High-density living in the Asian context

Abstract

Population increase, land shortage and rising land prices have made high-density living in parts of Asia an accepted way of life. The embracing of Corbusien city planning principles saw many an Asian city redefine its skyline and embrace the tall building as the panacea to high-density development in a rapid transformation given largely to planning guidelines that were attuned to rapid economic development. Despite the typologies association with certain socio-physiological ills, the tall building nevertheless continues to be adopted. But attempts to readdress such ills through the creation of more hybrid forms that balance space with object in the interests of providing natural light, ventilation and places for social interaction have started to redefine the Asian tall building which historically adopted the hermetically sealed air-conditioned box approach. Skycourts, skygardens and interlinking skybridges are architectural devices increasingly being incorporated, which seek to reduce perceived tall-building densities and provide residents with more habitable living environments in provision of a greater ratio of social space to built-up area. Newton Suites, The Pinnacle and the Linked Hybrid are just a few examples of an increasing body of case studies which explore the interface between solid and void within a high-density environment.