In China skyscrapers no taller than 500 meters
Beijing puts a height limit on buildings to "respect the landscape"
Ban on the skyscrapers over 500 meters high, to begin a new era and ensure that buildings represent the salient Chinese characteristics . This is the decision of the Beijing government that issued a circular letter addressed to architects and urban planners, according to a CNN reports. The country that hosts some of the tallest skyscrapers in the world, particularly in Shanghai and Shenzen, has thus decided to return to its traditions with an urban revolution. The guidelines issued by the ministry of housing at the beginning of the year also aim to ensure that new skyscrapers will respect the surrounding landscape. For this reason they speak of a "new era", with no more 'copied' and oversized buildings.
"The document isn't just about height," said Li Shiqiao, a professor of architecture. "It is about the Chinese culture, the urban context, the spirit of the city and the aspect of modernity." A theme, explains the professor who teaches at the University in Virginia, which has been the focus of numerous academic discussions, but until now "had never ended in a official government document". There is also an aspect related to the economy: above a certain height, the construction cost of skyscrapers increases exponentially with each additional floor. This is why sometimes skyscrapers remain unfinished.
