High rise

High-rise tower blocks are seen as quite normal, however high and however they dominate their immediate surroundings. Nobody thinks twice about all the skyscrapers in New York or London.
 
But should they be seen as normal or as something a bit unnatural, something that should be challenged rather than accepted?
 
Mick Jagger and a bunch of other celebs have won their battle to prevent a 29-storey high-rise near Battersea Bridge in London. After fighting the proposal for two years, it has been rejected by a government planning inspector.
 
The inspector ruled that the tower block would be detrimental to the appearance of the area, being taller and bulkier than other existing buildings.
 
I’ve always taken tower blocks for granted myself, but on reflection there are several things wrong with them. They block views from nearby buildings, children have no yard or garden to play in, they need lifts which often break down, and they need elaborate fire control measures to prevent another towering inferno like Grenfell Tower, London, in 2017.
 
Of course the main reason why developers build tower blocks is because they’re highly profitable. They’re not scenic, they’re not interesting architecture, if truth be told they’re actually rather ugly.