The first skyscraper was built in the USA in 1885. Since then, the planet has been captured by gigantomania - every year the buildings are getting taller, and there are more and more people who want to look at the world from a bird's eye view.
Today we will tell you how to get to the observation decks of the highest skyscrapers in the world and what you can do there.
Burj Khalifa. Dubai, UAE
Burj Khalifa - the building-record holder in the number of titles: the largest number floors, the highest restaurant, the highest elevator, but most importantly, this is the tallest building in the history of mankind. The height of the skyscraper reaches 828 meters!
The observation deck of the skyscraper is called "At the top". Of course, it is not located at the very top of the Burj Khalifa, but from a height of 555 meters the view is no less impressive: visitors can see the artificial archipelago "The World", the Palm Islands, Bastakiya and the Persian Gulf. In the closed part of the observation deck, you can hide from the scorching sun, buy solid gold souvenirs and even travel back in time - special telescopes will show what Dubai looked like 20 years ago!
The ascent to the observation deck lasts only one minute, accompanied by a light show and intense music. As one visitor writes, “The Burj Khalifa elevator ride is an attraction in itself. You can feel like a hero of a Hollywood action movie!
By the way, about cinematography. Fans of Mission: Impossible should definitely visit the film's mini-exhibition, which is located a couple of floors below the observation deck. Several scenes from the penultimate part were filmed in the Burj Khalifa.
Where to buy tickets
Tickets can be bought on the first floor of the Burj Khalifa. Without pre-booking, they will cost about $100. You can book tickets online. This will avoid the queue and save money - the price when buying on the site will be only $ 32.
How to get there
By metro - Burj Khalifa station, or by buses No. 27, 29.
Shanghai Tower. Shanghai, China
The Shanghai Tower became famous all over the world even before its opening - in 2014, roofers from Russia climbed to the top of the skyscraper and posted a video of the rise on the Internet.
You can appreciate the desperation of the guys from the observation deck of the Tower, which is located at an altitude of 561 meters. This is the highest observation deck in the world, it even bypassed "At the top" Burj Khalifa! According to visitors, "from such a height it seems that not only the whole of Shanghai, but the whole world is at your feet." The transparent floor and sloping glass walls add to the sensations.
Climbing to such a height is not difficult - 106 elevators operate in the Shanghai Tower, moving at a speed of 16 meters per second. During the ascent, visitors are shown a video about the construction of a skyscraper, but it is difficult to make out what is at stake - it makes their ears prick from the speed.
Where to buy tickets
Tickets are sold at the box office on the first floor of the Shanghai Tower. You can buy them right before your visit. The cost is $27.
How to get there
Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai, China
For its unusual shape, the Shanghai World Financial Center received the title of the best skyscraper in 2008. Locals call it easier - "Opener". Souvenir shops even sell real skyscraper-shaped bottle openers.
However, thrill-seekers are attracted not by the interesting shape of the building, but by its observation deck. Prior to the opening of "At the top" in the Burj Khalifa, the observation deck of the Shanghai World Financial Center was the highest on the planet - 472 meters above ground level. Thrill-seekers will appreciate the glass roof of the site and balconies with transparent floors.
If the height makes you dizzy, you can take a break and watch an interactive film about the construction of the "Opener" or get acquainted with the history of Shanghai through special media presentations.
Where can I buy a ticket
Tickets can be purchased at the box office on the ground floor of the skyscraper. You just need to follow the arrows with the inscription "observation". Another way is to book them on the official website. The ticket price will be $27. On the day of birth, upon presentation of a passport, admission is free.
How to get there
You need to take the green line of the subway and get off at Lujiazui Station.
World Trade Center. New York, USA
The World Trade Center was originally called the Freedom Tower and was built in memory of the infamous twin towers. Next to the skyscraper is a memorial to the victims of the September 11 attacks. It is made in the form of two fountains of black stone.
The ascent to the observation deck begins with an interactive video about the construction of New York - visitors will see how the first wooden houses grew on the site of a dense forest, how one-story buildings were replaced by skyscrapers. The video will not get bored - the elevator rises to a height of 390 meters in just one minute.
At the observation deck, visitors will find a typical attraction for such places - a glass floor. True, here it is just a computer simulator. But the view of the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan and Governors Island is real. You can even take a photo against their background (in fact, against the background of the wall, but experts will add what you need). The site has an interactive screen. Guests are offered to choose a New York landmark of interest and listen to a short lecture about it.
Where to buy tickets
Tickets for the observation deck are bought at the entrance. You will have to stand in two lines: at the checkout and at the entrance. Tickets cost $32. You can avoid the queue by purchasing a VIP ticket. It costs more - $ 56. You can also buy tickets online.
How to get there
By metro line E. Station - World Trade Center.
Taipei 101. Taipei, Taiwan
Taiwan can hardly be called a good place for the construction of skyscrapers: earthquakes often occur here due to the tectonic fault of the crust. However, Taipei 101 is considered one of the safest buildings in the world - during the construction they used an external frame to protect against earthquakes and a damper - a huge hanging ball that does not allow the skyscraper to sway during strong hurricanes. The building is equipped with the fastest elevators in the world - the lifting speed reaches 18 meters per second. No wonder Taipei 101 is listed as a Wonder of the World.
The skyscraper has two circular viewing platforms - external and internal. In the inner area there are information displays, exhibitions are held there, and you can buy souvenirs. The outer platform is located at an altitude of 392 meters. Visitors can use audio guides to see local sights and learn about the history of the city.
