Chowrangi

As early as 1928, the Swiss architect Le Corbusier wrote. “We must increase the density of the population, we must greatly increase planted areas. We must therefore build the city vertically.”

As if on cue, the post-World War-II decades saw an unprecedented mushrooming of high-rise apartments as an economical and feasible housing solution for millions of people as high-rise tower blocks housed more people over a lesser floor area. Globally, over the decades, the trend caught up so fast that the turn of the 21st century became a witness to a boom in the construction of high-rise apartments so much so that the underlying concept of high-rise living has changed from economy and security to luxury.

Now they are seen as a symbol of wealth and affluence not only in western urban societies but in the Asian context as well.

Topping the list of the world’s tallest high-rise apartment buildings is the 323-metre high Q1 Tower in Australia with its 78 stories. In the United State of Australia, high-rise apartment buildings combine residential units with offices and hotels, whereas in Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Etc., they are predominantly seen as mixed-use developments. They consist mainly of residential units with retail stores and entertainment facilities, attaching investors and buyers alike as the residents have access to all kinds of conveniences and services with in the apartment complexes.

This trend of “living higher above the ground” seeped in the local urban scenario some two decades back and caught up so fast those high-rise towers and residential complexes rapidly began punctuating Karachi’s skyline. Other cities like Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar and Quetta, where housing previously expanded horizontally, also began following the trend of vertical housing.

The population explosion within the county in general and the urban influx in particular has forced the city governments to avoid sprawl and thus encourage the vertical growth of cities.

The main factor behind the construction boom of high-rise apartment buildings that we witness these days in Karachi and other cities lies in the attempt by construction firms to find new business models. Nowadays, construction firms and developers are investing exorbitant amount of money in these projects. Adding to the popularity of high-rise is the luxurious image that is associated with high-rise apartment buildings.

These tower blocks are envisaged as mixed-use developments where apart form having residential units, the projects boast of commercial, retail, corporate, entertainment and, at times, community facilities as ell. These are made further attractive for buyers by elaborate landscape features that clearly spell “Luxury Living”.

Recent examples are the under-construction high-rise apartment towers near the Karachi creek – the fast sprouting sea-facing high-rises dotting the profile of the coast – and the mixed-use high-rise complex near the Margallah Hills in Islamabad. They all promise iconic affluence and luxury which can be ascribed to the convenience and spectacular views they offer. Residents of high-rise apartments can now enjoy splendid natural views and fresh air without having to worry about their privacy, having access to all kinds of amenities within their apartment complexes.

Faisal, the managing director of a construction company asserts the feasibility of investing I high-rise apartment project, “Construction companies have been stepping up efforts to build high-rises because they can sell apartment units for good prices. This is because, from an investor’s point of new, high-rise apartment projects enjoy economies of scale in construction and procurement, there is efficient land use as more unused space is available at ground level which can be used for commercial or mixed-use activities. In addition, there is more floor area efficiency as we can accommodate more residential units on lesser floor area. However, the biggest drive for construction firms and developers is that there is a huge consumer demand for high-rise apartment projects and we are just cashing in on the booming opportunity”.

Apartment dwellers enjoy the shared facilities for a monthly or yearly maintenance fee. These facilities include elevators, underground water reservoirs to ensure a constant supply of water, parking facilities, standing generators, security personnel, on-hand plumbers, electricians and other workers for any uncalled for emergency. This is managed by an apartment union which takes care of all the maintenance work relieving the occupants of all the hassles associated with such facilities that individual house owners commonly face on a daily basis.

Other posts by Commoner

• Rare Chink in FATA - August 28th, 2008
• Presidential Campaigns Pick Momentum - August 28th, 2008
• Just Brought About Change - August 27th, 2008
• Speck of Hope - August 27th, 2008
• Daggers Drawn - August 27th, 2008
• More Load Shedding - August 27th, 2008
• Whose Writ is This - August 26th, 2008
• So They Parted - August 26th, 2008
• New Alignments - August 24th, 2008
• Vindicated Operartion in Swat - August 24th, 2008