What you say about New York makes sense. But, I actually don't have enough urban planning knowledge to know whether there are good reasons to build tall buildings. Part of it is just compactness I believe, many cities have poor road infrastructure and are easiest to navigate via walking, biking, or transit. Tall buildings I believe would make this process easier. Similarly, once the city is already built, if one wishes to expand one's offices in the city, the only place to go is up, moving to the outskirts is an option of course, but it would mean the company or organization is no longer central. So long as cities have desirable locations, financial districts, etc. I think sky scrapers make sense. Wonder at what level diminishing returns kick in on that, 40 levels of practicality and 30 levels of hubris, that sort of thing.
I'll bet the textbook is right though when tall buildings go up in cities that are young or don't have desirable but crowded districts. Although, I think typically the edifice complex [not my term, I think I've seen it enough that I can use it without sounding pretentious, let me know if I'm wrong and I'll avoid it ;) ] is not just a city thing, but is also possessed by companies and organizations that which to show their prosperity via property. I don't really mind this, so long as the aesthetics of the city are improved by the building.
Absolutely right about Malaysia, I actually find it kinda neat to watch cities/nations compete for the tallest building, the architecture is at least moderately varied and not all that ugly. Although the use of antennas to up the height I find more than a little bit silly.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2002-12-19 02:26 pm (UTC)I'll bet the textbook is right though when tall buildings go up in cities that are young or don't have desirable but crowded districts. Although, I think typically the edifice complex [not my term, I think I've seen it enough that I can use it without sounding pretentious, let me know if I'm wrong and I'll avoid it ;) ] is not just a city thing, but is also possessed by companies and organizations that which to show their prosperity via property. I don't really mind this, so long as the aesthetics of the city are improved by the building.
Absolutely right about Malaysia, I actually find it kinda neat to watch cities/nations compete for the tallest building, the architecture is at least moderately varied and not all that ugly. Although the use of antennas to up the height I find more than a little bit silly.