am a simple guy, I get notification from B1M I stop all and watch

Europe not having skyscrapers is actually one of the reasons why is beautiful.

I'm from the USA, and had no idea Europe doesn't do many skyscrapers. It honestly makes me happy knowing there are cities out there that are still classically beautiful, not soullessly modern.

Because we love our buildings. Don’t get me wrong, I’m always amazed when I see a beautiful skyscraper (not a soulless one), but European cities just hit different. The charm, the architecture, everything about them is just breathtaking.

After visiting Europe, I realized how valuable those old buildings that witnessed different historical events. They are phenomenal!

The history makes the difference here. When I visited my brother in L.A., some neighborhoods and buildings were said to have history because they were almost 100-150 years old. Here in Europe, I don't know of any village, no matter how small, that doesn't have a history going back at least 1000 years. This is in no way an accusation against the Americans, but Europe has a long history and I am glad that we preserve it. Apart from that, I find the European city centers with their sun-drenched sidewalk cafes much cozier.

I think people are forgetting what the world looks like. This determination to cover everything in concrete has led to entire swathes of people not even knowing what the night sky looks like. I lived in a city with only "mid-rise" buildings for two years and I missed the stars every night. I couldn't imagine having to be trapped between skyscrapers like that. We don't even know what we've lost.

In short: America had basically no historically or culturally relevant architecture tradition so they could build whatever they wanted without spoiling the cityscape

As someone who has lived their whole life in Finland, when I visited New York in 2018 for the first time I was blown away by the sheer size of the buildings. It was just like from the movies and for the first few days I kinda forgot I was in New York :D But after that I kind of forgot how they were there. I got used to them. I visited Budapest in 2019 which was still way bigger city than any in Finland, but having those older buildings felt more like home, even though I was nowhere near home.

I've visited la défence in Paris recently, and I must say I like the fact that the whole skyscraper-based architecture has its own designated area. It keeps the old cultural sites feeling old, while having the newer, high-rising segments have their own little space to grow. I wouldn't say I dislike the style, as long as there's some originality, I kinda like it, but It doesn't fit well with the older parts, which I'm also quite fond of So yeah, having designated areas for higher, more modern buildings is definitely nice imo

i lived in czech republic for many years, walking home from school, i loved the feel of the historical buildings and the cobble roads. the trams and the gaps of sunlight made it such a core memory. how something so simple could be a dream for others

I never realised why I admired Europe’s architecture and, for a lack of a better word, vibes so much- until this video. Never noticed how big a difference the lack of skyscrapers in the skyline makes. This is probably extremely idealistic of me, but I genuinely hope they decide never to adopt them significantly.

I’ve lived all my life in Europe. This video made me realize only now that we don’t have skyscrapers and that i’ve never actually seen one.

Just imagine how horrible a skyscraper would look next to the Acropolis or the colloseum.

I used to be one of those people who thought old-looking cities should replace their buildings with modern skyscrapers to look more like a true city. Now I really admire and appreciate European cities preserving their architectural heritages and cultural identity within the architecture. And let's not forget that some European cities are among the best in the world in terms of urban planning.

European architectures are beautiful and no modern countries will ever beat Europe's beauty and charm. It's just stunning!

A lot of European cities nowadays have historical and financial districts that have laws regulating what you can and cannot build in certain areas. I think a good example is Bratislava, Slovakia. While the "skyscrapers" are only 100 meters tall, they are built appart from the historical center and they look very good as their own skyline.

I live in Italy and I have to say that I love how our capitals are being treated, our continent is really old and so our cities have to be preserved but, even in that spirit, there's space for skyscrapers to rise between historical structures and it is that unique blending of history and progress that makes our cities unique; of course Rome is far behind London and Paris given how difficult it is to build between roman ruins but eventually we'll get there.

Cities are museums; history is imprinted in buildings. It is necessary to preserve buildings of all eras so that descendants can touch history and feel how their ancestors lived, what they experienced, what influenced (what events) the style of architecture and the appearance of buildings.

