Why do you think Europe lacks a lot of skyscrapers?
Europe has very few skyscrapers while being one of the most developed, highly inhabited, and economically wealthy continents, especially when compared to Asia and North America. 66% of the continent's 218 skyscrapers—which have been built so far—are concentrated in just five cities: London, Paris, Frankfurt, Moscow, and Istanbul. Why then, do other significant European cities not accept the skyscraper? Without the large inner-urban space and floor surfaces that these ingenious constructions give, how can they survive? And is everything about to alter in our world that is becoming more urbanized?
Many European towns were already well-established in the 19th century, with big ancient buildings and public spaces that left the limited place for massive new constructions. Skyscrapers initially gained popularity in Chicago and then in New York. At that period, most European cities were more fairly zoned and did not see the significant demand for floor space in strategic locations that often drive the creation of high-rise buildings. In addition, as North America's power and influence grew, a cultural competition developed between Europeans and Americans who considered the class structure in Europe as archaic and Americans who saw some European ideas as undermining European traditions and way of life.
As a result, each continent was reluctant to embrace ideas from the others. Europe strove to protect its history, while North America sought to set the standard for a new era. This explains why skyscraper building didn't take off in Europe at first, but it doesn't explain why the region has lagged behind ever since. Many people believed that after the Second World War, European towns would modernize and adopt the skyscrapers that were being built in North America. But in western Europe, where several towns lost iconic and historic buildings, a strong urge to rebuild what had been destroyed emerged.
Additionally, due to Europe's lesser population at the time, there was less of a desire for floor space, which is what mostly drives skyscraper buildings. Therefore, modest buildings took the place of those that couldn't be rescued or renovated. While this was going on, the growing Soviet Union's reconstruction efforts in Eastern Europe included consisting mostly of mid-rise, repetitive buildings intended to accommodate the majority of the population. The first skyscrapers in Europe started to rise about this time, but they weren't a result of development or affluence; rather, they were an effort by the Soviet Union to demonstrate its might and influence.
Even though Brussels has never built a genuine skyscraper, it contributes to the continent's scarcity of these buildings. Without any meaningful zoning laws in place, many city buildings were demolished in the 1960s to make room for massive, contemporary buildings that paid little attention to their architectural or cultural significance. Many well-known individuals and architects came up with the term "Brusselization" and advocated for the introduction of new planning regulations after seeing the harm that this indiscriminate redevelopment was causing to the city. By requiring the restoration and integration of ancient facades into new constructions, these restrictions dramatically reduced the size of new structures while maintaining the city's cultural fabric. Due to the controversy in Brussels, many people in Europe now despise contemporary architecture and consider it to be lifeless or bland. As a result, several cities implemented such laws and established regulated areas, like Paris' La Defense, to prevent high-rise buildings in historic neighborhoods.
As the globe became more globally interconnected and architectural styles shifted away from box-like structures toward more distinctive forms at the beginning of the twenty-first century, views regarding tall buildings were softening across the continent. As the need for business space in these major financial centers has surged since the early 2000s, multiple towers have been built in cities including London, Paris, Moscow, Istanbul, and Frankfurt. Smaller European cities, on the other hand, have had more moderate growth and have shifted their attention to the environment and raising citizen living conditions.
In recent years, cities in Scandinavia and Central Europe have routinely scored among the top in the world in terms of sustainability, happiness, and well-being, while remaining vital to their respective national economies. However, skyscraper development in today's cities is no longer solely motivated by economic expansion or the demand for commercial office space. With 60% of the worldwide human population expected to live in cities by 2030, residential skyscrapers are gaining popularity, notably in Asia and North America.
Millions are moving into cities and large urban regions as many traditional rural-based businesses become mechanized, creating a substantial demand for residential space that is frequently satisfied by high-rise buildings. Europe is not immune to this phenomenon, especially given the extent of globalization and the continent's ambition to keep up with China and the US in terms of development and economic expansion. As a result, Europe may experience a surge of skyscrapers in the next decades. The particular problem facing future skyscraper development in Europe, however, is all about the past. With entire metropolitan centers now being deemed historically significant and the desire to maintain as much culture and architecture as possible rightfully remaining strong up to the current day.
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