Switzerland is very densely populated and the population keeps growing. So why the swiss is so reluctant to build high rise apartments? I understand they want to preserve the historic look of old cities, but in outskirts where many new apartment blocks are build, why do not build 30 story plus high rise buildings?
There are many densely populated cities that don't have high rise buildings, and although Switzerland does indeed look to preserve a certain "traditional look" to the skyline, if a project ever saw the light of day, you could bet your last buck that there would be enough neighborly complaints to drag out the planning application to unacceptable levels.
Funny you should say that. I lost count of the old buildings I've seen torn down to make room for those square blocks of flats, so I don't think preservation is the reason.
Perhaps, as Assassin says, it's the amount of complaints rather than a fondness for history .
The answer to your question lies within the people. Many dislike skyscrapers and building something tall or anything sensible for that matter would require a huge effort by politicians etc. Simply look at the big discussions that revolved around Switzerland's biggest building, the Prime Tower which has only 36 floors.
What I don't like here is that I sense the concept of "there's a problem, the Swiss people don't see it, and me, the clever colonizer will bring knowledge + solution".
1) That "solution" has been proven a failure in many countries
2) The Swiss have different culture and defends some of their traditions. That's not necessarily bad.
3) Growing non stop and thinking "where to put the people" is extremely badly focused view of the whole picture. It also omits to talk about the "why so many"
4) Swiss people are already coping with issues due to bigger population: competition on housing, much higher rents, roads too busy. What your skyscrapers are going to solve? Only will bring more people, more cars, more problems.
I do understand that some people do not like Skyscrapers. But cities like Zurich and Geneva rank among the top financial cities in the world. All financial centers have modern skylines. NYC, HK, London, Tokyo. You name it. But Zurich and Geneva look just like a village.
More highscrapers does not mean more people. More people have arrived. So you need to build something to accommdate them. In Los Angeles, there are few highrises, but it is very densely populated. It is just people have to deal with long commute
I don't see how equating a city that has finance as a major industry, means they have to encourage the building of a massive skyline?
And I don't see how that adds to the quality of life, by tring to jam as many people into as little of space as possible, raising traffic, adding burden to the public transportation system, and so on.