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“Foundations can appropriately be described as a necessary evil. If a building is to be constructed on an outcrop of sound rock, no foundation is required. Hence, in contrast to the building itself, which satisfies specific needs, appeals to the aesthetic sense, and fills its masters with pride, foundations merely serve as a remedy for the deficiencies of whatever whimsical nature provided for the support of the structure at the site which has been selected. On account of the fact that no glory is attached to foundations, and that the sources of success or failure are hidden deep in the ground, building foundations have always been treated as step children and their acts of revenge for the lack of attention can be very embarrassing.” Karl Terzaghi

Frase Terzaghi

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“Foundations can appropriately be described as a necessary

evil. If a building is to be constructed on an outcrop of sound rock,

no foundation is required. Hence, in contrast to the building itself,

which satisfies specific needs, appeals to the aesthetic sense, and

fills its masters with pride, foundations merely serve as a remedy

for the deficiencies of whatever whimsical nature provided for the

support of the structure at the site which has been selected. On

account of the fact that no glory is attached to foundations, and

that the sources of success or failure are hidden deep in the

ground, building foundations have always been treated as step

children and their acts of revenge for the lack of attention can be

very embarrassing.”

Karl Terzaghi (The Influence of Modern Soil Studies On the Design and Construction of Foundations, 1951)

Las cimentaciones pueden describirse adecuadamente como un mal necesario.

Si se ha de construir un edificio sobre un afloramiento de roca sana, no hace falta

cimentación. De ahí que, en contraste con el edificio en sí, que satisface ciertas

necesidades, apela al sentido estético y colma de orgullo a sus creadores, las

cimentaciones no son más que un remedio para las deficiencias de naturaleza

caprichosa presentes bajo el apoyo de la estructura en el emplazamiento que se ha

elegido. Con la escusa de que no hay gloria tras las cimentaciones, y de que las

causas del éxito o el fracaso quedan ocultas en el terreno, los cimientos de los

edificios se han tratado siempre como hijastros, y sus actos de venganza por la falta

de atención pueden ser muy embarazosos.