was a strict modernist, I have come to respect and admire traditional detailing and design; Through the course of history architects have learned how to cope with these kinds of issues. It’s why traditional buildings have roof overhangs and cornices; they are all there to keep water off the walls. They are there to provide multiple levels of protection and insurance so that it still keeps the water out even when caulks or membranes fail.
Balancing the new with the old.
