Tower and Slab

Few urban forms have roused as much controversy as the modernist tower block. While on the surface the style appears universal, it is in fact as diverse in its significance and connotations as its many different cultural contexts. The comparison of the projects suggests that success does not depend on a single variable but rather on a complex formula that includes not only form, but also social composition, location, maintenance, and a variety of cultural, social, and political factors. Florian Urban looks at case studies from around the world, including: Chicago, Paris, East and West Berlin, Brasilia, Mumbai, Moscow and Shanghai