I always heard that the woman living in the Smith Tower was something of a Rapunzel. A woman storied beyond the tower itself. Amazing that the recent renovators had absolutely no foresight for the potential of that space. Cool place to be a kid in.

Considering height, I guess it is really just that simple. People build tall because of what it symbolizes - a monument to prosperity and technical prowess. What's interesting to me though is that it even still exits as an endeavor. When the lift was invented, it doubled the height of buildings. Then steel hit the market and that doubled the height again. And there was a time when a conversation could be had about land use and efficiency, but when I look at Dubai all I see is a city with nothing around and therefore no real imperative to conserve. Things could be built outward just as easily as upward. People still build tall because of how it exists in our imagination - the same way men climb mountains. I will forever be in awe of The Sears (Willis) Tower simply because of what it meant for me as a child.

For me though, I think that building tall just simply isn't cool anymore. Especially when your tower is only the highest for a few months. If there is any type of innovation in the big-swinging-dick variety of buildings, it's maybe Norman Foster's Crystal Island Tower: http://www.e-architect.co.uk/images/jpgs/moscow/crystal_isla... but even that feels a little rapacious for my taste. Nope, If you want to see cool, look no further than the tallest load bearing masonry building in the world - The Monadnock in Chicago. 1890, 17 stories. The ground floor walls are 6 feet thick! Eat your heart out Rapunzel: http://www.flickr.com/photos/eliezerappleton/4176675900/size...