We obtain non-vanishing of group $L^p$-cohomology of Lie groups for $p$ large and when the degree is equal to the rank of the group. This applies both to semisimple and to some suitable solvable groups. In particular, it confirms that Gromovs questio
n on vanishing below the rank is formulated optimally. To achieve this, some complementary vanishings are combined with the use of spectral sequences. To deduce the semisimple case from the solvable one, we also need comparison results between various theories for $L^p$-cohomology, allowing the use of quasi-isometry invariance.
Given a semisimple group over a complete non-Archimedean field, it is well known that techniques from non-Archimedean analytic geometry provide an embedding of the corresponding Bruhat-Tits builidng into the analytic space associated to the group; by
composing the embedding with maps to suitable analytic proper spaces, this eventually leads to various compactifications of the building. In the present paper, we give an intrinsic characterization of this embedding.
Given a split semisimple group over a local field, we consider the maximal Satake-Berkovich compactification of the corresponding Euclidean building. We prove that it can be equivariantly identified with the compactification which we get by embedding
the building in the Berkovich analytic space associated to the wonderful compactification of the group. The construction of this embedding map is achieved over a general non-archimedean complete ground field. The relationship between the structures at infinity, one coming from strata of the wonderful compactification and the other from Bruhat-Tits buildings, is also investigated.