I like the concept of Paris for example, where skyscrapers have their own district away from historical sites and the direct city center.

when i was younger, as a canadian, i thought it was so bizarre, and a little behind the 'times', that europe was still so 'flat', but now i really appreciate and envy it. not to mention, the pandemic has caused so many of my city's skyscrapers to sit empty (now if only they'd fill them with affordable housing/community resources but 🙃) and with the uptick of people working from home, which hopefully continues, huge office buildings really seem like such a waste of money and resources

I come from a country which had the most dramatic change within the last 50 years. My hometown was created on what used to be farmlands about 45 years ago and recently the buildings originally there are getting old so all the buildings surrounding my home recently got demolished for a redevelopment. Yes, a very active redevelopment means that real estate value is skyrocketing and could mean something good financially but having grown up in the town it is very sad now I will have to solely rely on my memories of how surroundings used to look. Almost all friends of mine moved far away due to the place now priced too expensive for young people to afford or either their parents got sick and tired of the overcrowded city and moved suburb. This is a tragedy man. Of course I also think modern skyscrapers are part of our history and some people might admire their surroundings evolving, leaving the old buildings behind. But in my opinion, it is the best to leave residential areas with traditional homes which would last for centuries so people with preference like me could be born and raised and die in the same surrounding, at my home town. Well, which is not happening in my life this time.

Personally, as a person who was born in Scandinavia and now lives in Southeast Asia, I love seeing the history and the architecture from the past. I honestly love the very rustic and old-timey feel, it's so nostalgic when I see those buildings along with the nature and forests that still thrive in some areas. I hope they don't build any skyscrapers any time soon.

Great content , I’ve learnt a lot watching this channel. Living in NYC skyscrapers are apart of norm but European cities are truly beautiful and historical I feel the blend of old and new works well.

when the world said "it's skyscraperin' time" and skyscrapered all over the place, I cried. truly one of the moments of all time

I like seeing modern skyscrapers in US cities, however I also love seeing the amazing historic architecture in European cities. I've lived in the US most my life, and getting to spend a few years in Germany, and traveling through other EU countries, these "old" cities can absolutely take your breath away. I certainly hope that this won't change just because more people want to live there.

I love how Europe is and how simple and how beautiful it is

i live in ypres, one of the most famous tourist post war cities in belgium, the whole city was bombed down, a few ruins left, but everything got rebuilt, even the 3/4 churches. its insane, they even suggested to make a more evident and usable road structure when rebuilding it but the city declined and kept the old middle age road structure

The skyscraper was the embodiment of the spirit of America - based on notions of progress, invention, and expansion. A lot of the most famous American skyscrapers were built by business tycoons, looking to create a tangible center for their wealth. "Oh, how American of them!" Rockefeller Center, the Chrysler Building, the insurance, banking, and publishing headquarters buildings downtown. They remain as iconic monuments to a different economic era.

Problems with skyscrapers are the huge shadows they cast on nearby buildings, the road and nature blocking the sun and concentrating other phenomenon like smog.. Too many of them would just feel claustrophobic like it does in some places in China.

As someone who lives near Prague and goes to school there I can say that seeing a skyscraper there would be a nightmare...like we have some tall buildings but it still isn't that big I think

I'm from Poland and I feel like a lot of people think that a country without skyscrapers is underdeveloped and "behind" but I actually see it as something to be proud of as it shows the history and beauty of the culture. Not to say that other places don't have that pride because they have lots of skyscrapers, it works the other way too. Wether there are lots of skyscrapers or not a country's architecture paints a story which can be shared with anyone who visits.

I'm a Melbournian from Australia. Our inner city is filled with a weird combination of our renaissance style traditional architecture and our tall modern glass buildings, all side by side and coinciding in the strangest ways. Some days I love it, but most days I'm upset by the giant commercial buildings and wish they weren't so tall and blocking the view of our best architecture.

