High-Rise Living in Asian Cities, 2011

This book is intended to fill a knowledge gap in the study of contemporary high-rise living. While there has been much documentation on the engineering and technological aspects of tall buildings, relatively little has been written about the social and livability of high-rise. Much less is written about Asian cities even though Asia is the current hotbed of high-rise development.

Even though traditional discourse of high-rise housing is not always positive, new forces are redefining its place in 21st century urbanity. Many cities around the world are reembracing high-rise in urban agenda under current narrative of sustainable development. High-rise is fast becoming a priority area in international research agenda. The quest is for livable and sustainable high-rise development. Against the background of current trends--globalization, urbanization, mixed-use development, and new-built taller buildings in inner city areas in both developed and developing countries, this book examines the software: design, economics, estate management, legal and property rights, physical environment, planning, community development, and social dimensions of high-rise living. Analysis is with the widely acclaimed successful high-rise public housing in Hong Kong and Singapore to understand the advantages and worries of high-rise living, and to distill the key points and lessons in the making of a ?good? highrise living environment. Hong Kong and Singapore have been constructing high-rise for more than four decades each. The majority of their population has moved to live in high-rise, selecting to live high-rise, and registering consistently high residential satisfaction. The height of apartment buildings in both cities continues to rise. The tallest is anticipated to be 70-storey. It is the contention of this book that contrary to earlier common negative discourses on public high-rise living, the high-rise environment may yet offer urban residents a satisfying dwelling experience. Leading housing academics, researchers and practitioners in the two cities have contributed to this book. This book presents a timely contribution to our understanding of a widening urban phenomenon that will affect a growing number of the world?s  population.

Preface

1. Introduction: Tall Building Living in Asian Cities
Anthony G.O. Yeh and Belinda Yuen

2. Tall Building Living in High Density Cities: A Comparison of Hong Kong and Singapore
Anthony G.O. Yeh and Belinda Yuen

3. Physical Environment of Tall Residential Buildings: The Case of Hong Kong
Stephen S.Y. Lau

4. Planning and Design of Environmentally Sustainable High-rises
Wenjian Zhu and Rebecca L.H. Chiu

5. Garden and Ecology in the Sky
Belinda Yuen

6. Legislation and Safety of Tall Residential Buildings
W.S. Wong

7. The Value of Clean Air in High-Density Urban Areas
K.W. Chau, S.K. Wong, Andy T. Chan and K. Lam

8. Liveability of Tall Residential Buildings
Belinda Yuen

9. Community Development in Tall Residential Buildings
Stephen J. Appold

10. In the March of High-rise
Belinda Yuen

Index

Appendix (CD-ROM included inside back cover)
The State of Urban High-rise Research: An Annotated Bibliography|
Compiled by Belinda Yuen

Deals with current hot topic on high-rise living in fast-growing Asian cities - Interrogates the question of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ high-rise living environment - Offers insight to the factors that promote high-rise livability

Analyses the sustainability of high-rise