Why would anyone get the idea to build skyscrapers, when there’s nothing around those skyscrapers but empty desert? The need to expand skyward in small islands such as Manhattan or Hong Kong is understandable. But in Dubai or Riyadh — that’s stupid.
The land area of Dubai is 4 times the size of Hong Kong. And the Riyadh province is literally a 100 times larger than Dubai. And these two cities, despite their urban developments, are full of unused lands. So, why do they confine themselves by building upward instead of outward? Do they, somehow, feel that overpopulating small areas to be a good thing? Maybe they just like the looks of skyscrapers — regardless of the practical implications?
I’ve lived in Phoenix, Arizona for 5 years and I loved how well designed Phoenix metropolitan area is. With the exception of downtowns, Phoenix was all low-rise buildings with huge car parking lots every where. Outside the normal rush hours, Phoenix had no traffic jams and going from a place to another couldn’t be more convenient. Whoever designed Phoenix, allowed themselves to spread over the vast desert that’s available to them instead of condensing everyone in confined spots like they’re doing in Riyadh or Dubai.
Skyscrapers in big barren deserts just don’t make sense!
There may be a benefit in terms of reduced cost of infrastructure and reduced travel times. The determining factor is probably the quality of public transportation in ultra-dense urban centers.
There is a lot of evidence that social density correlates to things like per-capita patent generation and GDP. That said, the densest residential neighborhood near Boston (USA) is Somerville which is composed almost entirely of 4 story houses.
PS. I’d like to talk about making a new link exchange tool.
There is no such thing as public transportation in Riyadh. And there are no sidewalks and the weather is hotter, and more dry than you can ever imagine.
Anyway, what’s the link exchange tool that you have in mind?