skyscraper living: people become more isolated??

shibuya_suki · August 25th, 2005, 11:50 AM

any comment?

***Manila-X*** · August 25th, 2005, 01:02 PM

There was a novel written by J.G. Ballard, it's called "High-Rise". If you have time, please check it out!

_00_deathscar · August 25th, 2005, 01:51 PM

How do you mean isolated?

***hkskyline*** · August 25th, 2005, 05:24 PM

In a big city, regardless of whether people live in houses or highrises, interaction will be minimal. It is up to the residents' responsibility to make a communication link with their neighbors. If there is no will, then the setting will not matter.

On the other hand, a far larger number of people will travel the public spaces in highrise areas, hence the likelihood of interaction will be far greater, such as in the lobby or in the elevator. Hence from that perspective, highrise living actually improves interaction.

James Saito · August 27th, 2005, 04:28 AM

Suburban living is much more isolated.
You hardly see other people around your house.

ReddAlert · August 27th, 2005, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Saito

Suburban living is much more isolated.
You hardly see other people around your house.

true but suburban neighborhoods can be very close knit.

samsonyuen · August 27th, 2005, 08:52 AM

Definitely, I've seen my neighbor twice (in the elevator) in the year I've lived here.

partybits · August 27th, 2005, 02:39 PM

I think it depends on the community. I have lived in a highrise where I did'nt even know my neighbours. Everyone stayed to themselves and did'nt communicate.
I have also lived in highrise with huge amount of communication. There was monthly get togethers, people talked in the elevators & stopped by the neighbours.

So I think it's not fair to compare suburbs vs highrise as that is not the proper question. The proper question may be what are the causes of an isolated neighbourhood (regarless of highrise/low rise). Some factors:
-rent vs own
-community shared area (ie park, terrace, community room)
-ethnic enclave vs mixed community
-age of residents
-socioeconomic factors

archifreese · August 27th, 2005, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by partybits

I think it depends on the community. I have lived in a highrise where I did'nt even know my neighbours. Everyone stayed to themselves and did'nt communicate.
I have also lived in highrise with huge amount of communication. There was monthly get togethers, people talked in the elevators & stopped by the neighbours.

So I think it's not fair to compare suburbs vs highrise as that is not the proper question. The proper question may be what are the causes of an isolated neighbourhood (regarless of highrise/low rise). Some factors:
-rent vs own
-community shared area (ie park, terrace, community room)
-ethnic enclave vs mixed community
-age of residents
-socioeconomic factors

these are the criteria that influence the isolation of a tower or suburb. i 2 have lived in both conditions in the same neighborhood (actually i can see my old tower from my new one) and the new one is much more sociable.

The whole age and work thing is very important. my new bldg. is much more elderly and seasonal residents as well as a lot of young gays. the other bldg had a lot of young professionals, young gays but no owners, no elderly to mention, and only yearly leasing no timesharing or seasonal residents.

This doesnt mean the elderly are naturally more sociable but if you factor in time (where they have to be today or how fast they are trying to get there) then they become more open to sociability like seasonal residents do. (maybe im stretching it).

in suburban settings though I personally think isolation is much higher - you actually dont have to be exposed to anyone else if you dont want to. youll never have to use public space or amenities and can isolate yourself in your car the way in which in an public elevator never guarantees.

partybits · August 27th, 2005, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by archifreese

these are the criteria that influence the isolation of a tower or suburb. i 2 have lived in both conditions in the same neighborhood (actually i can see my old tower from my new one) and the new one is much more sociable.

The whole age and work thing is very important. my new bldg. is much more elderly and seasonal residents as well as a lot of young gays. the other bldg had a lot of young professionals, young gays but no owners, no elderly to mention, and only yearly leasing no timesharing or seasonal residents.

This doesnt mean the elderly are naturally more sociable but if you factor in time (where they have to be today or how fast they are trying to get there) then they become more open to sociability like seasonal residents do. (maybe im stretching it).

in suburban settings though I personally think isolation is much higher - you actually dont have to be exposed to anyone else if you dont want to. youll never have to use public space or amenities and can isolate yourself in your car the way in which in an public elevator never guarantees.

Hard for me to say if your are more isolated in the suburbs vs urban living as I have never lived in a suburb. However, I will be the devil's advocate and say that suburb/urban living has got nothing to do with isolation.

