Urban Density and the Porous High-Rise: The Integration of the Tall Building in the City - from China to New York

As the skyscraper matures as a building type, its role in actively connecting to, and reinforcing, major threads of urban fabric becomes increasingly more important. The creation of public spaces inside of and adjacent to tall buildings allows for significant additions to the public realm, facilitating better connections between varied uses, providing needed access to critical transportation functions. In this more integrated version of the tall building type, the density afforded by a vertical structure is complemented by strategically devised porosity of plan and section. This paper examines three major tower projects which exemplify a progressive approach to permeable design: the recently completed Jingan Kerry Centre in Shanghai, the Lotte Supertower in Seoul, now half completed, and the One Vanderbilt tower being proposed next to Grand Central Terminal in New York City. These projects suggest possibilities for innovative approaches to private development strategies, public planning processes, and architectural design.