The high life

The great French architect who came to be known as Le Corbusier was criticised in the 1920s for designing early high-rise apartment buildings. Although his work continues to be copied by noted modernist architects today, at the time critics were sure that living in dense, high-rise urban environments would lead to madness, or worse.

Some of Le Corbusier’s plans were a little far-out, sure. In his long career, he designed remarkable furniture, as well as fantastic modern homes. But most often his brilliant design is talked about against his more radical proposals. Aside from re-housing Paris’s poor into a series of skyscrapers, he also proposed destroying the centre of the city to turn it into a grid of modern buildings capable of housing three million people in an orderly fashion.

While there are high-rise buildings in Sydney with serious social problems, most of the people who now live in sky-homes have made a conscious decision to do so, and enjoy the benefits.

For a high-rise life can be attractive in many ways. The views are often outstanding, and a great view can often make up for cramped conditions.

Some buildings come with a doorperson, which offers great security and a friendly face at the front door. And the location of the buildings in the inner city means work is often only a walk away. Less commuting time naturally leads to a better quality of life -“ no-one really enjoys sitting on the train or driving in heavy traffic twice a day.

There are some arguments for the environmental benefits of building high-rise apartments, too. Putting more people on one inner-city site reduces the impact of urban sprawl significantly. It lessens the residents’ environmental impact by reducing their reliance on cars, and their water usage by reducing the amount of garden maintenance.

Although strata fees can be high in large-scale blocks, the fees cover the building’s maintenance, which can easily escalate in private houses. And most buildings today come with gyms, pools, and communal gardens or barbecue areas.

Some suggest living in such buildings can be isolating, as few residents get to know their neighbours. Often this is not the case. At least one complex in the inner west comes with an internet networking site to encourage community building, and people moving from traditional housing into high rises often bring their community spirit with them.

High-rise housing is not for everyone, but for those looking to enjoy inner-city convenience and less maintenance, they can be the perfect environment.