Although
“a vertical city” which focuses on accommodating a large population and providing different functions in the same tall building is preferred by some, other people consider “a horizontal city” with fewer
buildings
and lower physical densities to be more desirable. While grand towers in urban areas grant the ordinary with convenient access to everything, I think that living on a larger piece of land with more open spaces allows us to live closer to
nature
and provide more protection against severe damages caused by natural hazards.
Admittedly, there are some basic benefits for us living in vertical cities.
Firstly
, a vertical model is more suitable for crowded, cosmopolitan cities,
such
as New York and Shanghai. Not only can these grand towers accommodate more residents and workers with a limited supply of land at a reasonable price, but they
also
provide ease of access to everything,
for example
, schools, supermarkets, offices, and hospitals.
Besides
, due to the fact that the majority of the community lives in a relatively small area, public transportation,
for instance
, buses and subways, can be designed more efficiently to move passengers around. The heavy use of public transportation, in the long run, will benefit the environment by improving air quality.
Nevertheless
, despite the advantages above, I believe “a horizontal city” is more suitable for human
nature
, particularly in areas where land is not scarce but vast and sparsely populated. With low-rise
buildings
, not only can the residents enjoy the beauty of
nature
with a panoramic view, but they
also
are privileged with more personal space and fewer crowds. There is no doubt that the owner of a single-family house with a garden can get closer to
nature
than those staying on the top floor of apartments.
Also
, safety is a critical factor to consider when we plan
buildings
. To give an example, in cities where earthquakes frequently occur, it is more practical to construct low-rise wooden
buildings
. The more high-rise
buildings
we have in a city, the harder it will be to rescue the locals in case of an emergency.
In conclusion, gigantic
buildings
provide convenience and efficiency for modern life,
however
, living in a flatter neighbourhood not only allows us to get closer to the beauty of
nature
but
also
offers more personal space and protection against natural disasters.
Consequently
, I believe we should always consider the horizontal style of urban planning whenever it is possible.