ABSTRACT
This chapter argues against tall buildings in terms of sustainability. It demonstrates how height and verticality can provide sustainability challenges but also opportunities as compared to low- and medium-rise buildings, across environmental, social and economic realms. The chapter shows that it can be difficult to consider many tall buildings sustainable at the building scale, as often their designs fail to mitigate these challenges or seize the opportunities for improved performance. It suggests that where tall building design does respond to local climate, and tackle the inherent challenges that height presents, sustainable and energy-efficient high-rise are readily achievable. Cities will expand rapidly in the twenty-first century to accommodate increased populations. One of the primary criticisms of high-rises is that they have been found to use much more energy than low- and medium-rise buildings, due to factors moderated by their height.