Every year on New Year's Eve, fireworks are launched here - in 2005 they lasted only 30 seconds, in 2011 the duration increased to five minutes.
Where to buy tickets
You can get into the skyscraper for free, but you will have to pay to visit the observation deck. The ticket price is about 15 dollars. To skip the line, you need to buy a Fast Ticket, but its price is higher - $ 30. You can buy tickets at the box office in the building itself or online.
How to get there
You need to take the red subway line and go to Taipei 101 station.
Petronas towers. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The Petronas Towers are probably familiar to moviegoers: in the movie The Trap, the characters of Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones try to escape from the chase and move from one tower to another on a glass bridge. Everyone can feel like the heroes of the movie - the bridge of the skyscraper is open to visitors. In addition to visiting the bridge, tourists will visit the circular observation deck. A high-speed elevator will take you there in less than one minute, and during the ascent, a hologram in the form of a woman will tell you about safety rules.
The observation deck is located at an altitude of 370 meters. From there, a beautiful view of the whole city opens up, and most importantly, the neighboring twin tower. If you have binoculars, you can even look into the windows of offices and hotel rooms!
The Petronas Towers also have more “earthly” attractions - a six-level shopping center on the lower floors and a huge park with fountains and attractions right at the entrance.
Where to buy tickets
Tickets are sold at the box office on the first floors of the Towers, but their number is limited. You can book on the official website.
How to get there
By metro line Kelana Jaya, station - Kuala Lumpur City Center.
Willis Tower. Chicago, USA
Compared to the Burj Khalifa or the Shanghai Tower, the Willis Tower seems like a dwarf: its height is only 442 meters. Nevertheless, it is the most popular skyscraper among extreme sportsmen. Those who like to tickle their nerves are attracted by an unusual observation deck, which is equipped with balconies with transparent walls and floors. "It's like you're hanging in the air!" tourists share their impressions.
The observation deck is located at an altitude of 412 meters. In clear weather, you can not only admire the surroundings of Chicago, but also see other states of America - Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin - with the help of telescopes and special binoculars. And in windy weather - feel the vibrations of the building!
Another popular place among visitors is the toilets at a height of 102 meters, which have been called the “highest” toilets on the planet.
Where to buy tickets
Tickets are sold on the ground floor of the skyscraper and cost $22. You can skip the line with a FastPass ticket. Its price will be $49. You can book tickets online.
How to get there
By metro - Quincy / Well station, or by buses number 1, 7, 28, 37, 126, 134, 135, 136, 151 and 156.
Empire State Building. New York, USA
Among all high-rise buildings The Empire State Building stands apart. The skyscraper is older than its counterparts - construction was completed back in 1931 - and once held the title of the tallest building in the world. Now the Empire State Building has lost its palm - with a height of 443 meters, it occupies only the 22nd line in the ranking of the tallest buildings in the world, but this does not bother tourists. Over the entire history of its existence, the skyscraper has been visited by 110 million people.
In addition to the traditional observation deck at a height of 373 meters, which offers stunning views of Manhattan, the Empire State Building has a circular observation deck with a 360-degree view. It is located 17 floors below, but is even more popular.
When emotions from the height and views of the city calm down, you can visit an exhibition dedicated to the history of the skyscraper, or take a virtual flight over Manhattan on the Skyride attraction for an additional fee.
Where to buy tickets
Tickets for viewing platforms can be purchased at the Empire State Building on floors 103 and 86 or on the official website. A ticket to visit both sites costs $52, a VIP ticket with which you can skip the line costs $80. The circular observation deck can be visited for 32 dollars, skipping the line - for 60 dollars.
How to get there
By metro, station - St / Herald Sq.
Shard. London, Great Britain
The championship in the construction of skyscrapers belongs to the United States and China, but the Old World also has something to be proud of. The Shard is the fourth tallest building in Europe.
“This is the most impressive way to get to know London,” says one of the tourists in his review. Indeed, from a height of 243 meters the whole city is in full view. Visitors will have a view of the Wimbley Stadium, Tower of London, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and other pride of the British. And special telescopes will be transferred to a time when the banks of the Thames were still inhabited by the Romans.
Photos from the observation deck can be immediately posted in social media- There is Wi-Fi on the observation deck. And to make your visit even more enjoyable, guests will be offered a glass of champagne and souvenirs with the image of Shard as a keepsake.
Where to buy tickets
Tickets are sold on the ground floor of the skyscraper at the entrance to the elevator. The cost is 41 dollars. When buying a ticket, the price will be lower - $ 33.
How to get there
By metro - station - London Bridge, or by buses No. 43, 48, 141, 149, 152.
Federation Tower. Moscow, Russia
Closer to the sky you can become not only distant lands. The Federation Tower is the tallest skyscraper in Europe, located in Russia. Its height reaches 374 meters.
Initially, the building was conceived as an office center, but now entertainment events are successfully held here. You can visit the observation deck with a guide or on your own. There are comfortable sofas on the site, guests are offered coffee and champagne. And for an additional fee, you can take a picture against the backdrop of the Tower or buy souvenirs with its image as a keepsake.
Lovers can spend a date at a height of 230 meters and enjoy the view of the evening city to the accompaniment of live music. "This will be the best romantic evening of your life!" organizers promise.
Where to buy tickets
Tickets can be purchased immediately before visiting the site in the Tower or by appointment on the official website. The cost of tickets on weekdays is 700 rubles, on weekends - 500 rubles.
