The Vertical City Paradigm as Sustainable Response to Urban Densification and Energy Challenges: Case Studies from Asian Megacities

Anna Piętocha (), Wei Li and Eugeniusz Koda ()
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Anna Piętocha: Department of Architecture, Institute of Civil Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
Wei Li: Department of Environmental Design, Institute of Art and Design, Zhengzhou University of Aeronautics, Zhengzhou 450046, China
Eugeniusz Koda: Department of Sustainable Construction and Geodesy, Institute of Civil Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 19, 1-26

Abstract: Due to rapid economic development, high energy consumption, and the depletion of natural resources, resulting in climate change, urban planners and architects face the difficult task of creating a new type of sustainable city that takes into account rapid population growth. The aim of this article is to examine the development of contemporary forms of high-rise architecture and the role of the vertical city in responding to shrinking space and developing a realistic strategy for sustainable urban development. Literature analysis, case studies, and multidisciplinary analysis are used. Pro-ecological solutions are identified and analyzed using the most representative buildings in Asia and a theoretical example in Nanjing. The examples are characterized by above-average height, unusual shapes, and the use of advanced pro-ecological strategies. Greenery plays a key role, including regulating the temperature inside the building. Vertical multifunctionality is becoming an increasingly common response to increasing spatial needs. The apparent lack of understanding of the development of high-rise buildings in cities around the world, extending beyond individual skyscrapers, constitutes a research gap. This article discusses Chongqing, an example of a vertical city, which is understood not only in terms of individual high-rise buildings but also as a whole structure. The study addresses the issue of a new type of compact city: the vertical city. The article provides key guidelines and constraints for creating densely populated, yet sustainable and environmentally friendly cities of the future. The practical application of the study can be utilized by urban planners and decision-makers.

Keywords: architecture; vertical city; urban sprawl; sustainable energy; skyscrapers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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