Where is the tallest skyscraper. The tallest skyscraper in the world
“… From now on and forever this tower will bear the name of “Khalifa”
- Burj Khalifa...”
- Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, January 4, 2010.
Khalifa Tower(Burj Khalifa, Burj Khalifa; formerly - "Burj Dubai" (Burj Dubai) or "Dubai Tower") - tallest skyscraper in the world, height 828 meters, 162 floors.
The Dubai stalagmite skyscraper was built in 5 years. The construction of the skyscraper began in 2004 and proceeded at a rate of 1-2 floors per week. The official opening of the tallest building on the planet, which took place on January 4, 2010, was followed by almost 2 billion people.
Khalifa Tower - Burj Khalifa. Dubai
( , 2001×3888, 1.09 MB). Photo: Poco a poco
Burj Khalifa was named after the current President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE; UAE), Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
He is known for his ambitious development projects (The World archipelago, The Palm project, the beautiful “sail”, “wave” -, .. Dubai Fountain (located next to the Burj Khalifa), many others ...). The "Khalifa" tower is the crowning achievement of this "architectural collection".
Tallest skyscraper. The tallest buildings in the world
Skyscraper(in English. skyscraper; in Russian, “high-rise building” or “high-rise building”, “tower”) is a free-standing building (structure) intended for the life and work of people and having a height of at least 150 meters. If a skyscraper is higher than 300 m, then it is ultra-high.
Elite apartments in the Khalifa Tower are in great demand. In total, in a skyscraper with an internal area of 344,000 square meters. m. there are 1000 apartments, offices, a hotel.
3 days after opening Burj Khalifa, the tallest skyscraper in the world the highest hotel in the world opened in Dubai - Rose Rayhaan (333 meters, 72 floors), Burj Al Arab “rests”.
The “Khalifa” tower is another bar in the conquest of heights by man. Before Burj Khalifa, Taipei 101 (Taipei 101; located in the capital of Taiwan - Taipei) was considered the world's tallest skyscraper (skyscraper). The height of "Taipei 101" with a spire is 509.2 meters, 101 floors; year of construction - 2004. The roof of the Taipei skyscraper is located at around 449.2 m.
Taipei 101 (Taipei 101) - the world's tallest skyscraper from 2004 to 2007. Taiwan
( , 500×1003, 388 KB). Photo: Wikipedia
Without an antenna, the American 110-story skyscraper Willis Tower (Willis Tower; until 2009 it was called the Sears Tower, Sears Tower; Chicago, USA) is 6 meters (443.2 m) lower than the Taipei 101 high-rise. And with an antenna (spire) - 18.1 m (527.3 m) higher.
Willis Tower, Willis Tower. Chicago, USA. Photo: chitowndining.com
The tallest building in the world before the construction of the Burj Khalifa was the KVLY-TV TV and radio tower (Blanchard, North Dakota, USA). The height of the TV and radio mast KVLY-TV (formerly called KTHI-TV) is 628.8 meters.
TV and radio tower KVLY - the tallest building in the world from 1963-1974, 1991-2008. Photo: Ratsbew
… And let's list tallest buildings on earth! Let's start our time travel from 2540 BC. e.
The tallest buildings on earth
The tallest buildings of its time...
... Around 2540 BC. e. (the date of construction is not exactly known) an amazing building appeared in Egypt - The Pyramid of Cheops(Khufu; Pyramid of Cheops, Pyramid of Khufu). Great Pyramid Cheops is the only one of the old “ ” (do you know -? ..) that has survived to this day. The original height of the Pyramid was 146.60 meters (today it is 138.75 m).
The Pyramid of Cheops is the tallest building in antiquity. Photo: BBC
I will note another Wonder of the World - faros lighthouse(or Lighthouse of Alexandria; Lighthouse of Alexandria). The Pharos lighthouse had a height of up to 135 meters (there are also larger figures, for example, 160 m), was built in the 3rd century BC. e. In 796 AD, it was destroyed by an earthquake.
Only in 1311 in the city of Lincoln (Lincoln; England) was built the Lincoln Cathedral of the Virgin Mary (The Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lincoln or St. Mary's Cathedral). Before the collapse of the central spire in 1549, the 160-meter Lincoln Cathedral was the tallest building on. The modern height of Lincoln Cathedral is 83 meters.
Since 1549, the palm passed to the church of St. Olaf (Est. Oleviste kirik, Tallinn, Estonia). 159 meters - the height of this Lutheran church, built (like Lincoln Cathedral) in the Gothic style. In 1625, the spire of the church was destroyed by a lightning strike (modern height - 123.7 m).
