LETTERS: If you love Europe, you would notice that most European countries have only a few skyscrapers. I recently watched a YouTube video titled "Why Europe does not build skyscrapers", and I felt they must really love their historical buildings as they manage to retain their classic architecture that dates back centuries ago.
Based on what I read in the comment section of the video, most Europeans stated that the reason for the lack of high-rise buildings in their countries is mainly because they want to preserve their history.
I also read in the same comment section that in Norway, there is a specific law stating that each residential house in that country should get direct sunlight, which makes it harder for
the construction company to find a strategic location to build tall buildings.
To me, this law is excellent. Just imagine a landed house without proper natural lighting. It would make some people feel "suffocated", having to live in a dark place without ample sunlight. For most Europeans, the idea of building high-rise buildings is making it harder to create a suitable place to live in.
Other than that, based on personal research, I found Germany also does not allow its cities to build tall buildings as it made a law to preserve its medieval history.
That particular aspect of history was key in shaping Germany to be the country that it is today. Germans do not want globalisation to jeopardise their beautiful and historical cities just for the sake of building a skyscraper.
Ironically, the countries that have fewer skyscrapers are usually the developed countries. Hence, why do we in Malaysia need more skyscrapers when most of our citizens are still struggling economically?
I understand those who argue that tall buildings would make our nation become renowned. But, perhaps we have enough of them already?
In my opinion, the ancient buildings in Europe are what makes the cities so charming, as each historical building has a story to tell. Hence, Malaysia should also start protecting the older parts of Kuala Lumpur from being demolished to make way for skyscrapers so that we can pass on our history to future generation.
Let's just stop building these towers. We already have so many. At this moment, there are more unoccupied tall buildings as most of these property prices are still too expensive.
SITI NUR AFIQAH MOHMD ROJALI
Rantau Panjang, Kelantan
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times