Architecture creates the artistic image of the built-up area and it has a profound effect on human perception. People get the first emotional impression of the city when approaching it and seeing its skyline that is the most characteristic and easily perceivable spatial form and that can be taken in when the artificially created spatial form is projected on the natural scenery or the sky. The spatial image of the silhouette is determined by the proportion of the existing built-up area in regard to separate high-rises or their groups that are perceived in their vertical composition. Since time immemorial there have always been buildings that stand out among others in the cityscape, sometimes endowing separate urban territories with a symbolic meaning. Today high-rises are built either as an economic project or as a new symbol in the city. There is no single opinion about the appearance of high-rises in the urban structure. Particularly the inhabitants and urban planners of European cities have conflicting views – some regard high-rises as a necessity in a modern city, others treat them as unnecessary distortion of the city silhouette, however, the context of the new development in the surrounding environment and the opinion of the local population about the development of its living space are emphasised. Today a high-rise is a real necessity only in the cities of Asia, although it is clearly treated as a symbol as well. In European cities high-rises are most often created as symbols. The article provides an insight into the experience of six European countries in high-rise development, paying particular attention to the problems occurring in the cities of post-socialist countries where high-rise development in suburban areas distorts the land market of the city.