Investigating the aesthetic impact of tall buildings on urban landscape

Abstract

In this paper, we tried to investigate the aesthetic role of tall buildings in urban landscape to provide a better understanding of future tall buildings. In this study first we explained aesthetics in urban landscape; since our focus was on scenic beauty, we reviewed some techniques for evaluating visual aesthetics. In the second part, we discussed aesthetics of tall buildings in urban landscape. Finally we derived the most important factors in aesthetic impacts of tomorrow’s tall buildings. In reviewing tall buildings, it was found that the top is the most important component of the tall building in terms of its impression in the city silhouette. We also found out that factors, such as “the degree of silhouette complexity”, “shape”, “number of view corridors”, “the height of tall building against the natural backdrops”, and “skyline” are important factors in the aesthetics of tall buildings in the city context.