Multi-Dimensional Impact of High-Rise Buildings on Urban Quality of Life in European Cities

Abstract

Ever since the industrial revolution in the late 19th Century and the introduction of “The Contemporary City” by Le Corbusier in 1922, high-rise buildings have dominated the landscapes of modern cities on a global scale. Following initial experimentation in the North American cities of Chicago and New York, the high-rise structures have anchored their existence in Europe, the Middle East and the Asia Pacific region ever since then. As constructing high-rise buildings increasingly becomes a worldwide phenomenon, it is worthwhile to examine the impact that these high-rise buildings have had on city dweller’s perception of the quality of life in their cities of residence. As interactions with high-rise structures become an inevitable facet of urban livelihoods, it is increasingly important to study the underlying benefits and detriments of permanently weaving these high-rise buildings into the urban fabric. When cross-referenced with past scholarly literatures that have attempted to discuss the topic, the findings derived from such studies would be of interest to policymakers and urban planners responsible for addressing the implications with regards to the proliferation of high-rise buildings in cityscapes.

In this study, it is found that the emergence of high-rise buildings has not only permanently changed the physical manifestation of urban cities, but the characteristics of these high-rise buildings have varyingly influenced residents’ perception of the quality of life with respect to multiple dimensions, both in the long term and short term. In particular, residents’ perception of the quality of public transport infrastructure is positively associated with the average building height of the high-rise buildings in cities. On the contrary, any change in the average building height is unlikely to affect the cities’ appeal to non-residents as travel destinations in the short term, but a significant impact is observed in the long term. Finally, the results suggest that the impact on housing affordability is strong, but it is significantly depending on the planning horizon.