It is generally accepted that the first skyscraper in the world was built in 1891 in the United States - it was The Home Insurance Building, erected in Chicago. The height of the 10-story building was only 42 m, however, on late XIX century it seemed cyclopean. The structure stood only until 1931, as it was replaced by much taller buildings.
Where are the tallest skyscrapers in the world located?
The United States has long lost its leadership in the number of skyscrapers - at the beginning of this century, America was confidently pushed into second place by China. There are 281 skyscrapers in Hong Kong alone, and another 117 built in Shanghai. The two highest-rise cities in the US, New York and Chicago, boast only 226 and 110 skyscrapers, respectively.
As for ultra-tall buildings, which include houses with a height of more than 300 m, the Arab Emirates and India hold the palm here - 23 such mega-skyscrapers were built in Dubai, and 18 ultra-tall buildings in Mumbai. Well, the tallest buildings are true champions, about which will be discussed in our ranking are concentrated in only four countries - Saudi Arabia, China, the United States and South Korea.
TOP 10 tallest skyscrapers in the world
10. International Commerce Center in Hong Kong (China): height - 484 m, 118 floors
The construction of this skyscraper was completed in 2010, and, interestingly, it was erected by the operator of the Hong Kong subway. Initially, it was assumed that the building would be 75 m higher, in which case it would be included in the top five tallest skyscrapers in the world. However, at the design stage, it turned out that in Hong Kong it is forbidden to build houses higher than a local landmark, Victoria Mountains and the building had to be “cut down”.
However, anyway, in one of the areas it received the world championship, becoming the highest hotel in the world, because. the upper floors (from 102 to 112) were occupied by the five-star Ritz-Carlton Hotel.
The remaining areas are given over to representative offices of world famous companies, chic restaurants, living quarters and even swimming pools. The total area of the Hong Kong tower is 262.2 thousand square meters. m, and its visitors are served immediately by 83 elevators, of which 30 are high-speed. The building is the center architectural ensemble high-rise part of Hong Kong and fits well into the urban landscape. Every year it attracts at least a million tourists who wish to see the city from the observation deck located on the 100th floor. This pleasure costs about 13 dollars.
9. World Financial Center in Shanghai (China): height - 492 m, 101 floor
The unofficial name of this unusual-looking skyscraper is “opener”. And, indeed, the upper part of the building is very reminiscent of a simple tool for uncorking bottles. Such a shape is not only a striking design element, but also an ingenious engineering solution that reduces wind pressure on the structure and increases its stability.
Initially, a giant round window with a diameter of 46 m was supposed to be installed in the place of the upper hole, but this idea provoked protest from the Shanghai people, since the window would resemble the coat of arms of Japan (the rising Sun), and the Chinese, as you know, do not like the Japanese.
The area of the premises of the Shanghai World Financial Center is 373.3 thousand square meters. m, they house hotels, restaurants, conference rooms and numerous offices. There is an observation deck on the top floor. The pride of the architects of the Shanghai Tower is its enhanced security. Despite its gigantic dimensions, it will withstand an earthquake of up to 7 points, and each 12th floor is equipped with a reinforced frame, reinforced with alloy steel and equipped with a special ventilation system. This allows the use of such places for the evacuation of people in case of fires and other emergencies.
8. Skyscraper Taipei 101 in Taipei (Taiwan): height - 508 m, 101 floors
The architects of this building claim that in reality it has 106 floors, since 5 are underground and are used as parking lots and for technical services. In any case, this skyscraper is the tallest in Taiwan, it is a matter of pride and calling card this small state. The building was built in 2003 and features an original design in the style of ancient Chinese pagodas. Taipei 101 is equipped with incredibly fast elevators. They are capable of reaching speeds of up to 60 km/h (like a car!), thanks to which you can rush from the foot to the observation deck on the 89th floor in just 39 seconds. Since Taiwan is an earthquake-prone island, the building is equipped with a unique stabilizer.
Between the 87th and 91st floors, a giant pendulum ball weighing 660 tons is mounted, designed to smooth out the structure's vibrations in strong winds and in the event of earthquakes.
The area of the premises of the building reaches 412.5 thousand square meters. m, there are hundreds of shops, clubs, restaurants, hotels and, of course, offices of large companies. An interesting feature skyscraper is its unusual lighting system that changes color depending on the day of the week. Thanks to this, even the most forgetful Taipei always knows if today is Saturday or Monday, because all you need to do is look at Taipei 101, which is visible from any corner of the Taiwanese capital.
7. CTF financial center in Guangzhou (China): height - 530 m, 111 floors
The CTF Finance Center Tower in Guangzhou City is one of the "youngest" skyscrapers on the planet - its construction was completed in 2016. This made it possible to embody the most advanced engineering achievements in the building's design. It is here that the fastest elevators in the world operate, rising at speeds up to 75.6 km / h or 21 m / s! The total area of the building reaches 398 thousand square meters. m. In addition to traditional offices, the CTF Finance Center tower houses hotels, shops, cafes and even 414 residential apartments.
During rush hour, up to 30 thousand people are here at the same time, i.e. the population of a small town. Another feature is the cladding of the facades with real ceramics, which no other ultra-tall building on Earth can boast of.
The architects chose this solution in order to emphasize the continuity of the CTF Finance Center with traditions - the first American skyscrapers of the 19th and early 20th centuries were finished with beautiful terracotta panels. The stability of the structure is ensured by its special stepped shape, which made it possible to bring wind resistance to almost zero. On the ledges of the skyscraper there are special terraces that are continuations of the conference halls, so CTF Finance Center is a popular place for congresses, meetings and forums.
