noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', noun
low-rise; low-story
Used for buildings or structures with few floors. Antonym: 高層 (こうそう).
Antonyms: 高層
この地域は低層住宅が多い。
This area has many low-rise houses.
低層ビルが立ち並ぶ商店街。
A shopping street lined with low-rise buildings.
noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', noun
Figurative use for social class, rank, or level. Less common than the architectural sense.
低層の労働者たちの生活改善が求められている。
Improvement of living conditions for low-level workers is demanded.
低層 specifically describes low-rise buildings or low altitude layers, while 下層 is broader and also covers social classes.
low-rise residential zone
Compound of 低 (てい, 'low') and 層 (そう, 'layer, story'). The architectural sense is primary; the figurative sense extends the idea of low layers to social or abstract levels.