ALL THE FUN OF THE CIRCUS

摘要

Of the host of social, economic, cultural and urban criticisms levelled against luxury high-rise towers in London, one of the most pressing is that tall buildings are not indigenous to London's townscape composition, that they are somehow alien to the core character and identity of the city. Skyscrapers are central to New York's metropolitan image in the way that canals are synonymous with Venice and gauche casinos are interchangeable with Las Vegas. But, despite high-profile and frequently controversial additions to London's skyline in recent years, tall buildings - particularly residential ones - often seem to be out of kilter with the deep-rooted architectural themes and traditions woven into London's historic identity.