amea_gari said:
In France, and, I dare say, other parts of the world, the first floor is not the first floor, but the bottom floor. The second floor is the first floor, and so on.
You'll not belive it but in the good old USA, and dare i say, other parts of the world, the groung floor is called the first floor and the first floor the second floor, and so on!!!
It is logical that the ground floor is the floor at ground level. and the first floor level is the first suspended floor. the american system has the same logic as calling a new born baby 1year old. I personally think its and american penis envy thing and they just like everything to sound bigger.
Many large buildings will utilise the 13th floor as a plant area for heating - vent, fire services and landlords admin and storage, hence the appearance of an additional floor from outside and longer lift times. Or they miss out the 13th altogether as the land lord would not be able to demand the same rental as the rest of the building.
I live at number 15, the houses next door are 17 and 11, hence no 13. this is a newish home and the decicion on the house number was down to the developer not the council, to maximise the profit.
A lot of people who live at a number 13, tend to give there home a name instead of the number.
Hence it's not the builders, councils, landlords, architects etc that are supersticious. Its us!
I belive that cinema, theatre, airopane and train seats also miss out number 13.