From 1625 to 1647, the tallest building in the world was the Church of St. Mary (Marienkirche; German St.-Marien-Kirche; Stralsund, Germany) - 151 meters. In 1647, the spire of the church was also destroyed by lightning (modern height - 104 meters).
For more than 2 centuries (1647-1874), the tallest building in the world was the Strasbourg Cathedral (French: Cathédrale Notre-Dame; Strasbourg, France) - 142 meters.
From 1874-1876 - St. Nicholas Cathedral (St. Nikolai; Hamburg, Germany) - 147.3 meters.
From 1876-1880 - Rouen Cathedral (Rouen Cathedral; Rouen, France) - 151 meters.
4 years (from 1880 to 1884) tallest building in the world there was the famous Cologne Cathedral (German: Kölner Dom, or - Hohe Domkirche St. Peter und Maria; Cologne, Germany). The height of this amazing Gothic cathedral is 157 meters. It was built intermittently for more than 600 years (1248-1437,.. 1842-1880).
Cologne Cathedral, Cologne Cathedral. Germany. Photo: Tobi 87
Fast forward to New World... 1884-1889 - Washington Monument (eng. Washington Monument, Washington, USA), height - 169.3 meters. The weight of the granite obelisk is 91 thousand tons. Designed by Robert Mills Robert Mills).
The Eiffel Tower (fr. la tour Eiffel; Paris, France) with a height of 312 meters was the tallest building in 1889-1930. The modern height of the symbol of Paris is 324 m.
... The Great Depression in the USA ... In New York, the capital of skyscrapers of the 20th century, the tallest buildings in the world are being built: 1930-1931 - the Chrysler Building (319 meters high); 1931-1954 - Empire State Building (Empire State Building) - 102-story legendary skyscraper, height 448.7 m or 1472 feet (modern height - 443.2 m).
- 1954-1956 - Griffin Television Tower Oklahoma or KWTV tower (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA, height - 480.5 m),
- 1956-1959 - KOBR-TV tower (Caproc, New Mexico, USA; 490.7 meters; collapsed in 1960),
- 1959-1960 - WGME-TV tower (Portland, Maine, USA; 495 m),
- 1960-1962 - Raycom America Tower Cape Girardeau or KFVS TV mast (Missouri, USA; 511.1 m),
- 1962-1963 - WTVM TV or WTVM/WRBL-TV & WVRK-FM Tower (Cousset, Georgia, USA; 533 m),
- 1963 - WIMZ-FM tower (Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; 534.01 m).
The KVLY-TV television and radio tower mentioned above (628.8 meters high) was the tallest structure in the world in the period from 1963 to 1974 and 1991-2008.
From 1974 to 1991 The tallest building in the world was the Warsaw Radio Mast.(Warsaw radio mast, Poland), height - 646.38 meters. On August 8, 1991, the Warsaw radio mast collapsed while replacing one of the guys.
The Khalifa Tower (Burj Khalifa), 2008 - the building became the tallest ground structure in the history of construction. The record will not be beaten soon...
Tallest skyscrapers. Future
And what awaits us in the future? ..
Quite a lot of projects that amaze the imagination have been announced. These are, for example, the 1001-meter skyscraper Mubarak al-Kabir Tower (eng. Burj Mubarak al-Kabir) in Kuwait, the 200-story skyscraper Murjan Tower in Bahrain, height 1022 m; The 1600-meter skyscraper Mile-High Tower (“a mile-high tower”) in the city of Jeddah (Saudi Arabia).
One of tallest building projects on earth- X-Seed 4000, height... you guessed it). By the way, back in 1966-1969 in the “TsNIIEP them. B. S. Mezentsev ”for Japan, the highest skyscraper was developed - the Nikitin Tower - Travusha 4000. The modern project“ X-Seed 4000 ″ has much in common with the project of the designer of the Ostankino television tower N.V. Nikitin and V.I. Travush.
And here is another interesting project of one of the tallest buildings in the world: "Sky City 1000" (Sky City 1000). Place of construction - Tokyo (Japan), height with a spire 1050 meters, number of floors - 196. The project "Sky City 1000" is promised to be implemented in the next 20 years.
Sky City 1000, Sky City 1000.
Project of one of the tallest buildings in the world
The construction of skyscrapers, towers and structures allows not only to solve problems with housing and technical support for the life of society ... Man at all times has sought to soar up - closer to the sky, the sun and the stars. Science does not stand still!
