“There is nothing more poetic and terrible than the skyscrapers’ battle with the heaven that covers them.”
Federico Garcia Lorca
Humans have always wanted to master everything and this urge is not oblivious when it comes to touching the sky with their creations. Skyscrapers are a very prominent part of our urban lives for a century now. These are tall buildings with multiple stories that can make you feel as if you’re in heaven when you see the clouds right in front of you. Many countries or cities are actually famous for the sky scrapers they are home to.
- Burj Khalifa
The Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is the tallest building in the world. Also known as Burj Dubai is 828 meters tall designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merill LLP (SOM) and developed by Emaar Properties. Construction of the building started in 2004 and was completed in 2010. Approximately 4000 million dollars and later up to 20,000 million dollars were spent to construct this 163 floored building made of mainly steel and concrete. Burj Khalifa is designed to resemble the Hymenocallis flower, the central core emerges at the top and culminates in a sculpted spire. The building has hotels, private residences, offices, restaurants, etc. Apart from the world record of the tallest building in the world this magnificent structure holds six other world records too.
- Shanghai Tower
The Shanghai Tower is the second tallest building in the world with 128 floors and a total height of 632 meters. It is located in China designed by the American Architectural firm Gensler and developed by Shanghai Tower Construction & Development. 2008 witnessed the construction of this tower and it was completed in 2013. The total wealth of 3.14 billion dollars funded by shareholders, bank loans, and Shanghai’s municipal government was spent and the building is mainly made of composite. Shanghai Tower has the fastest elevator in the world with a speed of 20.5 meters per second. It now the world’s second-highest hotel with 258 rooms.
- Makkah Royal Clock Tower
Makkah Royal Clock Tower in Saudi Arabia comes third in the race with the height of 601 meters and 120 story complex houses, shopping mall, five-star hotel, and also a clock tower. This beautiful building made of steel and concrete is located near Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and as a result the skyscraper also has a place to pray. Also, known as Al-Bait towers were developed by King Abdulaziz Endowment Project and architects by Dar al-Handasah Shair & Partners and S L Rasch in 2004 for 3 billion dollars. It is the tallest clock tower and also the largest building by floor area in the world. The skyscraper houses Saudi Arabia’s highest observation deck at 558 meters above ground level.
4. Ping An Finance Center
Ping An Finance Center in China has 115 stories is designed by Kohn Pederson Fox Associates (KPF) and developed by Ping An Financial Centre Construction & Development. It is also the third tallest building in China with a height of 599 meters. It was constructed in 2017 with composite. 1.6 billion dollars were used to construct this center which is used as an office, hotel, etc. The tower is of slender shape, it’s width-to-height aspect ratio is 1:10. An observation deck on the top floor was opened to the public names Free Sky.
5. Lotte World Tower
The fifth tallest building in the world is 555 meters in height and has 123 floors, located in South Korea. Lotte World Tower is an office made in 2011 and developed by Lotte Property & Development and architects by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF). The Tower is constructed composite and approximately 2.5 billion dollars were spent.
6. One world Trade Center
One world trade in lower Manhattan, New York City is 541 meters tall with 94 floors is located in the place of twin towers. It the tallest construction in the US-made of composite. The building was designed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; The Durst Organisation and Skidmore, Owings & Merill LLP (SOM) in 2014. It is an office specifically constructed with the memory of the Twin Towers, destroyed by terrorist attack. It’s built from recycled construction debris and materials and generates power internally.
7. Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre
The Seventh on the list comes to Guangzhou, CTF Finance Centre with a height of 530 meters and 111 floors in China. It was developed by Guangzhou, Xinyu Real Estate Development Co., Ltd., and Architects by John Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF) between 2010-2016. It is used in hotels, residential, and offices. There are 95 elevators and two of them are the fastest in the world. 1.5 billion dollars were spent to construct this wonder.
8. Tianjin CTF Finance Centre
Tianjin CTF Finance Centre is the third tallest building in China and 8th in the world. It has 97 floors with a height of 530 meters. The construction started in 2013 with basic composite materials. It was developed by Chow Tai Fook Enterprise and Architect by Skidmore, Owings & Merill LLP. The total budget of the construction was 0.54 billion dollars. It has offices, apartments, and 365 hotel rooms, and 1761 parking spaces.
9. Citic Tower
Also known as China Zun secures the ninth position in the world and 6th in Asia in the race of tallest building. 527 meters tall tower was constructed between 2013-2018 with composite. It was developed by CITIC HEYE Investment CO., LTD, and architects by Kohn Pederson Fox Associates (Design Architect) + TFP Farrells (Land Bid Concept). The tower is an office with 109 floors.
10. Taipei 101
It is located in Taipei, Taiwan rising to a total height of 508 meters with 106 floors. This beautiful building changes its appearance on various events. It was constructed in 2004 and was developed by Taipei Financial Center Cooperation and architects by C.Y Lee & Partners Architects. The total wealth spent on the structure is 1.8 billion dollars. The largest section of the building, between the bottom and the top consists of eight modules of eight stories each. (eight is an auspicious number in Chinese mythology. It has blue-green glass walls double paned and glazed that offer heat and UV protection.
