There is abundant evidence to show that high buildings make people crazy. Some show the effect of high-rise housing on the mental and well-being of families while other show the effect of massive and high constructions on the human relations in office and workplaces.

Landmark 81 – Vinhome Central Park. A jungle of concrete and glass in the middle of HCM City’s heart, including 18 housing towers, a school and a hospital locate in the area of 43.91ha with the highest one soaring up to 461,3m  (Source: https://batdongsanhungthinh.com.vn/)

The strongest evidence comes from D.M.Fanning (“Families in Flat” book, pp.382-386). Fanning shows a direct correlation between incidence of mental disorder and the height of people’s apartments. The higher people live off the ground, the more likely are they suffer mental illness. Fanning shows that the correlation is strongest for women, who spend most time in their apartments; it was less strong for children, who spend less time in there; and it was weakest for men, who spend the least amount of time in their apartments. This strongly suggests that sheer time spent in the high-rise is itself what causes the effect.

A simple mechanism may explain this: high-rise living takes people away from the ground, and away from casual, every-day society that occurs on the sidewalks and streets and on the gardens. It leaves them alone in their apartments. The decision to go out for some public life becomes formal and awkward; and unless there is some specific tasks which bring people out in the world, the tendency is to stay home, alone. The forced isolation then causes individual breakdown.

During the research by Christopher and his team in both housing and office buildings, the problems begin when buildings are more than four stories height. In my personal opinion, it is directly related to the human scale in the urban and architecture design. At the certain height of three for four stories, one can still walk comfortably down to the street, and from a window you can still feel part of the street scene; you can see details in the street – the people, their faces, foliage, shops. Above four stories these connections break down. I believe that the same feeling is given to the people who walk on the pavement and look up to those buildings. They apparently feel a connection with the buildings without the pressure that can be resulted from a sidewalk massive constructions. They can see the details of the buildings: the ornaments on the roof top, people who are working in the level-four or the type of trees on the balcony.

Hoi An Ancient Town, a typical livable and spirited urban corner in the middle area of Vietnam. All houses are limited at 3 stories and featured with narrowed streets. (Source: https://kientrucvietas.com/)

Christopher and his team believe that the “four-story limit” is an appropriate way to express the proper connection between building height and the health of a people. Of course, it is the spirit of the pattern which is most essential. Certainly, a building five stories high or even six might work if it was carefully handled. But it would be difficult. On the other hand, it is possible that certain buildings in the urban area should exceed this limits, which can play as the landmarks, but they should never be buildings for human habitation.

Human-scale street section by Gehl Architects (Source: http://thehumanscale.dk/about-gehl-architects/)

*Source of content: A Pattern of Language_Christopher Alexander