China is one of the most rapidly developing countries. Today it is home to more than 1 billion people. Accordingly, the Chinese metropolises are growing at an enormous rate. To avoid chaotic urban development, the government constantly regulates it. New trends include a ban on plagiarism of European and American buildings, as well as the abandonment of high skyscrapers. The government is determined to protect the heritage of its country.
In recent years, China has become a leader in the number of high-rise buildings. Here - the largest number of high-rise buildings in the world. The country boasts more than 2177 towers height of at least 150 meters and 85 buildings above 300 meters. In the past two decades, China has seen rapid urban construction. The country has six of the 10 highest buildings in the world.
By the way, in the list of the highest towers that may appear in the world in 2020, four are in China. Shanghai Tower - the second tallest skyscraper in the world (632 meters).
But the construction of such large-scale buildings in recent years in China has seriously slowed down. The fact is that his government no longer seeks high-rise development of large metropolises.
Moreover, a new trend has emerged, leading to a reduction in the size of buildings. Thus, the construction of complexes above 200 meters already in 2019 decreased by almost 40%. Restrictions still apply to large cities. So, in Beijing in the business center plans to prohibit the construction of houses above 180 meters.
Projects already under construction skyscrapers are also changing. In Wuhan planned to build a shopping center with a height of 636 meters. But in 2018 the project was reduced to 500 meters. The same situation occurred in Suzhou. There the height of a skyscraper under construction was reduced from 729 to 499 meters.
Fei Chen, senior professor of architecture at the University of Liverpool, believes that the Chinese government is concerned about the airspace of cities. The presence of one or two skyscrapers does not affect the flights of aircraft. But mass high-rise development will increase the risk of airplane crashes. But Chen calls the limit of 500 meters "completely arbitrary". The building with a height of 450-499 meters is still a huge building. And they are knocked out of the general architectural appearance. So China is gradually abandoning them.
Even to a country where more than 1 billion people live, building unreasonably high skyscrapers is an irrational waste of money. As a rule, their construction does not pay off. Expensive and unprofitable towers are built by real estate firms, thus trying to attract the attention of wealthy customers. The Chinese government has made it clear that it will no longer allow changing the appearance of cities for the sake of massive and not always necessary skyscrapers.
China's economic growth is slowing down significantly. This is another reason why the government refuses to build high-rise towers. The construction of skyscrapers stops everywhere. That center in Wuhan remains intact since 2017.
What now? If it is necessary to build new skyscrapers in any city, the relevant officials must first pass "strict inspections" by fire and energy-saving authorities, as well as from the point of view of resistance to earthquakes. Then the proposal will be evaluated by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, and at the end - by the National Commission for Development and Reforms.
The Ministry also instructs local authorities to toughen the approval procedure for buildings over 100 meters high and protect natural areas and historical sites.
According to a Chicago-based organization specializing in the design and construction of high-rise buildings, the new directive was not a surprise. Group representative Daniel Safarik said that it is not the first year in the Chinese press comments that the country should not have strange buildings.
As for high-rise buildings, last year will be the last one in their era. In 2019, a record number of buildings over 300 meters high were built. In addition, a 530-meter high financing center was commissioned, which is the highest in the country.
Safarik suggested that one of the factors may be economic risks. Many high-rise buildings were built without a full rental guarantee at the beginning of construction, for their completion significant amounts of debt were taken. Some objects cannot be completed within 10 years.
Innovations will also affect the residents of old neighborhoods. Whether they want it or not, they will have to move out. The government decided to demolish and rebuild their houses. Those who do not agree with the decision of the Chinese government will be evicted through court.
Wow nice skyscraper