The Sad History Of The Tower Block
The Week Middle East|July 01, 2017

The Grenfell Tower fire is only the latest tragedy in the troubled story of high-rise living.

The Sad History Of The Tower Block

When were tower blocks first built? 

There are reports of apartment blocks ten storeys high in Ancient Rome and of even higher residential buildings in 11th century Egypt. But the modern tower block owes its existence to mid-19th century inventions: steel construction frames; reinforced concrete; and Elisha Otis’s safety elevator, invented in 1852. The first commercial skyscrapers were built in the 1880s in Chicago and New York; the first residential high-rises followed around the turn of the century, reaching up to 15 floors. The Ritz Tower, built in New York in 1926, was 41 storeys and 165 metres tall, and started a fashion for large, luxurious high-rises. By the early 1930s, New York had about 150 of them. And after WWII, residential tower blocks spread across the world.

Why did so many spring up after the War? 

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 01, 2017-Ausgabe von The Week Middle East.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 01, 2017-Ausgabe von The Week Middle East.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS THE WEEK MIDDLE EASTAlle anzeigen
The Age Of Rage
The Week Middle East

The Age Of Rage

Controversy of the week.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
The Week 168
The Injured Bird That Inspired Bates
The Week Middle East

The Injured Bird That Inspired Bates

A tribute to the pro-democracy activist in Hong Kong.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
The Week 168
Was Liu Xiaobo A Patriot Or A Patsy?
The Week Middle East

Was Liu Xiaobo A Patriot Or A Patsy?

A tribute to the pro-democracy activist in Hong Kong.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
The Week 168
The Russian Connection: Will It Bring Down Trump?
The Week Middle East

The Russian Connection: Will It Bring Down Trump?

Trump Jr: the Fredo Corleone of the family.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
The Week 168
Issue Of The Week: How Bad Is Britain's Debt Bubble?
The Week Middle East

Issue Of The Week: How Bad Is Britain's Debt Bubble?

A decade on from the outbreak of the last financial crisis, is consumer debt now propelling us towards another?

time-read
2 Minuten  |
August 05, 2017
The World's Most Spectacular Offices
The Week Middle East

The World's Most Spectacular Offices

From California to London, the tech giants are employing top architects to build spectacular symbols of their immense global power. But these edifices have their critics, says Rowan Moore

time-read
9 Minuten  |
August 05, 2017
This Week's Dream: Driving Around Lake Michigan
The Week Middle East

This Week's Dream: Driving Around Lake Michigan

The 900-mile drive around Lake Michigan – the only Great Lake entirely within US borders – is “one of the greatest road trips America has to offer”, says Tom Chesshyre in The Times.

time-read
1 min  |
August 05, 2017
Swimming: "The Very Best Breaststroker Who Ever Lived"
The Week Middle East

Swimming: "The Very Best Breaststroker Who Ever Lived"

It says something about Adam Peaty’s “superhuman standards” that his second gold medal of the World Aquatic Championships felt “like something of an anticlimax”, said Daniel Schofield in The Daily Telegraph.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
August 05, 2017
Charlie Gard: The Force Of Parental Love
The Week Middle East

Charlie Gard: The Force Of Parental Love

“If Charlie Gard had been born 40 years ago,” said Peter Wilby in the New Statesman, “there would have been no doubt about what would, and should, happen.”

time-read
2 Minuten  |
August 05, 2017
What The Scientists Are Saying...
The Week Middle East

What The Scientists Are Saying...

Drug advice is a “myth”

time-read
3 Minuten  |
August 05, 2017