Researchers from York University (York University, Canada) want to create a giant modular tower up to 15 kilometers (!). The tower can be used to launch spacecraft, scientific work, organization of tourist excursions.
On this topic " The tallest buildings in the world“: A list of the tallest structures in the world - as well as a list of current tall structures on every continent.
People are strange creatures. We always want to surpass each other, to do something better than others, to improve. We are constantly testing the limits of our abilities, the limits of the laws of physics, the limits of human nature itself. When it comes to architecture, a person always tries to surpass the achieved heights. New building materials, new designs allow us to reach more and more new heights, and in the literal sense. It is no coincidence that the buildings are getting taller and taller, and the most indescribably high skyscrapers the planets have been built within the last twenty-five years. We bring to your attention a list of the fourteen tallest skyscrapers in the world.
14. Jin Mao Tower - Shanghai, China: 420.62 m
Reaching a height of 421 meters, the Jin Mao Tower skyscraper was built in 1999. The building includes office space, hotel, shopping mall, restaurants, night club and an observation deck. His largest tenant- Hyatt hotel, its territory occupies a space of 30 floors and offers visitors relaxation in a piano bar, cafes, upscale restaurants and bars, fitness center services, access to the pool and a separate express elevator.
13. Trump International Skyscraper Hotel - Chicago, USA: 423.3 m
Completed in 2009, this building includes a residential building and a luxury hotel. The skyscraper reaches 423 meters in height and cost its owners 847 million dollars. The building was built on the site of the old Chicago Sun Times building, near the local river, in downtown Chicago. In addition to the hotel, on the sixteenth floor there is a restaurant and spa, as well as an outdoor area that will give you unforgettable views of the city.
12. Guangzhou International Financial Center - Guangzhou, China: 438.9 m
The 103-story skyscraper was completed in 2010 at a cost of $280 million. This is first of all office building, the upper floors of which serve as the location of the hotel Four Seasons and observation deck. This building was originally known as the Guangzhou West Tower. In addition, its owners had plans to rebuild even more high building but they were not successful.
11. KK100 - Shenzhen, China: 441.6 m
Formerly known as Kingkey 100, this skyscraper reaches a height of almost 442 meters. This mixed-use building is home to office space and a six-star business hotel. It also has a garden, many restaurants, luxury shops, supermarkets and an IMAX cinema. This building was completed in 2011.
10. Willis Tower - Chicago, USA: 441.96 m
Formerly known as the Sears Tower, the Willis Tower reaches a height of 442 meters. This is the only building on our list built before 1998. The skyscraper was built in 1973 at a cost of $150 million. It was the first building in the world to use the tubular construction method. This is what made it possible to build a skyscraper to such a height. And although it is now only tenth on our list, there was a time when it was considered the tallest skyscraper in the world.
9. Zifeng Tower - Nanjing, China: 451.1 m
This 450-meter 89-storey skyscraper was opened in 2010. There is a huge amount of retail and office space, a hotel, restaurants and an open observation deck. It took five years to rebuild this building. For its maintenance, 54 lifts and elevators are used.
8. Petronas Tower 1&2 - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: 452 m
From 1998 to 2004, the Twin Petronas Towers were considered the tallest buildings in the world. The premises in them were rented by such large companies as Reuters, Microsoft, AVEVA. The construction of these two giants took about 1.6 billion dollars. Their height was 452 meters. Petronas Tower 1 is wholly owned by Petronas and its subsidiaries. It connects to the second skyscraper via an overpass located on the 41st and 42nd floors. The first few floors of skyscrapers are occupied by retail businesses. In addition, here you can find an art gallery, an aquarium and a research center.
7. International Commerce Center - Hong Kong: 484 m
This 118-story skyscraper reaches 484 meters in height. It was built in 2010, eight long years after construction began. On the this moment it is the tallest building in Hong Kong and the fourth tallest in China. The building houses a five-star Ritz Carlton hotel, an outdoor observation deck and a swimming pool located on the 118th floor.
6. Shanghai World Financial Center - Shanghai, China: 491.95 m
This skyscraper cost its owners $1.2 billion. This is a multifunctional building that includes office space, a hotel, a museum, a parking lot, shops and several observation decks. It opened in 2008 and at that time was considered the tallest building in the world.
5. Taipei 101 - Taipei, Taiwan: 508.7 m
Built in 2004, this skyscraper consists of 101 floors containing office space, shopping centers, eateries and viewing platforms. The building was designed by LEEDS Platinum Certified and features a number of exciting features including the world's fastest elevator, the world's largest countdown clock, the world's tallest sundial and the world's largest damper pendulum. The skyscraper reaches 509 meters in height and costs about 1.8 billion dollars.
