Evolution of Tall Building's Program & an Investigation into the Potential Functions of the High-rises: Skyscraper as Public Space

Suggested Topic: Vertical Spaces: An investigation in the potential of Skyscrapers Functionality. Research question and aim: This research aims to investigate the potential of skyscrapers' new roles. What is the role of a skyscraper in the 21 cent.? Can skyscrapers turn entirely into public spaces? The Skyscraper is a relatively young concept in the architectural and urban fields. The 150-year-old typology is awaiting intense research to take place in all directions. It is a vast realm in that we still have a lot to achieve, learn, and discover. Most of the current research on high-rises focuses on structural systems and sustainable factors, yet we need to consider other aspects that require development and improvement. This thesis aims to understand the possible evolution of skyscrapers in the 21st century in terms of the program. The main question is what these giants in our cities can house other than the regular uses that come to our minds when we hear the word skyscraper. The current usage is business, residential, and mixed-use. The approach taken in this research is to investigate how existing uses formed through the history of vertical structures. Starting in the USA -mainly in New York- all the way to the early 21st century. Following is a study on one of the most creative magazines in this field e-Volo Magazine. The focus is to invite creative minds to participate in its yearly competition that started in 2009- until now. The main question of the competition is: “What is a skyscraper in the 21st Century.” The participants respond to this question through their practical projects. The objective is to submit innovative ideas of possible development for the vertical structures. With the background of existing programs discussed in the first chapter, the new possible functions introduced by the competition winners and honorable mentions are introduced and discussed. Eventually, the thesis builds a bridge between the existing programs and conceptual ones proposed by the magazine’s competition in a trial to understand how and where these Visionary ideas could be beneficial. A scheme is developed upon the insight of the programming expertise, and how it can benefit the urban life quality in different cities around the world.