In recent years, the rapid pace of tall building construction has fostered a certain kind of placelessness, with many new tall buildings being built out of scale, context and place. By analyzing hundreds of tall buildings and by providing hundreds of visuals that inspire, stimulate and engage, Understanding Tall Buildings contends that well-designed tall buildings can rejuvenate cities, ignite economic activity, support social life and boost city pride. Although this book does not claim to possess all the solutions, it does propose specific tall building design guidelines that may help to promote placemaking. Through this work, it is the author´s hope that ill-conceived developments will become less common in the future and that good placemaking will become the norm, not the exception. This book is a must-read for students and practitioners working to create better tall buildings and better urban environments.
Acknowledgements
Dedication
List of Figures
Introduction
PART I: The Urban Design Dimension
Chapter 1: Tall Buildings and Imageability
Chapter 2: City Skyline
PART II: The Architectural Dimension
Chapter 3: The Rise of the Iconic TowerChapter 4: The New Age of the Iconic Tower
PART III: The Human Dimension
Chapter 5: The Tower Base
Chapter 6: Urban PlazasChapter 7: Public Parks and Open Spaces
PART IV: The Transport Dimension
Chapter 8: Tall Buildings and the Transport SystemChapter 9: Case Studies: Tall Buildings and Transit Oriented Development
Chapter 10: Placemaking and Tall Buildings: Ten Planning Guidelines
Bibliography
Index
By analyzing hundreds of tall buildings and by providing hundreds of visuals that inspire, stimulate, and engage, Understanding Tall Buildings: A Theory of Placemaking contends that well-designed tall buildings can rejuvenate cities, ignite economic activity, support social life and boost city pride. This book is a must read for students and practitioners working to create better tall buildings and better urban environments.
