The big idea: Is the era of the skyscraper over?

Has pandemic homeworking put paid to the high-rise? Oliver Wainwright on the staying power of tall buildingsCan you hear the death rattle of the skyscraper? It’s the sound of the free candyfloss cart being wheeled past the rows of empty desks, and the lonely drip of the beer-keg tap by the water cooler. In a desperate attempt to lure employees back to their offices, companies are laying on all manner of novelty treats, from monogrammed water bottles to personalised notebooks. It is hoped t