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Tall Replaces Sprawl in Urban Expansion
By Neil Peterson | April 30, 2009
In the opening credits of the seminal TV series, Star Trek, the opening narration begins with ‘Space… the Final Frontier.’ It is, but possibly in ways we have yet to imagine here on Earth. Urban sprawl has continued its unabated advancement mile by horizontal mile, but some are calling for a new dimension to the growth – vertical. As metropolitan populations grow, new land is becoming a scarce and costly commodity – and some believe that it is time we started looking up.
For those living in cities constrained by natural topography, the vertical “build-out” is well underway. The residents of Manhattan and Tokyo are inured to sights of gigantic building cranes constructing the steel and glass megaliths that dot the skylines. For other cities, growth has only been limited by the willingness of the populace to endure long commutes and limited parking.
Urban density has long been a hot button issue among city planners, developers, councilmen, and residents. But with society’s growing concern over ecological responsibility, the innate human desire for personal space is now being challenged by a new concern – the need for urban sustainability. There is a strong correlation between low density population numbers and high carbon emissions. City living has surprising environmental benefits, but as we continue to see the migration from rural to urban living, we have to ask ourselves, where are we going to put everyone?
By moving up, we can combine greater numbers of residents with mixed-use spaces at street level. There is a large amount of research promoting the benefits of concentrated population centers – and a growing contingent of proponents calling for a transformation in city living.
Surrounded by vistas of sea and mountains, Vancouver, BC is thought to be one of the world’s most beautiful cities, and is leading the charge for increased urban density – to growing cheers of support from its populace. In 2006, the city launched EcoDensity – an initiative to increase population growth, while decreasing the environmental impact. Many believe Vancouver’s success can be attributed to its embrace of what has become known as the 8 pillars of urban sustainability:
- A complete walkable community
- A low-impact transportation system
- Green buildings
- Flexible open space
- Green infrastructure
- A healthy food system
- Community facilities and programmes
- Economic development
Mick Pearce – Tactics for Sustainable Cities
Going vertical has had surprising benefits for the Vancouver metropolis – creating livable, neighborhoods, boosting the economy, and promoting the use of public transportation – with the added advantage of reducing the city’s carbon footprint. Urban apartment buildings are far more efficient to heat and cool, as compared to single-family dwellings, and new methods of reusing resources continue to improve sustainability efforts. By clustering the residential and commercial areas in several smaller, taller locations, planners hope to make more space available for agriculture concerns, such as community gardens, and green areas on the peripheries of the city.
In his book, Kill the Skyscraper, superstar architect Rem Koolhaas railed against the ongoing popularity of building big – but he may not be looking at the whole picture. By going vertical, we can reduce our environmental impact, and make vast changes to the accepted notions of urban living. Shorter commutes, convenient and accessible shopping, and a growing sense of neighborhood pride – and involvement – are only a few of the benefits enjoyed by Vancouver residents. And developers in other cities around the world are taking note.
Vertical appears set to become the next stage of urban growth.
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