Comments on: The Anti-Skyscraper Law That Shaped Sydney, Australia

By: KC

KC — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 02:41:22 +0000

I worked for many years in Culwulla Chambers, and knowing a bit about its history, occasionally stood out on the top floor terrace musing on the days when I’d have been on the highest spot on the city skyline. Nowadays of course it’s been overtaken many times by other taller buildings, but it’s nice to think about those earlier times when modernity was all so novel and exciting.

By: Farley

Farley — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 17:10:11 +0000

Blindboy, it’s a shame that the U.S. destroys so much of its history.

Good for Sydney.

By: Guillermo

Guillermo — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 16:34:06 +0000

In Brasília, no residential building can be more than 6 floors tall. So the city is well-known for being sprawled and is also praised for its’ horizon.

By: blindboy

blindboy — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 08:54:20 +0000

As a long time Sydney resident it is not too hard to fill in the dots. The law means that there are no early 20th century skyscrapers in Sydney. This probably helped preserve the 19th century sandstone buildings that can still be found through out the city centre. So instead of the NSW government buildings along Bridge St we would probably have some mini-Empire States. Similarly Customs House and what is now the MCA at Circular Quay would have been lucky to survive.
The city then clearly benefited from the law. Now if we could only get a law to ban freeways we might be able to save the suburbs!