Why do towering structures excite us so much? Is our motivation based on the confidence one has that one can climb as high as one wants to? Or is it our optimism which reinforcing in our hearts that no matter how high we levitate things can only rise in the process? Whatever it is that it may be, it is quite clear that this passion has taken over us so closely, as we observe the continued erection of these towering superstructures daily.
Why are tall buildings important?
Now let us have a look into some of the implementation aspects. But then, other than as signifying power, aspiration, and triumph over gravity, why are tall buildings crucial? World population was at slightly over 5.5 billion in the year 1994. Currently by now it is today 26 years later the worldwide population stands at an estimated 8 billion people. That is annual growth of about 100 million people, fancy that.
Hence, since everyone requires coverings, physical or otherwise, and the breadth of the earth cannot be negotiated as the world continues to fill, the only direction open is vertical. Hence, tall buildings are also constructed due to need only. That is they offer an opportunity to manage the spread of urbanization with little impact on the size of city’s footprint.
20 tallest buildings in the world
n this article, we will be considering twenty of the tallest buildings in the world that interest us in this list.
Let's feast our eyes.
1. Burj Khalifa - Dubai, United Arab Emirates by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM)
Of course, we are starting this list of the tallest buildings in the world with Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the tallest building on the planet! Nestled in none other than the United Arab Emirates (now for serious folks where else can we expect to see such structures) this behemoth of a building is 828m (2,717 ft) tall!
The thought of being on its topmost floor (the 163rd floor) gives you chills just thinking about it. Imagine the view up there. Don’t you think that it seem to be a world of its own? Well, since Burj Khalifa in Dubai serves as a hotel, residential as well as an office building, you may capture this new type of world.
2. Shanghai Tower - Shanghai by Gensler
This skyscraper has a record height of 632m (2,073 ft) making it the tallest twisted building in the entire world. As with the World Financial Center completed in 2008 and Shanghai Tower, completed in 2014 The Jin Mao Tower formed the three architectural pinnacle. This architectural wonder is located in the city’s Lujiazui commercial zone, a new area developed for a yapacak World Expo in 2010.
Second only to the Burj Khalifa in terms of height, the Shanghai Tower consists of nine cylindrical structures ordered one upon the other. This is what creates this strange curved look of this tower, which is what can be described as phenomenal design. To be more specific the actual twisting operative in this particular building is the 120 degrees rotation through which the exterior of this building rotates as it rises.
3. Makkah Royal Clock Tower - Mecca, Saudi Arabia by Dar al-Handasah Shair & Partners + SL Rasch
With 120 floors, this a mixed use building and is the tallest building with a clock face in the entire world. It is a building built in Mecca, Saudi Arabia and it was built in 2012, and has a towering height of 601m (1,972 ft).
In the broad area you will be delighted to know that the clock tower has a museum on the top floor flour. All of the four floors in the Clock Tower Museum are dedicated to some particular theme.
The 1st floor shows details of Makkah Tower and its construction and architectural designs. The 2nd floor covers the time measurements which were used in the ancient ages. Some of the exhibited items found on the 3rd floor provide a demonstration of how our forefathers used the earth, sun and the moon in order to plan for their daily undertakings. Last but not least, the graphics on 4th includes such details about space and the planets in it.
4. Ping An Finance Center - Shenzhen by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF)
Completed in 2017, this building is the 4 th tallest in the world with 115 floors primarily serving as an office space. The Ping An Finance Center stands at a height of 599m (1,965 ft), and solidifies the city’s new Central Business District. This skyscraper is located at the cross-junction of Yi Tian Road and Fu Hua Road in the Futian Zone.
Here you won’t lose sight of the PAFC that rises towards the skys with its tall great spire. This is likely to make you to zero them with other world famous spired towers such as the Empire State, or even the Chrysler.
5. Lotte World Tower - Seoul, South Korea by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF)
Beyond the fact that the Lotte World Tower is one of the tallest structures being 554.5m/ 1,819ft in the world, it is the pride of South Korea. With the naked eye one is ravished with the power and culture that is upheld in this 123 story building.
