Prismatic Forms and Central Cores Achieve 91% Spatial Efficiency in High-Rise Buildings
The adoption of prismatic building shapes and centralized core designs significantly contributes to achieving high spatial efficiency in tall building construction.
The Structural Design of Tall and Special Buildings · 2025
Key Findings
- 01Dominance of residential functions in high-rise buildings.
- 02Prevalence of central core designs.
- 03Frequent use of prismatic building forms.
- 04Steel rigid frame systems are commonly employed.
- 05Average spatial efficiency of 91% in Tehran's towers.
Application
Design takeaway
Prioritize prismatic forms and central core configurations when aiming for high spatial efficiency in high-rise design projects.
How to apply
When designing high-rise buildings, consider adopting prismatic geometries and centralizing structural and service cores to enhance spatial efficiency.
Project actions
- 01When analyzing existing designs, look for recurring geometric shapes and the placement of core elements.
- 02Consider how different structural systems might influence the feasibility of central core designs.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Large sample size of case studies.
- +Analysis from both structural and architectural perspectives.
Limitations
The study focused on a specific city (Tehran), so the results might be influenced by local building codes, climate, and economic conditions, which could differ elsewhere.
Reliability & validity
The study's validity is supported by a substantial number of case studies and a dual perspective (architectural and structural). Reliability could be enhanced by standardizing measurement methods across all cases.
Think critically
To what extent are the observed efficiencies in Tehran's high-rise buildings a result of universal design principles versus context-specific adaptations?
Design Principles
"Form follows function, and in dense urban settings, maximizing functional space through efficient form and layout is a key design objective."
Understanding how specific architectural forms and structural layouts impact space utilization is crucial for optimizing building performance and resource efficiency. This insight can inform design decisions for future high-rise projects, particularly in dense urban environments where maximizing usable space is paramount.
What This Means for Your Design
Buildings shaped like boxes (prismatic) with all the elevators and stairs in the middle (central core) tend to be very good at using their space efficiently.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this study when discussing the impact of form and layout on spatial efficiency in your design project.
- 2.Use the findings on prismatic forms and central cores to justify your own design decisions related to building shape and internal organization.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
(2025). Evaluating Space Efficiency Practices in Tehran's High‐Rise Buildings: A Structural and Architectural Perspective. The Structural Design of Tall and Special Buildings. https://doi.org/10.1002/tal.70083 Retrieved from https://designdex.org/study/21f6bae9-f5fb-4d12-a4fa-3fe654a214ac/prismatic-forms-and-central-cores-achieve-91-spatial-efficiency-in-high-rise-buildings
Paragraph starter
Research by Mazaherylaghab et al. (2025) indicates that prismatic building forms and central core designs are strongly correlated with high spatial efficiency in tall buildings, achieving an average of 91% in their case studies. This suggests that for projects prioritizing maximum usable floor area, these classic architectural and structural strategies are highly effective.
Source
The Structural Design of Tall and Special Buildings
Evaluating Space Efficiency Practices in Tehran's High‐Rise Buildings: A Structural and Architectural Perspective
journal · 2025
View sourceQuestions about this research
- What does the research say about prismatic forms and central cores achieve 91% spatial efficiency in high-rise buildings?
- Prioritize prismatic forms and central core configurations when aiming for high spatial efficiency in high-rise design projects. Evidence: The Structural Design of Tall and Special Buildings (2025).
- Why does "Prismatic Forms and Central Cores Achieve 91% Spatial Efficiency in High-Rise Buildings" matter for design?
- Understanding how specific architectural forms and structural layouts impact space utilization is crucial for optimizing building performance and resource efficiency. This insight can inform design decisions for future high-rise projects, particularly in dense urban environments where maximizing usable space is paramount.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Prioritize prismatic forms and central core configurations when aiming for high spatial efficiency in high-rise design projects.
- What were the main findings?
- Dominance of residential functions in high-rise buildings.. Prevalence of central core designs.. Frequent use of prismatic building forms.. Steel rigid frame systems are commonly employed.
- What research method was used?
- Case Study Analysis with 48 buildings.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2025 journal from The Structural Design of Tall and Special Buildings.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing high-rise buildings, consider adopting prismatic geometries and centralizing structural and service cores to enhance spatial efficiency.
- What are the limitations?
- Findings are specific to the urban and economic context of Tehran and may not be directly transferable to all global regions without adaptation.
- Is there evidence that spatial efficiency affects design outcomes?
- High-rise buildings in Tehran, characterized by their residential focus, central core layouts, prismatic shapes, and steel frame structures, achieve an impressive average spatial efficiency of 91%, with cores occupying only 6% of the gross floor area. Understanding how specific architectural forms and structural layout Source: The Structural Design of Tall and Special Buildings (2025).
- Where does this prismatic forms research apply?
- High-rise building design in dense urban environments. It sits within classic design research on designdex.org.
Related research topics
spatial efficiency design research · evidence on spatial efficiency · does spatial efficiency improve design outcomes · prismatic forms studies for designers · spatial efficiency and prismatic forms findings · classic design research evidence