Shanghai’s high-rise buildings: exploring space efficiency, structural systems, forms, materials and core designs

This study examines the architectural and structural design considerations influencing space efficiency in Shanghai’s high-rise buildings. Understanding space efficiency is significant because it directly affects land-use intensity, economic returns, and sustainability outcomes. The objective of this study is to quantify space efficiency ratios by analyzing the relationships between core types, function, form, and structural systems, and assess temporal and comparative benchmarks for Shanghai within the global context. The novelty lies in its combined focus on architectural and structural determinants of space efficiency, supported by data on 43 high-rise buildings in Shanghai. Methodologically, this study relies on quantitative analysis of Net Floor Area (NFA), Gross Floor Area (GFA), and core ratios, supplemented with comparative evaluation of building forms, materials, and structural systems. The key findings reveal: (1) average space efficiency at 75% with core-to-GFA ratios of 23%, varying between 52–93% and 5–33% respectively; (2) the dominance of prismatic forms supported by composite outriggered frame systems; (3) a decline in efficiency with increasing building height due to larger service cores. Practically, this research highlights opportunities for stakeholders–including architects, engineers, and policymakers–to adopt lightweight materials, prefabrication techniques, and smart building systems that improve space efficiency in future high-rise developments.