6. World Trade Center 1 or Freedom Tower in New York, USA: height - 541 m, 104 floors
The construction of this skyscraper ended in 2014. It was erected on the site of the World Trade Center Twin Towers destroyed in the attack and is part of a memorial in memory of the victims. The building is the tallest in the US and holds the US record for the tallest spire (124m), which is made of steel and weighs 758 tons. The interior area of the Freedom Tower is 242 thousand square meters. m, there are numerous offices, media outlets, restaurants and viewing platforms.
The pride of the architects is a giant hall 24 m high, which occupies several lower floors at once. From here on high-speed elevators you can get to almost anywhere in the building.
The external decoration of the building is also very unusual, which consists of more than two thousand prism-shaped blue glass elements measuring 4x1.2 m each. They create a bizarre play of light, thanks to which the facades seem to sparkle and shimmer with highlights, and the skyscraper itself seems weightless and voluminous. At the top of the spire of Freedom Tower is a heavy-duty spotlight that sends a vertical beam of light to a height of 300 m - this beam is visible from anywhere in New York. Since the construction of the Freedom Tower uses reinforced concrete and high-strength steel, the building is considered one of the safest skyscrapers in America.
The height of the World Trade Center 1 in traditional American feet is exactly 1776 - it was this year that the United States gained independence from Great Britain, which is another symbol that this skyscraper carries
5. Lotte World Tower in Seoul, South Korea: height - 555 m, 123 floors
This skyscraper is the “youngest” among the ultra-tall buildings in the world – it was fully opened only in April 2017. airport. It was possible to eliminate this restriction only in 2009, but even after that the construction was very delayed.
In general, the cost of approvals and permits amounted to $ 100 million - this figure was announced by the chairman of the developer company, so the bureaucracy and corruption in South Korea, apparently, is still the same.
Today, the skyscraper is a pearl, one might say the “main building” of Seoul and attracts thousands of tourists. The area of its premises reaches 304 thousand square meters. m, which houses hundreds of boutiques, offices, restaurants and hotels. The middle floors are occupied by residential apartments, and at the very top there are prestigious VIP premises rented by world famous companies. The last few floors are occupied by an overview gallery, which can accommodate up to 900 people at the same time. It is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the highest observation deck (478 m) with a glass floor. Entrance to it costs 23 dollars.
4. Pingan International Financial Center in Shenzhen, China: Height - 599 m, 115 floors
The original design of this building involved the construction of a skyscraper with a height of 660 m by mounting a large spire. In this case, the structure would have come out on top in China and the second in the world in terms of height. However, the development company "Ping An" was forced to abandon such an ambitious plan, since the financial center is located near the Shenzhen airport and could interfere with flights. The developers did not stint on finishing materials - the facade of the building is lined with light plates made of natural stone, which gives the building sophistication and intelligence.
Pingan Center has a wide base and extensive floors - the total area of its premises is 468.6 thousand square meters. m, which is much more than most skyscrapers comparable in height.
Since Shenzhen is something like China's Silicon Valley, offices in the mega skyscraper were purchased not only financial institutions, but also numerous electronics companies, service centers, and IT firms. In addition, the building houses restaurants, hotels and viewing platforms for tourists. The house was put into operation only in 2017, so many floors of the building are still empty and are waiting for their owners.
3. Royal Clock Tower (Abraj al-Beit) in Mecca, Saudi Arabia: height - 601 m, 120 floors
This unique skyscraper is head and shoulders above any of its competitors in terms of indoor space, which reaches a record 1.5 million square meters. m. This is due to the fact that in addition to the central tower, the Abraj al-Beit complex includes six more buildings with a height of 240 to 260 m. Their main purpose is to receive Muslim pilgrims making the Hajj to Mecca in order to see the main shrine of Islam - the sacred stone Kaaba. It is located literally 100 meters from the skyscraper inside a cubic building, and you can see it directly from the windows of the building.
Every year, the Clock Tower hotels host up to 100,000 visitors, which include a giant shopping center, parking for 800 cars and numerous restaurants serving dishes in accordance with Islamic canons.
A distinctive feature of the skyscraper is a giant clock mounted in its upper part. The diameter of the dial reaches 43 m, and the length of the hands - 17 and 22 m, so that the timer readings are visible from many parts of Mecca. The second unique feature of the Royal Tower is the world's largest gilded crescent with a diameter of 23 m, mounted on a spire 43 m high. The building is equipped with an unusual lighting system, which is created by 44 powerful spotlights, 21 thousand flashing lamps and more than 2.2 million LEDs.
2. Shanghai Tower, China: height - 632 m, 128 floors
This building was put into operation in 2016 and embodies the most advanced achievements of engineering science. The skyscraper is composed of nine sections-cylinders, placed one on top of the other and equipped with double walls along its entire length. Between the joints of the sections there are atriums planted with exotic trees and plants - these places are called "heavenly gardens". Here you can relax your soul, enjoying the views of Shanghai from a bird's eye view. Double walls also have a purely practical meaning, creating an additional air gap, which contributes to heat conservation.
The Shanghai tower has a special “twisted shape”, thanks to which it is able to withstand even hurricane-force winds with a speed of up to 51 m/s.
