High-Rise Living in Asian Cities.

AuthorSchiavenza, Matthew
PositionBrief article - Book review

HIGH-RISE LIVING IN ASIAN

CITIES

Belinda Yuen and Anthony Yeh, editors

(New York: Springer, 2011), 202 pages.

With a rapidly growing global population crowding cities, the need for high-density housing has never been greater. However, these types of buildings tend to polarize people. To some, they represent modernity, elegance and urban sophistication. To others, they are symbols of crime, soullessness and depressing solitude. What accounts for these differences in perception?

In High-Rise Living in Asian Cities, Belinda Yuen and Anthony Yeh set out to answer this question by analyzing two cities famous for their residential density: Hong Kong and Singapore. For from being centers of crime and decay, these two Asian metropolises are known for being some of the cleanest, safest and most prosperous cities in the world.

Residents in the two cities report satisfaction with their high-rise homes, even preferring to live on higher rather than lower floors. In comparison, survey respondents in North American and European countries still prefer low-density, low-rise living. Yuen and Yeh consider several factors that...

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