I feel like it also helps with traffic. I moved to the Netherlands from Malaysia and let me tell you its a huge difference. In Malaysia, the residential areas are packed with HUGE 30-50+ story condos but all the roads are 2 lane or sometimes 1 lane roads. Pedestrian walk ways are also not optimized for... pedestrians, honestly I don't know if they count as pedestrian walkways. In the Netherlands the homes are much less dense and so are the commercial buildings. Plenty of space for people to walk or cycle and public transport connects everything very well. It would take me longer to talk across the street in Malaysia to a local restaurant than it takes me to get to the city center from my apartment by bike in the Netherlands.

Hundred of years later and the architecture of our churches and cities still hit different🙏❤️ I am not sure if you can say the same thing about American/Asian skylines in one hundred years…

I don’t think skyscraper cities are “bland” and “soulless”. I’ve visited many very huge cities in the USA like NYC, Chicago, Atlanta, etc., and they are usually breathtaking to walk through. The nickname “urban jungle” really does describe it quite well. The United States does well at preserving its breathtaking landscapes with the hundreds of nation, state and local parks. In my opinion, as long as a city remains green, it has a good chance at remaining beautiful. I think in hundreds of years from now, another continent will take on another architecture form and they will look back at the United States and say how simple times were back then.

I personally don’t think it’s the old buildings but the fact that all the buildings seem to follow a theme and although are different in their own ways, build upon each other’s architecture. Modern cities can do this when their buildings aren’t just glass blocks that look like what a child would design. And yes it is harder and perhaps less efficient in the short term to actually design than to make every single building similar but also unique, but if you wanna build a box then you shouldn’t be allowed to build at all, and if you actually live in a place that’s beautiful you can feel the difference.

I like how in big European cities skyscrapers have their own district in a far-away corner. I love the older architecture of Europe. Keep it up Europe. You're doing great! Greetings from Colombia.

I love historic city centres. They are the soul of Europe. That said, I think London is actually doing a marvellous job at choosing skyscraper designs that somehow integrate into the city and the old maze of streets and lanes, complimenting the historic substance that is already there instead of defacing it.

It’s great for us to be able to choose between the two when we go on vacation. To go to a country where skyscrapers are everywhere, and another where buildings have cultural significance and long history

I'm European but gotta say, I never thought about that. It was just normal for me to look up only for churches or some random and rare buildings in Berlin, London or any other city I visited. This blew my mind lol

I live in a small town in Western France, oldest building happens to come from Charlemagne before even the church (though its another Christian building). Still not in ruin over 1200 years after it was made, hope it stays that way, technically older than France itself since it was made as it is now by the Capet

Great video! You could take a closer look at the city of Bratislava. Over past 10 years, a whole new area has been (re)built. Most of the industrial area has been torn down and high-rise buildings built from scratch create a new "downtown". It is a huge tranformation. Sadly, people only realise the value and originality of the old industry buildings now that they are gone. The problem of a zombie district is also present. Due to city regulation of not building above 200 metres, there is many buildings of exactly 200 metres that create this funny wall when you see this zone from afar. Infrastructure might not be able to bear 100 000 people coming to this zone every day, it is not really designed for pedestrains and cyclists...but maybe I´m just biased. A few good architects made some of the buildings. It will bring more money to the city. I would love to see your take on it.

I live in Sicily, my home town, Palermo , has been “founded” thousands years before Christ. Just imagine how badly a skyscraper would look in the middle of the historic center...