A spiral chute, mounted along the entire height of the structure, collects rainwater, which is then used in air conditioning and heating systems. The area of the skyscraper is 380 thousand square meters. m - offices, shops, hotels, shopping centers and public areas are traditionally located here. Visitors are served by innovative elevators from Mitsubishi, moving at a speed of 18 m/s, and there is an observation deck right on the roof of the building, which offers amazing views of Shanghai.
1. Skyscraper Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates: height - 828 m, 163 floors
This superstructure, ahead of its time, was built back in 2010, but so far, nowhere else have they been able to surpass its height record. Burj Khalifa is not only the largest skyscraper in the world, but also the tallest building on the planet ever built, as it is ahead of even TV towers and radio masts. As conceived by the architects, the Dubai Tower was to become a "city within a city", having all the necessary utilities, its own TV channels, shops, parks, boulevards and even its own observatory. In general, this idea was brought to life - in a skyscraper you can live for years without even descending to mortal earth.
Interestingly, the entire 100th floor of the building was bought by the Indian billionaire Bawagutu Raghuram Shetty, who equipped 3 apartments of 500 sq. m each.
The area of the Burj Khalifa is 344 thousand square meters. m, and serve residents and visitors 57 high-speed elevators. Since Dubai has a very hot climate and lack of water, the designers of the building have developed a whole system to collect it. Moreover, we are not talking about rain moisture (there is practically no rain in the UAE), but about condensate, which forms in considerable quantities inside a skyscraper. Thanks to this, even if water is turned off in all the Emirates, the residents of Burj Khalifa will not be affected.
And what about in Russia? The Lakhta Center under construction in St. Petersburg will be the 11th in the world in terms of height
The largest skyscraper in Russia today is the 95-story Federation Tower in Moscow. Its height is about 374 m, this is the highest building in Europe, one of the thirty largest skyscrapers in the world. However, very soon it will be “surpassed” by the Lakhta Center, which is being completed in St. Petersburg, which, together with the spire, will have 463 meters. This will allow him to take the honorable 11th place in the list of top skyscrapers of the planet already in 2018 and, undoubtedly, become the largest "northern" building on Earth.
Lakhta Center will accommodate about 400 thousand square meters. m of premises, which will house the office of "Gazprom" and representative offices of many other companies.
Unlike overly functional western skyscrapers, the St. Petersburg skyscraper has room for a children's scientific and educational center, a medical complex, a huge planetarium, a transforming cinema and concert hall, and even an amphitheater for showing water shows. At an altitude of 357 m, an observation deck is provided, from which a panorama of the entire St. Petersburg and its northern environs will be opened.
Following the Lakhta Center in Russia, it is planned to put into operation the 100-storey Akhmat Tower in Grozny with a height of 435 m. It will be completed presumably in 2020 and this building will have every chance to enter the top twenty top skyscrapers in the world.
king tower, exceeding the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa in the United Arab Emirates by 167 meters, is being built in Saudi Arabia and will be the first building on the planet whose height is close to a kilometer. The $1.2 billion project, located in Jeddah, will house luxury condominiums, office space, an observatory, a Four Seasons hotel, and the world's highest terrace on the 157th floor (still quite far from the top of the building, by the way). The construction of the skyscraper officially began last year, and the building should be completed in 2019.
2. Shanghai tower
Construction of a 121-story shanghai tower in China, worth $4.2 billion, started in 1993, was completed earlier this year, and finishing work is now underway. Now it is the second tallest building in the world, but the official opening will be in 2015. However, millions of people have already seen the picture from above, thanks to the dizzying pictures and videos taken by two Russian daredevils who illegally climbed to the top last year and went viral on the Internet. The multifunctional skyscraper consists of nine different vertical zones and is surrounded by a layer of transparent glass to protect against weather conditions and provide natural ventilation.
3. Dubai Pearl
Between the design of artificial islands in the form of parts of the world, the largest shopping center, known to man, and, of course, the tallest building in the world, someone decided that in Dubai there should be a luxurious building that looks like an ordinary apartment building, legs spread ominously. Construction of the 73-storey Dubai Pearl overlooking the Persian Gulf started in 2009 and should be completed in 2016. The planned "inner city" will have four towers connected heavenly bridge, and a 1,800-seat premium theater that will host the Dubai International Film Festival.
© www.firstclassinvest.com 4 Agora Garden
Already in 2016 Agora Garden in Taipei, a building in the form of a double helix, will be a compromise between the creations of mother nature and man. The sinuous 20-story luxury building will be green in every sense of the word: balconies on each floor will support gardens, and integrated life-support systems will be provided, including solar panels and rainwater recycling.
5. World One
When construction is completed next year, the 117-story skyscraper world one will be the tallest residential building on the planet and undoubtedly the tallest building in Mumbai, nearly twice the height of the 61-story Imperial Tower currently holding the latter title. World One will be home to some of Mumbai's wealthiest residents and will feature 300 luxurious three- and four-bedroom apartments (starting at $1.5 million) designed by Giorgio Armani's Armani/Casa studio. It's funny, but World One won't be able to hold the title of the tallest building in Mumbai for long, as the Indian Tower under construction will have 126 floors.
6. King Abdullah Oil Research and Development Center (KARSARC)
Closest to earth on this list, but no less breathtaking KARSARC in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, looks more like a James Bond villain's lair than a multinational non-profit hub. The futuristic crystal design is the brainchild of iconic Iraqi-born architect Zaha Hadid, who took the interlacing of hexagonal cages as the basis for her design. Construction of the project began in 2009, and this moment only the steel frame has been completed, so it is unclear when the facility will be opened.