You make good points when you say that "you actually dont have to be exposed to anyone else if you dont want to". However, same goes to highrises with the crucuial exception of an elevator. But how many times have you gone up an elevator and it's full yet dead silent.
Meanwhile you can have a suburban cul de sac with children playing & parents sharing a beer (picture classic 1950's suburban dream).
So the conclusion is it's the people who make a neighbourhood and not the actual location of the neighbourhood itself.

***hkskyline*** · August 28th, 2005, 12:06 AM

This is a probability exercise. With more people packed per square kilometre, the chances of bumping into other people is much higher than in a low density area. Unless the interaction rates are drastically lower between the two types of developments to narrow the difference, I am far more likely to meet and interact with another person in a highrise setting than in a lowrise one.

HowardL · August 28th, 2005, 01:41 AM

I find that living in a high-rise has made me much more friendly than when I lived in walk-ups. I say hi to people now. I've had more random conversations with strangers in the elevator on the way up to my floor, than I've ever had in the past. Out on the street, it's a different matter, but on the elevator or in common areas, it's really very 'hi how you doing" small town.

August 25th, 2005, 11:50 AM	#1
shibuya_suki Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 233 Likes (Received): 0	skyscraper living: people become more isolated?? any comment?

August 25th, 2005, 05:24 PM	#4
*hkskyline* Hong Kong Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 71,043 Likes (Received): 811	In a big city, regardless of whether people live in houses or highrises, interaction will be minimal. It is up to the residents' responsibility to make a communication link with their neighbors. If there is no will, then the setting will not matter. On the other hand, a far larger number of people will travel the public spaces in highrise areas, hence the likelihood of interaction will be far greater, such as in the lobby or in the elevator. Hence from that perspective, highrise living actually improves interaction. __________________ Hong Kong Photo Gallery - Click Here for the Hong Kong Galleries World Photo Gallery - \| New York \| London \| Egypt \| Dubai \| Shanghai \| Xian \| Tokyo \| Kyoto \| Prague Beijing, Seoul, Taipei, Mumbai, Iceland, Sydney, Rocky Mountains, Toronto, and much more!

August 28th, 2005, 12:06 AM	#11
*hkskyline* Hong Kong Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 71,043 Likes (Received): 811	This is a probability exercise. With more people packed per square kilometre, the chances of bumping into other people is much higher than in a low density area. Unless the interaction rates are drastically lower between the two types of developments to narrow the difference, I am far more likely to meet and interact with another person in a highrise setting than in a lowrise one. __________________ Hong Kong Photo Gallery - Click Here for the Hong Kong Galleries World Photo Gallery - \| New York \| London \| Egypt \| Dubai \| Shanghai \| Xian \| Tokyo \| Kyoto \| Prague Beijing, Seoul, Taipei, Mumbai, Iceland, Sydney, Rocky Mountains, Toronto, and much more!

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

August 25th, 2005, 01:02 PM	#2
*Manila-X* PINOY MOD!!! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: DA METRO! Posts: 12,584 Likes (Received): 196	There was a novel written by J.G. Ballard, it's called "High-Rise". If you have time, please check it out!

August 25th, 2005, 01:51 PM	#3
_00_deathscar Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 5,057 Likes (Received): 0	How do you mean isolated?

August 27th, 2005, 04:28 AM	#5
James Saito Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Sydney Posts: 1,091 Likes (Received): 0	Suburban living is much more isolated. You hardly see other people around your house.

August 27th, 2005, 08:52 AM	#7
samsonyuen SSLL Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Canary Wharf > CityPlace Posts: 8,534 Likes (Received): 0	Definitely, I've seen my neighbor twice (in the elevator) in the year I've lived here.

August 27th, 2005, 02:39 PM	#8
partybits partybits Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,442 Likes (Received): 0	I think it depends on the community. I have lived in a highrise where I did'nt even know my neighbours. Everyone stayed to themselves and did'nt communicate. I have also lived in highrise with huge amount of communication. There was monthly get togethers, people talked in the elevators & stopped by the neighbours. So I think it's not fair to compare suburbs vs highrise as that is not the proper question. The proper question may be what are the causes of an isolated neighbourhood (regarless of highrise/low rise). Some factors: -rent vs own -community shared area (ie park, terrace, community room) -ethnic enclave vs mixed community -age of residents -socioeconomic factors

August 28th, 2005, 01:41 AM	#12
HowardL Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 247 Likes (Received): 0	I find that living in a high-rise has made me much more friendly than when I lived in walk-ups. I say hi to people now. I've had more random conversations with strangers in the elevator on the way up to my floor, than I've ever had in the past. Out on the street, it's a different matter, but on the elevator or in common areas, it's really very 'hi how you doing" small town.