Buildering
|
|
Buildering_on_doran_bridge.jpg
Usually involving free climbing in difficult conditions, buildering can be very dangerous and is often practiced outside of legal bounds, and is thus mostly undertaken at night-time. Adepts of buildering who are seen climbing on buildings without authorization are regularly met by police forces upon completing their exploit. Spectacular acts of buildering, such as free climbing skyscrapers, are usually accomplished by lone, experienced climbers, sometimes attracting large crowds of passers-by and media attention. These remain relatively rare.
Less impressive forms of urban climbing can be observed in demonstrations, as a mean of protest, or technoparade events, where people frequently climb on sign posts and other small structures.
Unlike many other extreme sports, buildering has probably been practiced for a long time, perhaps as long as man has built buildings.
Famous urban climbers
- Alain Robert has climbed the Empire State Building in New York, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the Sears Tower in Chicago and the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, among others.
- Dan Goodwin, aka Spider Dan climbed the Sears Tower in Chicago in 1981.
- George Willig climbed the World Trade Center.
- Heath Bunting noted for his climbing exploits at the Urban Olympics.
- Harry and Simon Westaway climbed the Palace of Westminster Clock Tower in London as an anti-war protest for Greenpeace.
External links
- Official website of Alain Robert (http://www.alainrobert.com)
- Ascent of the Arche de la Defence (http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_442000/442002.stm)
- Danish buildering site (http://www.urbanclimbing.dk)de:Buildering