7. Zhongnan Center in Suzhou
Only recently in Suzhou, China, construction began on a 730-meter, 138-story center, and it still has a long, long way to go. But if the pointed $4.5 billion project is completed on schedule in 2020, it will be the tallest building in China and the third tallest building in the world. The tower with the hotel, offices and living quarters will be located with the almost completed 69-story East Gate skyscraper, which, as has been repeatedly noted, looks like an oversized pair of trousers.
8. Lotte World Tower
Significantly taller than all other buildings in Seoul, South Korea, a 556-meter 123-storey skyscraper will soar above the horizon Lotte World Tower, when it will be completed in 2016. The building will contain (from bottom to top): shops, offices, apartments, hotels and an observation deck at the top. It will also noticeably overtake the extraordinary pyramid hotel "Ryugyong" in North Korea and will be the tallest building on the Korean Peninsula.
9 Dawang Mountain Resort
Tired of hotels that don't gracefully float between two cliffs above an abandoned quarry and lake? Chinese mountain resort Dawang will be waiting for you from 2016. Stretching 170 meters in length, the resort will include an "ice world of entertainment", an indoor ski complex, a water park and hanging gardens.
10. Songjiang Hotel
Obviously, this hotel, basking among the rocks and lakes, is next on the list of high-end vacation spots in China. Like Dawang mountain resort, the hotel "Songjiang" located in a quarry, and located near Shanghai, the hotel will be built directly on the walls of the quarry, and a waterfall will flow down its facade. Well, if you cannot enjoy the view from one of the upper floors, go to the lower ones - they will be under water.
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Cathedrals, as a rule, inspire a sense of detachment from everything earthly. Huge structures and intricate architecture are simply mesmerizing. This 15th century cathedral in Zwolle (Netherlands) didn't give up and took it to the next level. The existing building has been converted into a bookstore with an additional 700 square meters of retail space. It sounds like a "bookworm" dream come true.
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A couple of years ago, they wrote on the Internet about two kilometer-high skyscraper projects - the Nakheel tower in Dubai and the Mubarak al Kabir tower in Kuwait. However, the Dubai project was canceled due to the crisis of the Nakheel group, and the Kuwait project was stuck at the stage of coordination with the government.
However, a kilometer-high building will be erected on our planet in the near future. Back in 2011, it became known that Kingdom Holding, owned by the Saudi prince Alwaleed bin Talal, had signed a contract for the construction of the Kingdom Tower skyscraper in Saudi Arabia, the height of which would exceed 1000 meters.
The tallest skyscraper in the world - Kingdom Tower will rise more than 1 km. over the city of Jeddah, off the coast of the Red Sea. The tower will include hotels, residential apartments, offices and the world's highest observation deck. Adrian Smith was appointed the chief architect of the project, he also designed the Burj Khalifa, as well as a number of other skyscrapers in the USA, China and the UAE (see his website). The sum of the prisoner Kingdom Holding The contract is valued at $1.2 billion. Kingdom Tower will become the central and first stage of the construction of the district kingdom city, in the construction of which the Saudi prince is ready to invest a total of $ 20 billion.
Upon completion of construction, which will take 5 years, Kingdom Tower by at least 173 meters will surpass the Burj Khalifa tower, the current record holder. Unique design feature Kingdom Tower will become a heavenly terrace with a diameter of 30 meters, located at the level of the 157th floor. In total, the tallest skyscraper in the world will have more than 200 floors. The start of construction is scheduled for March 2012.
It is known that the main problem such grandiose projects in their payback. At a press conference in Riyadh Prince Alwaleed assured that “this project will provide sustainable returns Kingdom Holding and its shareholders. We have been in discussions for four years to make it economically viable… This project is quite real, and everyone is happy with its potential profitability.”
From the top of the tower, a territory within a radius of about 140 km will be visible. It is assumed that the satellite city will consist mainly of luxury housing, hotels and business centers.
The architectural highlight will be a saucer balcony:
In whatever country this building is erected, the construction of a man-made structure, more than 1 kilometer in height, is important achievement, which speaks of considerable technological progress of all mankind.
Data project as well will be handled by a joint organization of EC Harris and Mace. The Guardian newspaper reports that this team was involved in the construction of the tallest building Western Europe— The Shard. This is the Shard Tower in London.
Directly by yourself construction will be handled by the Bin Laden Group, which is owned by the Osama bin Laden family. Invest Kingdom Tower construction there will be Jeddah Economic, which is under the control of Al Waleed bin Talalu (Prince of Saudi Arabia). according to plan construction of the skyscraper Kingdom Tower should start in the middle of the current year and end in five years.
The British company Hyder Consulting is the developer of the project, the architectural project will be carried out by Omrania & Associates from Saudi Arabia.
In April 2011, several news outlets reported that the construction plan had been approved and the total cost of the facility would be about $30 billion.
The total cost of the project, including the satellite city, is estimated to be $20 billion (for comparison: the cost of building the tallest skyscraper at the moment, the Burj Khalifa, is $1.5 billion), but the amount was originally planned to be no more than $10 billion.
Project Kingdom Tower is not the only architectural development that claims to be the tallest building. It is also known that within the framework of another project called the "Caspian Islands" in the Republic of Azerbaijan, they are going to build a 186-storey skyscraper with a height of 1050 meters. In addition, in Kuwait there is a high-rise tower project called the City of Silk, which is 1001 meters high. The PRC has developed a Sky City high-rise project, the height of which is 838 meters.
