The tower question: are they livable?
In many parts of the world, towers are synonymous with poor standards of living. They evoke the vast commie blocks of Sao Paulo, European suburbs where immigrants are crammed together in public housing, and the projects of the Bronx.
But in Vancouver, named again and again one of the “most livable cities” in the world, towers are a way of life. Hundreds of them fill the downtown core. So what makes Vancouver different?
Well, some would argue, there’s the view.
Their is an incentive to be high above the ground in order to get a better view of the natural surroundings.
But there’s more. Vancouver has created a model that specifically defies the problems that have plagued towers in the past, namely a lack of street front. By combining the tower with a podium base, each building has a “face” on the street.
Parks and pathways integrated with the buildings also allow for car free public spaces, which encourage people to come together, and make this kind of living possible for families with children.
