THE VERTICAL IDEAL

High-rise living in Asia is evolving to meet the demands of sustainability, resilience, and human-centric design

- Sandhya Mahadevan

In 1927, the German expressionist film Metropolis imagined a dystopian future defined by soaring skyscrapers and deep social divides. Director Fritz Lang's vision, inspired by the art deco towers of 1920s New York, captured the era's fascination with vertical urbanism. While American cities eventually sprawled into the suburbs, Asia's trajectory has been quite different.

Across developing countries and gateway cities in Asia, rapid urbanisation and land scarcity have driven the rise of vertical living. “Developers must build up,” says Otto Twist, Southeast Asia director of international residential sales at Savills Singapore. “With this, rethinking design to prioritise energy efficiency, wellness and long-term resilience is becoming increasingly important.”

“The intertwining of vertical living in Asian cities isn’t just about reducing emissions—it’s about creating smart, self-sustaining vertical communities that enhance both the environment and quality of life,” adds Twist. “Architecture now considers all parts of ESG, not just the ‘E’. Residential buildings are becoming more holistic, self-sustaining residences that elevate both lifestyle and environmental responsibility.” ESG—short for Environmental, Social and Governance—is a framework used to evaluate a development’s impact across sustainability, social well-being, and ethical management.

THE NEW NORM