From load-bearing to steel and glass structures, humans have progressively built living and working spaces with time and their needs. Today, skyscrapers are symbols of technological advancement, structural design, and material research. They are characterised by their height and materials, such as glass, steel, and concrete. They are constructed for various purposes such as offices, residences, and hotels. [1] They are an effective way to maximise land and today, skyscrapers symbolise the economic power of a place.
According to sources, Chicago hosted the first skyscraper, in 1885. However, it is unclear which city did as New York argues on this point as well. Although skyscrapers are known to be an American Invention. When it comes to the use of elevators to access upper floors, the Equitable Life Assurance Building in New York which was an office building is known for it while the Home Insurance Building of Chicago was the first building to use a metal core embedded in masonry.
Francisco Mujica, the author of the book ‘The History of Skyscrapers’, says, there are three typologies for the first skyscrapers; pre-skyscrapers, embryo skyscrapers, and modern skyscrapers. The first is a tall masonry building with passenger elevators, the second is with elevators and a metal frame, and the final is a building constructed on steel frames with high-speed lifts. Mujica determined that Chicago’s Home Insurance Building would fall under the embryo skyscraper criteria, while the Rand Mulley building, which was built in Chicago, was the first to be constructed with steel frames.
The early skyscrapers adopted classical, Gothic, and neo-gothic styles with prominent features of intricate details and ornate facades. The Flatiron building and Woolworth building are examples of these architectural styles.
Later, advancements in construction were due to the involvement of steel and concrete, as the shift from masonry to steel was made, it enabled buildings to be taller and stronger along with concrete offering them to be resilient to fire. Furthermore, inventions such as safe elevators were crucial contributors to the development of taller skyscrapers. Elisha Otis introduced the first safety passenger elevator at the Crystal Palace Convention in New York City. His invention impressed spectators at the convention, and the first passenger elevator was installed in New York City in 1856. It allowed buildings to access upper floors for practical use. [2]
Moreover, the implementation of safety regulations, codes, and structural design made buildings safer and stronger than ever. Innovations in sprinkler systems and fire-resistant systems just added to the reasons for making buildings high-rise.
Moving on, to the early 20th century, movements such as the Art – Deco and Modernism influenced skyscraper designs. Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building are prime examples of the Art-Deco movement while the Lever House and the Seagram Building represent modernism which took over post-World War II. The modernist movement was international and was minimal, represented by the use of glass and clean lines. However, a massive rise in skyscraper construction was seen post-World War II as urbanisation took place. People began associating skyscrapers with economic growth and modernity.
In the late 20th century, styles like Postmodernism and Neo-futurism had scope to develop. This reintroduced the ornamental features and eclectic styles. Some of the examples include the AT&T Building and the Shanghai Tower. This boom in skyscraper construction and styles gave rise to the topic of sustainability and introduced green designs. For instance, the Bank of America Tower in New York consists of rainwater harvesting techniques. Bosco Verticale features a vertical forest in Milan.
Nowadays, there has been a battle between countries about hosting the tallest skyscrapers ever, for instance, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Before the Burj Khalifa which stands over 2716 ft, Shanghai Tower held the crown. [3] These supertall skyscrapers require extremely meticulous planning of structural stability as they face unique problems like wind resistance and usage of lightweight materials which need to look posh and are durable.
The future of skyscrapers is brighter than ever with the incorporation of 3D printing and materials like carbon fibre and internal systems, like integration of artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. These components will help skyscrapers to be more secure, and energy efficient thus improving the overall experience for the user.
- www.nar.realtor. (2018). Architectural Styles: Residential. [online] Available at: https://www.nar.realtor/magazine/tools/architectural-styles/residential.
- Graham, J. (2018). OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY | Encyclopaedia of Cleveland History | Case Western Reserve University. [online] Encyclopedia of Cleveland History | Case Western Reserve University. Available at: https://case.edu/ech/articles/o/otis-elevator-company.
- Wikipedia. (2020). Shanghai Tower. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_Tower.