Also: a grid of large needle-like skyscrapers has an enormous surface area. Which means it's much worse in terms of heating/cooling energy usage compared to compact cube-shaped city blocks. I think for the future it might make more sense to build dense, well-insulated mini-cities -- less high than skyscrapers, but taking up more space in all dimensions.

i live in the western coast of Finland. my little hometown has its first signs of human population from 6000 B.C, though hunter-gatherers and not living there the whole year. the first town (and the side village i live in) were established in the 14th century. other villages a tad later. although almost no buildings that old have survived, there's still a rich cultural history behind our town - a centuries old community that thrives next to a powerful river, that offers fish more than the people could eat, thus earning itself the name _Holy River._ (Pyhäjoki, if anyone is interested.) it might sound silly, but I have formed a deep affection and connection to the people who lived here before me, next to the eternally old sea. (i won't even start about my mom's roots in Lapland and her relation to Finnish aboriginals, the mystical and mythical Sami people. that's a story of its own :3) ((hehe I even like to think a long ago a few vikings set foot on our shore and deemed our land incompetent :b))

I grew up in the Netherlands and Germany and whenever I had internships and corporate jobs, they usually where in old town homes turned into offices. It had a certain charm to it.

I find beauty in the mixture between the modern and the classic, I love skyscrapers right beside classic historial buildings and beautiful green spaces

The European style I like more than the American style, as the cities of Denmark are very wonderful, and there is harmony with nature, the environment and the trees, and it gives a beautiful look to the cities

You forgot to mention that the highest point of European towns and cities were reserved for churches and cathedrals. Back on the day it would be considered sacrilege to construct a taller building.

Good video! I am Ukrainian, I would suggest seeing Kyiv as authentic place here in row with other European cities. It really has a lot to see 🎉

There are several reasons why Europe has significantly fewer skyscrapers than Asia and America. One reason is that many European cities have strict zoning laws and building regulations that restrict the height of buildings in historic and densely populated areas. Additionally, many European cities have a rich architectural heritage and a desire to preserve their historic skyline, which has led to resistance to high-rise development. Furthermore, the cost of constructing tall buildings is often higher in Europe due to stricter safety and environmental regulations. Finally, the availability of land for development is often more limited in European cities compared to those in Asia and America, making it more difficult to build tall buildings.

I've lived in Europe my whole life. I've been to 18 countries in total in Europe (as of the time I'm writing this) and yeah I never really experience skyscrapers here. I've been to New York before however and yeah everything felt wayyyyy different there than in Europe in terms of buildings. I was 11 the first time I was in New York and at times I was scared of standing next to extremely tall buildings. I've gotten over it since then. Although the last time I was in New York was not long ago in July 2022 and this time I stood right next to the One World Trade Centre (the tallest building in the USA and also the 6th tallest building in the world) and yeah that felt very scary ngl. The tallest man-made structure I've ever stood next to in Europe is the Eiffel Tower but even that is only 60% of the height of the One World Trade Centre. Edit: I had to fix a spelling error.

I feel like much of the skyscraper problem could be solved by making a walkable highline near the top of the skyscrapers so they don’t take up the entire sky and let public translators and cars traverse the bottom while having nature, biking, walking and public spaces at the top

It's interesting to see how fast this video aged with the pandemic, it's economic and social ramification. It's hard to see a future in Europe (or anywhere for that matter) where, with a new mindset and declining population, we'd want to live in a concrete, steel and glass tomb 500 meters in the air. I shudder at the idea.

I live in a small Village in a House that was build in 1710. It's older than the US. Still standing strong!💪 -Germany

We used to build towers in the middle ages competing for the tallest one to show off the power or the wealth of each family/corporation/institution, but we've largely grown out of it during the Renaissance

Skyscrapers can obviously be sustainable and nice to live in, but they are like tall tress, blocking out the sun and choking the life below. I also think there are limits to how many people can live in a city, as they require massive amounts of resources, such as water, that often needs to be transported from the surrounding area, drastically reducing sustainability.

I always loved the way it is cause I feel it’s a bridge between the new and old world style of architecture.

