Sustainable Urban Policy On High Rise

Urbanisation in the Netherlands differs from countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, where urban sprawl a real problem. But even with an almost stable population the spatial demand is growing. Manageability of the city and preservation of the countryside requires that the process of expanding urban areas is brought to a halt. Increasing the density could provide a way out. In this context, high rise might be part of the sustainable solution. High rise strategy, if any, in Dutch cities, is limited to zoning in which tall buildings are allowed, suggesting a market capable of filling-in the outlines. In this manner, the national need for increasing density is not met sufficiently. Better acknowledgement of the additional costs of high rise, that recoils clients, is needed. By developing methods that utilize the relative high land revenues to stimulate sustainable, high rise might contribute to a more sustainable city.