![]() For this reason, the author defends that Shanghai, by defining globalization, by being among the most active cities in the construction of skyscrapers, by building more than New York and by building increasingly technologically advanced tall towers, has the possibility to devise a peculiar Chinese modernity, or even deconstruct or give a substantial boost to the general concept of Western modernity. The work concludes that the past, present and future of Shanghai have been minimized, that its history has been shortened, that it is a liminal site, as its most outstanding skyscrapers, built on the edge of the river and on the border between past and future. ![]() The work finds out what type of temporal narrative expresses the concentration of these skyscrapers on the two banks of the Huangpu, that of the Bund and that of the Pudong, and finally, it analyzes the seven most representative and significant skyscrapers built in the city in recent years, in order to reveal whether they opt for tradition or modernity, globalization or the local. In this sense, it describes how the city seeks modernization and in what concrete way it designs a modern temporal discourse. It concludes by projecting a vision of tall buildings and their integration into the cities of the 21st century.This article aims to find out to what extent the skyscrapers erected in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, in Shanghai, follow the modern program promoted by the State and the city and how they play an essential role in the construction of the temporary discourse that this modernization entails. The paper attempts to dispel any discernment about tall buildings as mere pieces of art and architecture by emphasizing their truly speculative, technological, sustainable, and evolving nature. Case studies of some recently built tall buildings are discussed to illustrate the nature of tall building development in their respective cities. The paper argues that as cities continue to expand horizontally, to safeguard against their reaching an eventual breaking point, the tall building as a building type is a possible solution by way of conquering vertical space through agglomeration and densification. Then, it provides a brief account of the historic and recent developments of tall buildings including their status during the current economic recession. The foremost and fundamental question that is often asked: Why tall buildings? This review paper seeks to answer the question by laying out arguments against and for tall buildings. It conjures a number of valid questions in our minds. It embodies unrelenting human aspirations to build even higher. The tall building is the most dominating symbol of the cities and a human-made marvel that defies gravity by reaching to the clouds. ![]() Importantly, the geographical location of the building (chosen in a post World War II setting), and the iconic design that has come to represent the UN’s physical locality, both feed off, and feed into, the cultural, political, and economic ideologies embodied in this ‘world’ institution from the outset. The most striking features of this construction, however, require deeper analysis: namely, the meanings and values represented by, and expressed through, the location choice for the headquarters (place), and the design of the structure (iconicity). Construction began in October 1949 once the land was cleared of existing buildings,3 and when it was completed in October 1952 the UN headquarters stood as one of the most daring pieces of modern architecture of the period, an ‘image of bold progress for the international organisation’,4. Harrison of the United States, and Le Corbusier of France. secured New York as the settlement site over other potential locations, including Philadelphia, Boston and San Francisco.2 The team of designers commissioned to work on the design were as international as their project, and included some of the most famous architects in the world: Wallace K. In December 1946, just over a year after its inception, the United Nations (UN) accepted an offer from the United States to permanently house its headquarters in New York City.1 The United States was chosen as the host country in late 1946, and a last minute US$8.5 million dollar donation by philanthropic businessman John D.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |