High-Rise Living by Andrew Weaving

High-Rise Living by Andrew Weaving is an engaging exploration of residential tower architecture and the distinctive lifestyle created by living high above the modern city. Published by Gibbs Smith in 2004, this illustrated hardcover contains 176 pages and examines 25 high-rise apartments and condominiums across Europe, Asia, Canada, Australia and the United States.

Weaving combines architectural history with interior design, considering how high-rise buildings have developed from controversial experiments in urban planning into highly desirable residential environments. His selection encompasses historic landmarks as well as contemporary and speculative projects, offering an accessible introduction to the changing ideas behind vertical urban living.

The featured buildings are organised into three sections: Classic, Now and Future. Among the examples discussed are London’s Barbican, Le Corbusier’s Unité d’Habitation in Marseille, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Price Tower, the Nakagin Capsule Tower in Tokyo, Chicago’s Marina City and Lake Shore Drive Apartments, as well as more recent residential projects in London, Vancouver, Hong Kong and New York.

The book also considers the work of some of the most influential architects associated with tall buildings, including Louis Sullivan, Auguste Perret, Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, Walter Gropius, Mies van der Rohe, I. M. Pei and Kisho Kurokawa. This gives the volume broader architectural significance beyond its focus on interiors and apartment living.

Photography plays an important role throughout the book, showcasing both the architectural character of the towers and the interiors of the apartments themselves. The result is particularly appealing to readers interested in modern architecture, urban development, interior design and innovative approaches to residential space.

Andrew Weaving was himself an enthusiast of high-rise living, residing in London’s Canary Wharf at the time of publication. His personal interest gives the book an enthusiastic perspective on the possibilities of vertical urban life.

With its international selection of buildings, strong architectural context and visual emphasis, High-Rise Living is an attractive reference for architecture enthusiasts, interior designers, students and collectors of books on modern residential design.