Thousands of buildings, hundreds of skyscrapers and dozens of skyscrapers are built every year all over the world. Some of the presented structures are recognizable all over the world, while others are masterpieces of architecture. In this rating, we will talk about the 20 tallest skyscrapers in the world for 2012. The height of buildings takes into account the spiers and masts on their rooftops. In addition to the location, height and number of storeys of buildings, we briefly describe their features.
20
Opens the rating of the tallest skyscrapers Central Plaza - the third tallest skyscraper in Hong Kong. It was built in 1992 and has a height of 374 meters. This skyscraper has 81 floors, 3 of which are underground. The shape of the building resembles a three-dimensional triangle or pyramid. The tower mainly houses company offices and technical floors. A 102-meter mast rises on the roof of the building, inside of which there is a church.
19
Emirates Park Towers is a 77-storey hotel complex consisting of two towers with a height of 376 meters each. This tallest hotel in the world was built in 2011, and each tower consists of two levels of basement, basement, six levels of parking, seventy floors with balconies. The skyscraper also has outdoor terraces, 18 restaurants and cafes, a business center, a conference room, an extensive banquet hall, a spa and health club, shops, a swimming pool and a gym.
18
This 85-story skyscraper was built in 1997 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The height of the building is 378 meters. The skyscraper has an original design in the form of a tooth: two separate 39-story buildings are connected together and hold the central tower towering upwards. Thus, the building copies the outlines Chinese character"gao", which means "high", present in the name of the city. In addition to offices, the skyscraper houses residential areas, a shopping center, a hotel and an observation deck on the 75th floor.
17
This tower was built in 1996 in the Chinese city of Shenzhen, with a height of 384 meters, it consists of 69 floors, most of which are occupied by offices, apartments and shopping centers. It is the tallest steel building in China. There are 34 elevators inside the building, and an observation deck is located on the roof. The active construction of the building was facilitated by the status of a free trade zone. A small fishing village within twenty years has become a metropolis with a population of 4 million.
16
CITIC Tower is an 80-storey skyscraper with a height of 391 meters, located in Guangzhou, China. Built in 1997 in Tianhe District, it is part of a complex with the same name, which also houses two 38-story residential buildings. The skyscraper, which mainly houses offices and shops, is served by 36 elevators. As of early 2007, it was the third tallest building in China.
15
The Al Hamra skyscraper was built in Kuwait's capital city of Kuwait in 2011. The skyscraper of 74 floors and a height of 412 meters is the tallest building in the country. The peculiarity of this skyscraper lies in a rather unusual form for structures of this type. The fact is that the tower of Al Hamra is asymmetrical. It is made in the form of the traditional clothes of the inhabitants of the country fluttering in the wind. Moreover, the main building material during the construction of this 80-story building, cement became. The building houses offices, a cinema, a sports club, restaurants and an observation deck overlooking the Persian Gulf.
14
The Hong Kong International Financial Center Tower was built in 2003 on the coastline of the central district of the city. It has a height of 415 meters and consists of 88 floors, which makes it the tallest building in Hong Kong. It is assumed that the building can accommodate 15,000 people. It should be noted that not all of the 88 floors exist in reality. Some "taboo floors" are omitted, such as 14 and 24, which sound like "quite dead" and "easy to die" respectively in Cantonese. The top floor of the second international financial center is located slightly above the city's landmark - Victoria Peak.
13
This skyscraper was built in 1998 in the Chinese city of Shanghai. The height of the 88-storey building is 421 meters. The main proportion of this building is the number 8, which in Chinese culture is associated with well-being. The 88 floors are divided into 16 segments, each one 1/8 shorter than the sixteen-story base. The skyscraper is built on an octagonal concrete central frame surrounded by eight huge composite columns and eight external steel columns. The building houses offices, shops and a hotel.
12
It was in the United States that the tallest buildings in the world began to appear. This skyscraper hotel in Chicago is the second tallest building in the United States. It has 92 floors and its height is 423 meters. The building project includes retail space, a garage, a hotel and condominiums. The skyscraper consists of three parts, which is in the style of the architecture of Chicago buildings. The height of each part is at the level of the adjacent building to ensure visual continuity with the surrounding landscape. From the 3rd to the 12th floors there is a lobby, retail spaces and a garage. The health club and spa is located on the 14th floor. From the 17th to the 21st - hotels and executive halls. From the 28th to the 85th are condominiums, and from the 86th to the 89th are penthouses.
11
The tower was built in 2011 in the city of Shenzhen, China's Guangdong province. With a height of 442 meters, the building consists of 100 floors. The upper four floors house a hanging garden and several restaurants, while the lower floors house the luxury brand of shops, restaurants and supermarkets KK Mall, 68 floors are occupied by an A-class office center, and a six-star hotel is located on 22 floors. It also houses Shenzhen's first IMAX cinema.
10
This tower is western part the Guangzhou Twin Tower complex under construction in Guangzhou. The West Tower of the Guangzhou Twin Towers is 441 meters high and has 103 floors. A 28-story building is also part of the West Tower complex, connected to the tower by a 4-story common basement. The streamlined shape of the skyscraper allows you to optimally level the impact on the structure of air flows.
