Low-rise Italy: why high-rise buildings are not prestigious
Being in any European country, you think about how life works behind closed doors, what shops local people visit, and even what houses they live in. Recently, having arrived in Italy with the aim of living a non-tourist life, I wondered why there are so few multi-storey buildings in this country, and indeed, many of them are only on the outskirts. Especially, it is surprising when you are in metropolitan areas where millions of people live and the same number of tourists.
I decided to turn to my friend, who has been living in Italy for 5 years, to understand why low-rise construction is so prestigious here. According to her, in Italy, indeed, almost everyone lives in low-rise buildings, they are everywhere. The low number of storeys in the building first of all speaks of the family's wealth; in some houses without the consent of the already living tenants it is simply possible not to get into, even if there is money for rent. It is important for people where you work, with whom you live, some even very personal questions. I think this is due to the cult of the family, everyone who lives side by side with you eventually becomes a close person, such is the culture.
What influenced this "prestige"? I think without a doubt we can say that this is the Second World War. In the post-war period, each country tried to restore not only the economy, but also the social sphere. It was then that the first proposals for the construction of spacious, rapidly erecting objects began, which, at the same time, did not need much funding.
This is how Europe began the massive development of tall buildings that were ultimately so badly designed that concrete blocks soon began to crack, and these houses simply do not have access to quality service It was.
They began to demolish these houses almost as soon as they were built, since crime began to emerge in the districts, multi-storey quarters gradually turned into ghettos. Since then, a "cult" of the lack of prestige of high-rise buildings has been established in Europe. Such houses began to appear only on the outskirts.
It is worth noting that now multi-storey buildings are being erected more efficiently, these are not typical panel houses that are sickening to look at. Personally, it seems to me that their location in the city center is not commercially viable for developers. Italy is a country of old streets, not megacities. What do you think about this? Would you like to live in Italy?