Amazing urban planning and development. Europe is truly different

i love how they preserve historical things

The fact that the Europe doesn’t have “modern” generic skyscrapers but rather preserve historic buildings and city structures from its past is what makes this continent stand out from the rest of the world. There is a certain atmosphere of elegance when you walk old streets of some old European city that modern cities, with all the tall glass buildings and newest technologies will never have. You can argue all you want, but it’s true.

Living in the suburbs of Copenhagen, I see new and old skyscrapers and mid-rise buildings between me and the historic center, which has few such buildings. I note the construction scandals affecting some of the tall buildings, with some having to be completely evacuated for safety in strong winds, and others hit by scandals of sloppy construction etc. etc. Yet it's coming along and I pass brand new mid rise towers every day.

Contrary to what people often believe skyscapers don't offer more floor space than lower buildings due to the huge free space required around the skyscraper. Except in a very few places skyscrapers don't make much economical sense.

I actually really love the look and aesthetic of skyscrapers, which is one reason why Europe has never really appealed to me as a travel destination... That's just me though, I'm well aware that I'm vastly in the minority.

I like the vibe of a city with lots of skyscrapers, but I also believe in preserving historical sites, so I'm not suggesting European cities need to throw away their history and their aesthetic to suit my personal preferences. However, just speaking on what I personally like, I am from a small/medium city in the American South and have always liked big cities with tall buildings like Miami, Atlanta, and Dallas, and when I see pictures of major European cities, it just feels a little disappointing that they don't have a grand, breathtaking skyline like big American cities do.

Planning regulations and an efficient rapid transit system are the principle reason why Central London doesn't have skyscrapers. Most people working in Central London travel in from the suburbs. The Docklands area to the east of Central London is where the skyscrapers are, it was a redevelopment area when the old Docks could no longer accommodate the huge ships, it was run down for many years.

I live in a small village in Germany. The church was built in 974 and we had to replace some foundation stones. Each stone was carved from the original source as 1000 years ago and did cost the same as a medium sized car. However, there was a 100% approval from the residents to do it exactly that way.

I think Europe not having skyscrapers is an amazing thing. Their current architecture is both stylish and practical, and skyscrapers are just a waste of time

England has a fair share of skyscrapers, but it has them in a way that isn't ugly and doesn't feel like over-modernization

I like Europe preserving their heritage. It's also nice looking up at an unobstructed view of the sky.

Residential skyscrapers were uncommon in Melbourne before the year 2000.. Depending on your exact definition of what a skyscraper is, the past 20 years has seen between 20 to 50 residential towers built in the city centre. Although the skyline can look impressive only a small number of these buildings actually look good close up. The majority of designs are architecturally average or poor with many diminishing the character and charm of the city.

I think it would be cool if european cities built 5-6 storey high buildings in the style of normal houses or churches, and have them in their own district. these could be a distance apart as to not block the sunrise, or have them in order of shortest to tallest facing the sunrise. access to sunlight is a big player in happiness.

Honestly as a kid I was always so jelous of Americans for the huge skyscrapers they had. But now I realize the awesome historical beauty the cities here in Europe have. I couldnt imagine it any other way.

i love skyscrapers but i also like the more historical buildings of the cities here

in sweden we have quite a few ”towers” as we call them. Which means that they’re shorter or more private which means that theyre not made fully of glass. Though there is one very iconic one in stockholm ”kista tower” i think its called. That one is quite huge

Can you also do a video on how in Europe builders are not allowed to block the view. For example in Seattle builders can build high and block your view of the water or mountain but in Italy they can not block your view of the water

I'm from Spain and I've been in 4 other European countries, our architecture is beautiful and unique, I'd hate to live in a city full of the same tall grey buildings and skyscapes

Europe is a land of art, culture, and history. They don't need fancy tallest building+structures in their cities. A continent of deepest roots from the past and cradle of modern human civilization.

My history teacher once told me something: The best view of Paris is from Montparnasse (a big skycraper). Why? Because you can't see the Montparnasse skycraper from it P.S.: I'm French

I've always love those low-rise buildings in Europe. They may be old-fashioned but they never lose elegance.

