UPWARD PROGRESS?

Architecture has and always will be influenced by society. Architecture owes everything to mans social needs. And as the outlook of man changed so did the architecture. This is self-evident from historical studies. The status and character of any institution or society or even religious groups are represented through their architecture. The rise of modernism is characterized by the rise of the vertical buildings. From the construction of the first skyscrapers in Chicago there has been no turning back. More and more building are on a vertical race today. The rapid progress made in the field of building technology and materials has very much supported the age of the high-rises. Lightweight materials and innovative ideas literally sky rocketed the construction of high-rises. Though in the beginning they were scorned by the public and received much criticism, today they have become a status symbol, a little society on their own. Today more and more cities in our country are turning to high-rises as a solution to our problem. These vertical cities that have erupted all over the world our last few decades is indeed a phenomenal concept. If there is no land on the ground why not stack one house on top of another. But, these are not just stacks of houses. They form their own comfy little society. Most of the so called vertical cities have their own shopping malls, gymnasium and various social clubs. Add a school and few offices to it and one may never have to leave their building!?A vertically gated community. But they are not in state of perfection yet. Tall buildings have many negative impacts on its surrounding environment and society. Perhaps the greatest disadvantage is the amount of energy expended on vertical transportation. Adjacent buildings are often disturbed by ground wind effect due to diversion of wind streams. There is also the immense challenge of maintenance and repair, which by itself require a lot of energy and expense. One cannot deny the fact that high-rises provide a feasible solution to the ever rising land scarcity. Now-a-days, tall buildings are popping up everywhere without proper planning. Forty thousand years ago, man built his first shelter to protect himself from the wrath and fury of nature. So, it is most shameful that now at an age where is the impossible is being made possible that, it has become necessary to save nature from mans architecture. The golden question is of course do we need this? .Perhaps not but it will be done nonetheless. If proper norms and environmental considerations strictly adhered to, then vertical cities could be the future of mankind.

Lakshmi Menon S5, School of Architecture Govt. Engineering College, Trichur OBS 622