Do you agree or disagree with this article?
This article discusses the concept of vertical cities where buildings grow taller due to limited horizontal expansion in urban areas. While skyscrapers are a common response to the demand for more space in core districts of global cities, the author argues that the idea of a self-contained "vertical city" challenges the traditional definition of a city.
The author highlights that the fundamental nature of cities is horizontal, with networks of streets connecting various parts of a settlement. In contrast, vertical cities rely on elevators and separate entrances, promoting separation rather than connection. This makes them attractive to foreign investors but less conducive to community-building.
On the other hand, horizontal cities, made up of discrete structures, are more adaptable and resilient. Each building represents a smaller bet on the future, and failures can be learned from, allowing for fresh starts and adaptation.
While horizontal cities endure through adaptation, vertical cities may face significant challenges in the long run.
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Another drawback of vertical cities is their physical inflexibility. Aging skyscrapers can be expensive to maintain and difficult to upgrade due to their construction in eras of cheap energy and limited adaptability. Demolishing them is also challenging thanks to their sheer size and height.
Built in an era of cheap energy, many post-war Manhattan towers have facades of single-glazed glass, and structures that can’t support the weight of additional insulating glass. Many have low ceilings, tight column spacing, and inefficient heating and cooling systems. Often these have become even more cramped by having to accommodate the infrastructure of modern information technology.
Built in an era of cheap energy, many post-war Manhattan towers have facades of single-glazed glass, and structures that can’t support the weight of additional insulating glass. Many have low ceilings, tight column spacing, and inefficient heating and cooling systems. Often these have become even more cramped by having to accommodate the infrastructure of modern information technology.
On the other hand, horizontal cities, made up of discrete structures, are more adaptable and resilient. Each building represents a smaller bet on the future, and failures can be learned from, allowing for fresh starts and adaptation.
While horizontal cities endure through adaptation, vertical cities may face significant challenges in the long run.
Almost £2bn will be invested by the government into building new homes on derelict or unused land in England.
More than 2.5 million people across the UK currently live further than a 10 minute walk from their closest green space.
Tim Farron, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for housing, said people buying new homes would be "forced to fork out thousands to upgrade their homes in the future to cut their bills and reduce emissions".
"In his Budget, the chancellor should bring forward new standards for greener homes to ensure all new homes are cheap to heat and produce minimal emissions," he said.
Zoe Nicholson, Green Party leader of Lewes District Council, said building on brownfield sites made sense, but added the government's investment was an "absurdly small amount of money".
"It would be more effective if they handed this £2bn of funding to local authorities, which would allow them to build net zero council homes," she said,.
"This announcement seems to be little more than a gimmick intended to distract us from the fact that their agenda is to simply 'build, build, build' on our countryside to the benefit of greedy developers."
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