9
In ninth place in our ranking of the tallest skyscrapers is one of the most famous buildings - the Empire State Building in New York City, USA. This skyscraper was built in 1931, its height is 443 meters, with the number of floors - 102. Today, the tower is the tallest building in the city. This building is listed as a National Historic Landmark in the United States, and in 2000 was ranked #1 on the Best Architecture List by the American Institute of Architects. The building houses offices, shopping centers, observation decks. The hall is 30 meters long and 3 floors high, finished with marble and decorated with 8 panels depicting 7 wonders of the world and the eighth is the Empire State Building itself. Taking the elevator in a minute, you can get to the observation deck on the 86th or 102nd floor.
8
Nanjing Greenland Financial Center is a 450-meter high skyscraper with 89 floors built in 2009 in Nanjing, China. The building houses the business center of the city - office space, shops, shopping centers and restaurants, there is also a public observatory. The 72nd floor has an observation deck that offers panoramic views of the city of Nanjing and the neighboring Yangtze Rivers, two lakes and the Ningzheng Mountains. Based on the small size of the triangle of the area under construction, the building itself was decided to make the same shape. The project combined three conceptual positions: the famous landscape gardens, the Yangtze River in China, and the motifs of Chinese mythology, with its inherent dragons and iconography on the columns.
7
The Petronas Towers are two 88-storey skyscrapers with a height of 452 meters, each of which consists of 88 floors. Skyscrapers were built in 1998 in the capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. The buildings stand on soft ground, for which purpose piles were driven into it to a depth of more than 100 meters. It is currently the largest concrete foundation in the world. The Petronas Towers houses offices, exhibition and conference rooms, and an art gallery. The towers are connected by a covered passage in the form of a bridge, which ensures fire safety of the building.
6
The John Hancock Center is a 100-story skyscraper in Chicago built in 1969. main feature skyscraper lies in its hollow structure, resembling a large quadrangular column. The height of the building is 457 meters, and it consists of 100 floors served by 50 elevators. The skyscraper houses both office and residential premises, shops, gyms and restaurants.
5
The Hong Kong International Commerce Center has 118 floors and a height of 484 meters. It was built in 2010 in the western part of the Kowloon district of Hong Kong. This is the tallest building in the city. The top of the tower, from floors 102 to 118 inclusive, is occupied by a five-star hotel operated by the Ritz-Carlton. The hotel is located at an altitude of 425 m above the ground, which makes it the tallest hotel in the world. On the top floor, 118th floor of the hotel, there is a swimming pool. This is the highest swimming pool in the world.
4
The Shanghai World Financial Center is a skyscraper in Shanghai, the construction of which was completed in the summer of 2008. The height of the center is 492 meters, and it consists of 101 floors. The building has passed all the tests for seismic resistance and can withstand an earthquake of up to seven points. When designing, three options for saving people in case of fire were used: stairs in the middle of the building, elevators on the sides of the building, as well as protected floors. A secure floor is found on every twelfth floor. It is designed to shelter people from a fire until the arrival of rescuers. Each such floor has its own reinforced concrete frame, which divides the entire building into sections and increases its strength properties.
3
The top three of the highest skyscrapers in the world is closed by Taipei 101 - a skyscraper located in the capital of Taiwan - Taipei, and built in 2003. The number of storeys of the skyscraper is 101 floors, the height is 509 meters. The multi-storey shopping complex in the tower contains hundreds of shops, restaurants and clubs. The lower floors are shopping malls, while the upper floors are offices. This skyscraper houses some of the fastest elevators in the world, rising at a speed of 63 km/h. The glass, steel and aluminum building is supported by 380 concrete pillars, each of which sinks 80 m into the ground. The danger of collapse during a hurricane or earthquake is reduced by a huge 660-ton pendulum ball placed between the 87th and 91st floors. The architectural style of the building in the spirit of postmodernism combines modern traditions and ancient Chinese architecture.
2
The tallest skyscraper in the United States is located in Chicago. The height of the skyscraper is 527 meters, the number of floors is 110. The building was built in 1973 and since then has held the title of the tallest building in the world for 25 years. The structure consists of nine square pipes forming a large square at the base of the building. It stands on concrete piles with stone fill, driven into the underlying hard rock. Nine welded steel pipes rise to 50 floors. Then the building begins to narrow. Seven more pipes go up to the 66th floor, and five go up to the 90th floor, and only two pipes form the remaining 20 floors. There are two television antennas on the roof. The Willis Tower is the largest office building in the world, second only to the Pentagon in area. This building has 40 km of plumbing pipes, 2,400 km of wires, and 104 elevators.
1
So we come to the first place, which is rightfully occupied by the highest building on the planet - the Burj Khalifa. This building, resembling a stalagmite in shape, consists of 163 floors and rises to 828 meters. This giant was built in 2010 in the largest city of the UAE - Dubai. The Dubai Tower was designed as a "city within a city" - with its own lawns, boulevards and parks. Inside the complex there are apartments, offices, shopping centers and a hotel. The building has 3 separate entrances: the entrance to the hotel, the entrance to the apartments and the entrance to the office premises. The Armani Hotel and offices occupy floors 1 to 39. The hotel was designed by Giorgio Armani himself. 900 apartments occupy floors from 44 to 108. Office premises occupy floors from 111 to 154. On the 43rd and 76th floors there are gyms, swimming pools, observation decks with a jacuzzi. The highest observation deck is located on the 124th floor at an altitude of 505 meters. On the 122nd floor there is the Atmosfera restaurant with 80 seats - a restaurant located at the highest altitude in the world. The artificial tower above the main building, in addition to its decorative function, also has a communication function, since it is equipped with the necessary telecommunications equipment.
