Reconsidering the definition of high-rise

Skyscrapers are a very common type of building in urban areas around the world, it provides a lot of available spaces within a compact area. Skyscrapers can be used for commercial or residential purposes, mix usage high-rise has become very common as well. Skyscrapers represent the advancement of technology in built environment industry, it also represents the social and financial status of an individual or a company. Skyscrapers are linked with all three aspects of sustainability, the design of skyscraper should be carefully considered.

In March 2017, Dr Antony Wood has delivered a lecture on ‘the future of sustainable vertical urbanism’. According to Jennifer Duke, Wood claim that 95% of the skyscrapers designed is a failure. Wood stated that spaces that resident need and the quality of home should be provided in the high rise as the density of city model have increased (Duke 2017). The city would become ‘unviable’ if those criteria were not meet. His main arguments are the two design approach of the current skyscrapers which are monolithic block style and overtly- sculptural approach (Duke 2017). 

Monolithic block style refers to the design tries to fit in as many apartments in as possible regardless of the living quality in order to maximise the profit. Overtly sculptural approach refers to high rise are built to be iconic without consideration toward their appropriateness which results in a ‘zoo’ liked the city. Wood stated that the purpose of the high rise is bringing all the property of city into the sky, it should be a “city flipped vertically with public space and infrastructure” (Duke 2017).

I personally agreed with the statement of high rise present as a vertically flipped city. I think that the number of skyscrapers or high rise buildings would only increase in the future development of urban areas.  There would be less available land in urban areas, public spaces and infrastructure system should occur in the high rise or even between high rise buildings. For example, in CBD areas in Hong Kong, high rise buildings are connected through bridges for pedestrian accesses while the streets are mainly for traffic accesses. The bridges are also connected to different public facilities such as transport intersections, community centres and public squares. Mix usage high rise building is another example for well- design skyscrapers in urban areas since it provides better living quality for people.

I think it would be important for the design for high rise building to cater for the utility of people in order to achieve sustainability and sustainable development of cities since it is deeply linked with the future development of a city.

Duke, J. (2017, March 9). 95 per cent of skyscrapers 'are crap pieces of design', says architecture professor. Available at: https://www.domain.com.au/news/shortfall-of-the-tall-most-skyscrapers-are-crap-pieces-of-design-expert-says-20170308-gut0ky/ [Accessed 7 April 2017].