The best way to provide enough homes in large cities is to build tall apartment blocks. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Housing shortages are becoming a more serious issue, and to combat them, there have been many proposals. Some people claim that the best approach is vertical housing policy, an idea that is effective in many situations but too broad to be regarded as the best solution for every large city.

High-rise buildings use urban land more efficiently. In large cities, land is scarce, which slows housing projects and causes shortages; vertical housing can help, as a small piece of land can accommodate many households through high-rise construction. Skyscrapers can also accommodate the growing population. An effective housing policy should consider not only current demand but also future population growth. High-rise buildings create housing capacity that can accommodate future population growth.

However, tall apartment blocks are not suitable for every geographical environment. Each environment features certain wind speeds, soil strength, and a propensity for natural disasters, requiring different housing policies. For instance, cities located in earthquake-prone regions or areas with unstable soil may require different housing strategies. That is why in some cities, satellite towns, the conversion of unused buildings, or suburban expansion might be better solutions.

These discussions show that vertical housing policy might solve the housing problem in many big cities, but it might not be applicable to all cities for reasons related to safety and geographical limitations. Therefore, high-rise housing should be adopted where geographical and economic conditions make it practical rather than being treated as the best solution for every large city.