As a Italian the reason Europe doesn’t have skyscrapers because Europe has a lot of ancient sites and castles and historical sites can you imagine how ugly will it look to put a skyscraper next to the colosseum.

Live in a Scandinavian city dating back at least 1300 years. We just got our first skyscraper, it had a lot of contention around it during planning and early construction, but due to the unique situation around placement and such it honestly isn't terrible. However I wouldn't want anything like it placed in the city center. It has been placed on what is basically reclaimed land out in the sea in front of the old city, rather than in the old downtown itself. Everything around it is new and modern, so it doesn't clash with anything nearby. The city itself is also placed in a valley which equalizes the height between the sea level skyscraper and the city behind it, so the skyscraper doesn't noticeably jut above the city skyline and clash with it. It is mainly visible looking out towards the ocean or coming in from the ocean. After it has been built I have noticed some of the biggest detractors turning around and going "it's actually not bad." I personally never cared either way given the place it was being built, but I would still be against something like it built in the ancient parts of the city itself. From my residence I have basically full view of the city skyline from the southern side of the valley, can see all of the city and even the ocean from my windows, and honestly the new skyscraper looks much better than the industrial harbor beyond it currently, or the old industrial harbor it replaced.

Good explanation, but skyscrapers should definitely not spread. You neglected to explore the geological influence, that the solid rock of Manhattan enables its tall buildings, but a city on soil would not.

As someone who travels the World through work, I definitely prefer the environment of low/mid rise cities. I find cities that are dominated by new skyscrapers to be visually dull and uninspiring. I would hate to see beautiful cities ruined unnecessarily. Paris is a brilliant balance. London, I think is starting to lose its charm.

The world does not travel to Europe to look at skyscrapers

Love Europe as it is ...have not visited but it's very beautiful

Because a legacy of 2,000 years of architectural heritage is actually worth protecting. No-one has ever looked at Florence and thought: 'I know what this place needs, some glass and steel buildings.' It cannot possibly take 7 minutes to explain this.

Europe attempts to protect its historical buildings and to maintain their culture and way of life. They cannot immediately embrace the new trend of skyscrapers as it might demolish all of it's history. Progress and economic growth means that Europe might have to meet the demand for residence quarters, in urban areas, by building skyscrapers.

Here's the reason: They are actually highly inefficient in virtually every way, don't actually hold more people (they usually hold much less people) than mid-sized apartment blocks or office blocks and ridiculously expensive.

Salem Oregon bans buildings over 3 stories tall. It's one of my favorite US capitals, the place feels so charming and well-connected. People in a top floor can call down and have a chat with someone on the sidewalk. Buildings that are too tall tend to be imposing and create alienating spaces. They have their place in society, but are currently overused, and usually ugly.

And that is the cool thing here in Germany. Those who want skyscrapers and modern architecture go to Frankfurt or the Ruhrgebiet, those who want old buildings go to Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne or basically all the other cities.

I think in Vienna there's a height limit for buildings to preserve the historic city, we live in an open air museum that's meant to look pretty for tourists.

Fact: in Rome is against the law to build something taller than St.Peter (it's 136 meters) so luckly we'll never see the skyscrapers penomen. Amazing video man!

Would think this the trend of Building Skyscrapers and cramming millions of people into a small geographic area is hopefully going to come to an end with the improvements in internet access. Hopefully more people will work from home!

I love our old buildings. They have a character, a heart.

As a North American, I think that Europe's lack of skyscrapers is beautiful.

It would be cool to see skyscrapers following the old architectural styles, even though it would take a lot of material and way too expensive

There is only one reason. Europe has history and these skyskrapers not only distroys historical ensamble of arcitecture but also adversely influence and destroys the climate in cities and the natural conditions.

I love my little european town. People can build as much giant concrete blocks as they want but they'll never replace the charm of a small village.