Complete gig history
All talks by Stefan Al
4 talks·4 with video·3 years
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Towering 85 meters above the Norwegian countryside, Mjøstårnet is the world's tallest wooden building, made almost entirely from the trees of neighboring forests. But as recently as the end of the 20th century, engineers thought it was impossible to build a wooden building over 6 stories tall. So how do wooden structures like this compare to steel and concrete skyscrapers? Stefan Al investigates. [Directed by Franz Palomares, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Stephen LaRosa].
By 2050, it's estimated that over 65% of the world will be living in cities. We may think of nature as being unconnected to our urban spaces, but trees have always been an essential part of successful cities. Humanity has been uncovering these arboreal benefits since the creation of our first cities thousands of years ago. So what makes trees so important to a city's survival? Stefan Al explains. [Directed by Mette Ilene Holmriis, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Bamm Bamm Wolfgang].
In January 1953, a tidal surge shook the North Sea. The titanic waves flooded the Dutch coastline, killing almost 2,000 people. 54 years later, a similar storm threatened the region. But this time, they were ready. This was thanks to a massive, interlocking system known as the Delta Works— the most sophisticated flood prevention project in the world. Stefan Al dives into this marvel of engineering. [Directed by JodyPrody, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by André Aires / AIM Creative Studios].
In 1956, architect Frank Lloyd Wright proposed a mile-high skyscraper, a building five times as high as the Eiffel Tower. While this massive tower was never built, today bigger and bigger buildings are going up around the world. How did these impossible ideas turn into architectural opportunities? Stefan Al explains how these megastructures became fixtures of our city skylines. [Directed by TED-Ed, narrated by Addison Anderson].