The Tall Building and Urban Space: in Light of Two Modernist Case Studies

Abstract

If public spaces in the urban environment are seen as extensions of one’s <br/>home, then what role do tall buildings play in this setting? In terms of space, <br/>they can have various roles. They are visible from afar and often act as <br/>landmarks, but at the same time they give one a possibility to see the urban <br/>whole in its entirety, from above. <br/><br/>One of most iconic images of modern urban planning and modern urban space <br/>– Le Corbusier’s plan for Paris – is shown from such a vantage point, depicting <br/>an urban area dotted with individual buildings set within a continuous spatial <br/>field. This modern space has often been described as open and homogeneous. <br/>The simplified general interpretation has further been complemented by the <br/>concept of heterogeneous space, paving the way for a more diverse spatial <br/>theory. Heterogeneous space has brought much needed complexity to <br/>interpretations of architectural space. <br/><br/>Modernist space is revisited in this article, explored through two particular <br/>cases. In addition to Le Corbusier, the study includes the work of another <br/>architect and urban planner of the early 20th century, Eliel Saarinen. The role of <br/>tall buildings in the designs and writings of the two architects is compared, with <br/>a specific focus on the spatial implications of these buildings in the cityscape. <br/>The comparison illustrates the fact that modern architects were not unanimous <br/>in their visions of urban space, although they shared the knowledge of a <br/>contemporary spatial theory.