1. The project aims to reopen the debate on high-rise living in today’s context and to develop the Design Brief that will lead to a new generation of sustainable high-rise towers in UK. 

The 1960’s saw the decline of high-rise living for a number of well-known reasons. In recent times, the landscape has changed and there has been an increased desire for tall buildings. This has been prompted by: growing suburbia, need for inner city density and living, potential for renewable energy generation and advent of new technologies such as, cellular stacking for car parking, etc. 

Short term objectives

In the short term, the project intends to challenge the conventional design approach and enable designers to generate strategies that meet the aims of sustainable construction. 

Medium term objectives

With the aid of solutions based on ideal Design Brief and case studies, demonstrate to Clients and Developers that high-rise towers, in the urban context, can be a sustainable choice socially, economically and environmentally. 

Long term objectives

The long-term aim of the project is to enable urban renewal by increasing people’s choices within the city, which increases densities and therefore efficiency and bringing inner city areas back to life.

Contribution to Key Policy Aims

Over the last 30 years, Construction industry has moved from the ill fated “stack 'em high, build 'em cheap”, comprehensive treatment approach of the 1960s, to sprawling out-of-town housing estates, business parks and retail centres¹. With 3.8m new homes needed by 2021, it is critical that sustainable alternatives for building are explored and communicated the property market. 

Urban White Paper, which aims at easing the pressure on our countryside by bringing people back into town and city centers, explains that all urban areas to some extent are having to deal with five distinct but related issues, these are as follows: 

• The trend has been for people and jobs to move out of major towns and cities.

• In some neighborhoods there is a poorer quality of life and lack of opportunity.

• Society is changing, with people living longer, having fewer children and many more living alone. As a result we may need to provide for up to 3.8 million new households over the next twenty years.

• Economic performance has varied greatly. Some urban areas have fared badly with knock-on effects on the surrounding region.

• The environment, local and global, needs stronger protection.

 The project addresses the issues arising in the Urban White Paper by suggesting alternative means of living and working in the cities, improving the quality of high-rise living as well as illustrate methods of sustainable construction.  

The project also responds to themes for action set out in the Building for a Better Quality of Life, such as ‘Design for minimum waste’, ‘Minimise energy in use’ and ‘Do not pollute’ and the social and economic themes for example, ‘Respect people and their local environment’ and ‘Set targets’. The following section explains how these have been incorporated: 

Environment The potential reduction in environmental impacts through a reduced ‘ecological footprint’ and reduction in transportation energy make high-rise living/working issues critically important in today’s context. In the urban context, tall buildings also provide great potential for renewable energy generation. For example, geothermal energy, which can be tapped through pile foundations and wind energy as wind density increases with altitude, etc. 

Through the study of ecologically sustainable tower design, construction and operation issues, and presenting representative solutions, the project aims to ensure that energy and water savings and harvesting strategies are incorporated into schemes in an appropriate fashion. This will ensure that UK continues to work towards its commitments to CO₂ emission reduction, whilst continuing to maintain the highest standards of internal living conditions for the building occupants. 

Social The development and history of tower blocks in the UK has not been a success story. But high-density inner-city housing is likely to become a priority for urban centres of UK over the next ten years². Given the increasing demand for inner city housing and the likely formation of many new households, many of them single parents or couples; high-rises have an important role to play in the regeneration of our cities.  

This project will highlight the key requirements for a ‘socially sustainable’ tower, i.e., privacy, accessibility, etc. by understanding the potential social impact of high-rise living and working. The project will also explore how present technologies, such as enhanced security systems, and services can add to the quality of life. The project through its dissemination strategy will try and remove the stigma attached to tower blocks and suggest ways to design socially acceptable towers.

Economic The project aims to understand the key factors influencing initial cost, whole life cost, rental value, etc. of high-rise apartments and offices. The project will present approximate costs of sustainable strategies, such that clients and developers can appreciate the economic benefits and understand that sustainable towers are a profitable and affordable proposition. 

A group of experts will come together mid way the projects to analyse and orient the research and challenge and debate the issues arising. The group will be made up of Planners, Architects, Engineers and Environmental and Cost consultants.