This tower is a symbol of the collaborative meeting of three aspects: the use of cutting edge technology, nature and culture. In addition to being a contemporary monument both to South Korea and to the world, this building provides all that one might need for a contemporary urban existence.
6. One World Trade Center - New York City, United States by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM)
Standing tall at 541.3 meters (1,776ft) in New York city, this building offers offices to many incredible organizations. Designed and constructed in 2014, the One World Trade Center remains the symbolic landmark of the new Downtown in New York City.
With growth and development in mind, the One World Trade Center was designed with an efficient integration of traffic of the office tenancy and visitors. This New York City structure’s cubic base footprint is also same as that of the original Twin Towers.
7. Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre - Guangzhou, China by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF)
Becoming one of the stunning glass structures within the globe, the Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre, which forms part of the Guangzhou Twin Towers. About 530m 1,739ft it serves as a hotel, and the residential and office building.
This metalwork has therefore placed this building as an epitome of sustainability; center-city; and high-density architecture. New construction has glass exterior, corrosion-resistant and self cleaning glazed terra cotta.
8. Tianjin CTF Finance Centre - Tianjin, China by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM)
Taking its place as one of the world's most incredible skyscrapers, this 530m (1,740ft) tall building with 97 floors is a sight to behold. Being an impressive and self-assured structure in the middle of the city it serves as a host to the hotel, office space and consist of the serviced luxurious apartments.
This has been brought by the detailed design and its complex building façade that have made many people to believe that this magnificent architectural design is the symbol of the district.
9. CITIC Tower - Beijing, China by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (Design Architect) + TFP Farrells (Land Bid Concept)
Yet another skyscraper in Asia, with heights of 527.7m (1,731ft), this architectural creation is also office like several other towers and houses many companies. Built at the heart of Beijing’s 30 hectare central business district, it therefore goes without saying that the primary purpose of this emblem of the capital is to house offices.
According to the research conducted, the so called “zun” influenced the construction of the building. This is a type of pottery that was produced from the stage of the bronze age China.
10. TAIPEI 101 - Taipei, China by C.Y. Lee & Partners Architects/Planners
This amazing structure has been standing out after being constructed in 2004 and has 101 floors all of which have remarkable uses. Acting primarily as working spaces, Taipei 101s held the record of being the highest green building up to 2011. With an immediate impression that resembles a massive piece of bamboo, you cannot help, but marvel at how it looms over the city.
If you are more adventurous you can proceed to eighty ninth floor which has been provided with a balcony, the view looks quite promising. While this skyscraper is 508m or 1,667ft tall, the pressure-controlled lift that goes at the speed of 1,010 m per minute, shall take the time of 40 seconds to take you to the 89th floor starting from the ground level. How cool is that?
11. Shanghai World Financial Center - Shanghai, China by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF) + Mori Building + Irie Miyake Architects and Engineers
As we mentioned before while thinking about SWFC, the world efficiency is what needs to run. This building is 492m (1,614ft) and it is 101 floors and has been intentionally designed in a manner that optimizes its use of energy and any other resource in nature. Moreover, other hi-tech systems are used to guarantee the creation of comfortable working conditions in the offices.
Multi-layered glass is used in the curtain wall thereby improving the overall efficiency of air conditioning in the building. Also, the air-conditioning system is effectively zoned too, which helps to reduce energy use in the building so that no energy is wasted.
12. International Commerce Centre - Hong Kong, China by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF)
If you’re going through this article, and you are in doubt as to which of these towering structures to visit first, then this 108 storeyed building standing at 484m (1,588ft) will be to your taste. This is another famous building in the whole world, which was delivered in 2010 and also an informative tourists’ attraction in Hong Kong.
It has one of the poshest Hong Kong malls, and the highest observatory in the world at that. Therefore, if you would like to see things you only get to see when you are hundreds of meters in the sky, then you need to start checking out flights to Hong Kong.
