A Glimpse into Urban Transformation

13 days ago

One modern technology that hasn't changed much over the past decade is the way we build tall buildings. We still use the same type of tower crane as we did ten years ago—and that’s because there hasn’t been a need to reinvent it. It continues to function perfectly well, even today. The only real difference is that the design has been gradually improved over time, addressing issues and faults that occurred in the past. Now, the safety of this equipment has reached a point where construction-related failures are nearly nonexistent. I haven’t heard of a tower crane collapsing due to a design flaw in recent years, which leads me to believe that it’s already quite safe for construction use.

While traveling, I happened to see a construction site and couldn’t help but take a photo of it, with the sky as its backdrop. Soon, a tall building will stand there, and the view will be completely different. From where I stood, the sky will no longer be visible. The cityscape changes every few years—and recently, it’s been transforming faster than ever. Is it faster than we can comprehend? Maybe. If you’re not paying attention, you might be surprised to see that a once-empty plot is now filled with new structures, and the familiar landscape has turned into a skyline.

Change is constant, and the skyline is its silent witness. As we build higher and faster, we reshape not just the land, but the way we experience our cities. One day, we’ll look back and barely recognize the places we once knew so well.