Why Europe Has So Few Skyscrapers

Recognising the damage this indiscriminate redevelopment was doing to the city, many prominent figures and architects coined the term “Brusselization” and lobbied to introduce new planning rules.

These regulations significantly limited the scale of new buildings and required historic facades to be restored and incorporated into new developments, preserving the cultural fabric of the city.

The row in Brussels led to a general dislike for modern buildings across Europe with many seeing them as bland or soulless.

In response, numerous cities adopted similar regulations and set aside controlled districts – like Paris’ La Defence – to keep high-rise development away from historic centres.