Development of high-rise buildings in Europe in the 20th and 21st centuries

Europe cities with their dense historic fabrics greeted skyscrapers with a great deal of scepticism. It was not until the 1950s that Europe began to construct buildings taller than 100 meters. By 2013, skyscrapers had been constructed in over 100 European cities located in 30 different countries, and the trend towards the expansion of high-rise construction continues. Nonetheless, rarely does a comprehensive study of the development of the European high-rise buildings take place. The aim of the study is to fill in the gaps in this knowledge. In addition, the analyses aim at identifying the dominant type of high-rise buildings. Research shows that a record number of skyscrapers were completed in the first decade of the 21st century and it appears that this record might be surpassed in the next. Although Europe is currently constructing its first two supertall skyscrapers, European buildings generally do not exceed 250 meters. Today, the majority of European skyscrapers are office buildings; although in the 21st century there has been an increasingly significant tendency to equalize the quantity of residential and office buildings. Moreover, the highest European skyscrapers are designed as mixed-use buildings. Significant development continues in leading centres of high-rise office construction located in the area between the United Kingdom and Italy, in Spain, and in Central and Eastern Europe. The majority of European office towers have been built in capitals. The key centres in the ongoing office skyscrapers’ development remain: Paris, Frankfurt and London.