High-Rises and Urban Specificity: Politics of Vertical Construction in Paris, London, and Vienna

High-rise buildings have been experiencing a significant boom worldwide over the past two decades. This is true not least for European cities, where church steeples, town hall towers, and chimneys were main vertical accents in city centers long time. article focuses on construction of high-rise as “glocal” phenomenon. The building type has spread around world, but approaches to it are site-specific inextricably entangled with local problems, modes action, discourses. Construction strategies discussions about tall quite diverse even Europe alone. Presenting case studies Paris, London, Vienna, this looks at three metropolises which caused particular unrest recent years reveals enlightening contrasts between them. In exploring question how distinctions made these cities desirable quasi-illegitimate buildings, or “possible” “impossible” locations, I analyze city-specific patterns relating construction. Special attention paid urban planning—the activities those actors who responsible developing implementing concretizing legal regulations. discussion draws larger research project based grounded theory perspective. data pool includes large number published unpublished documents well interviews from fields planning, architecture, historic preservation. From theoretical point view, reflections “specificity cities” “glocalization” research.