13. Lakhta Center - St. Petersburg, Russia by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF)
Rising to a height of 462 meters (1,516 feet), this building is one of the tallest buildings of the world, quite distant from the city almost at the coast of the Gulf of Finland, approximately 12 km away. This feature in turn gives it a unique ‘barbed’ architectural design and an elegant frontage that sets it out for other buildings in the city of St Petersburg.
The organic spire shape symbolizes the power of the water. Moreover, the façade of this tower is made of special glass through which the tower reflects the colors of the sun’s lighting and position.
14. Vincom Landmark 81 - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam by Atkins
Completed in 2018, it is 461.2 meters (1,513 feet tall), and about 90 floors; it’s also one of the main attractions in Ho Chi Minh City. Similar to the International Commerce Centre, this icon has floors 81 of having an observation deck from which you can view the city.
15. Changsha IFS Tower T1 - Changsha, China by Wong Tung & Partners
Currently standing at 452.1m (1,483ft), this architectural wonder on this list of tallest buildings is featuring 94 floors. Serving principally as an accommodation, it is also used as an office space. Competitors of the building include, One Riverside, and One Central, which are yet to be developed, and the building still stands as the tallest structure in Changsha City and the 11th tallest in Asia after its completion in 2018.
16. Petronas Twin Tower 1 & Petronas Twin Tower 2- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Cesar Pelli & Associates
These towers conserve energy in their design in relation to climate conditions as well as the geographical area. Construction of these two towers was done in 1998, the two towers have the same height of 451.9m/1,489ft and have 88 floors. You won’t fail to be marveled at the presence that these two buildings portray.
17. Suzhou IFS - Suzhou, China by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF)
Completed in 2019 to act as a hotel, business, and opulent service residence. Located at 450m (1,476ft.), standing tall and proud, the city of Suzhou can each claim this as an iconic symbol of their culture & the city’s identity. The main design is based on a fish which is synonymous with prosperity; therefore, it is even more appropriate to be the tallest structure in the city.
Not surprisingly, this kind of modern and high-tech phenomenon is sited in Suzhou city, one of the most rapidly developing cities in the world and the earliest and most famous city of commerce in China. A modern marvel indeed.
18. Zifeng Tower - Nanjing, China by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM)
With a total mass of 68 floors and 450m (1,476ft) height this Chinese Skyscraper looks like other skyscrapers in the world but has a different architectural design. This multi-story edifice is 66 floored, it has received an award for its complex design which emphasizes the possibilities of modern and antique architecture at the same time.
More than that, just as smoothly integrating these two architectural languages looks quite pretty is just part of it. You will be amazed to witness as this work of wonder shifts color in accordance with the lighting and time it is day or night.
19. The Exchange 106 - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Mulia Group
With 95 floors and a majestic height of 445.1m (1,460ft), Kuala Lumpur functions as an office to many fortunate businesses. This architecture design places this building among the most sophisticated representative of the nation’s aspiration.
Completed in 2019, it is currently proudly stretching to the sky searching for more heights and as it stands as a single tower, it gives a view of the sprawling skyline suggesting the arising empire of Malaysia.
20. Willis Tower - Chicago, United States by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM)
Built in 1974, this one has 108 floors and was the world’s tallest building until 1999 being deposed by the skyscrapers above. Originally called the Sears Tower, it stands right in Chicago – a city that could not but embrace its architecture.
Although it is last on our list today, it possesses undoubtedly one of the greatest and innovative structural design. Through its black anodized aluminium and long-spanning bronze-tinted glass skin, yes the world’s ninth largest Triad’s centrepiece of a skyscraper tips in at 442.1m / 1,451 ft and will always make its presence felt on the Chicago skyline.
Conclusion
Have you enjoyed reading about the 20 tallest buildings in the world? We sure hope you have.
Let us know which one you like most and which one you have plan to visit next.