4. One World Trade Center - New York, USA: 541.3 m
This skyscraper is planned to be completed before the end of this year on the site of the former buildings of the World Trade Center. The building will reach a height of 540 meters and will be intended primarily for office space. The total cost of its construction was 3.9 billion dollars. When completed, it will be one of the tallest buildings in the US.
3. Makkah Royal Clock Tower - Mecca, Saudi Arabia: 601m
Officially known as Abraj Al-Bait, the Makkah Royal Clock Tower rises 601 meters above the ground. It was built in 2012 after eight years of continuous construction. At the top of the building is a four-sided clock, which is considered the tallest clock in the world. They can be seen from a distance of 26 kilometers. During the construction of the skyscraper, there were two fires, but, fortunately, no one was injured.
2. Shanghai Tower - Shanghai, China: 631.8 m
The Shanghai Tower is the tallest building in Asia and cost $4.2 billion to build. Upon completion of construction work, the skyscraper will reach a height of 632 meters and have 121 floors. The project of the building was developed back in 1993, but later it was planned to introduce a number of environmental features, which slowed down the start of its construction. The building will be commissioned in 2015.
1. Burj Khalifa - Dubai, United Arab Emirates: 828.1 m
Since 2010, this building has been considered the tallest structure in the world. The 163-storey skyscraper reaches a height of 828 meters. The construction of the building cost $1.5 billion. Here you can find apartments, office space, hotels, corporate suites and restaurants. The building has received countless awards for its special design.
The height of skyscrapers and other structures is growing every year. More and more new projects are being developed, the number of floors in which is steadily increasing. Today we will look at the tallest and most interesting buildings in the world, as well as touch on future projects that will break the current "high-altitude" record.
Above the Eiffel Tower
Burj Khalifa is by far the largest skyscraper in the world. Its height is 838 m. The building is located in Dubai. The project was developed by the Americans, and its implementation was entrusted to a South Korean company.
The skyscraper is three times higher than the Eiffel Tower, shaped like a stalagmite. An elegant and neat building with a height of 838 m includes 164 floors. The first is underground. It has everything - hotels, restaurants, shops, viewing platforms and even apartments. The skyscraper also boasts the highest observation deck, located at an altitude of 452 m.
There are 58 elevators in operation. In the first months after opening, the building had problems with electricity and elevators. But they were soon resolved. "Tower Khalifa" is actively visited by curious tourists. Today it is one of the most famous skyscrapers.
shanghai tower
The Shanghai Tower is the second largest skyscraper in the world. Its height is 632 m. It is adjacent to another skyscraper, the Shanghai World Financial Center, which rises 492 m above the ground.
The tower has an interesting twisted design. This can be seen in the photo. This form adds to its stability. At the top is a gutter to collect rainwater and use it for heating and air conditioning. The tower is equipped with the world's fastest elevators - 69 km/h.
However, it is impossible to admire the beauty of the city from the height of the building - the walls of the building have a second layer that maintains the optimum temperature in it.
Royal clock tower
This building is located in Mecca (Saudi Arabia) and is part of the Abrazh Al-Bait complex, consisting of 7 towers. However, the clock tower is the tallest of them. Its height is 601 meters and contains 120 floors. The skyscraper is also unique with the largest clock face with a diameter of 43 m. At night, when the lights are turned on, they can be seen from a distance of 30 km.
The top of the spire is decorated with a crescent moon - one of the main symbols of Islam. Its weight is 35 tons. At night, the tower is an amazing sight that attracts attention. huge amount of people.
It is noteworthy that the complex is residential. In addition to apartments, it also houses a five-star hotel. And, of course, there is everything you need for a comfortable life - shops, restaurants, conference rooms and even 2 helipads.
Taipei 101
This unique skyscraper is located in the capital of Taiwan - Tangbei. Its height along the spire is 509 m. The shape of the building is truly unique and even slightly resembles a palm tree trunk. On the 87-88 floors there is an unusual pendulum ball weighing 660 tons. It not only adds color to the interior. The fact is that the ball compensates for gusts of wind. The steel frame and foundation of piles, going 80 meters deep into the earth, can withstand the strongest earthquakes. This allows the building to be ranked among the safest in the world during natural disasters. In 2002 there was an earthquake, the magnitude of which was almost 7 points. The building survived. But at the same time, there is an opinion that it was the construction of a skyscraper that provoked tremors.
Towers of New York
In 1931, New York's tallest skyscraper was built in just 13 months. This is the Empire State Building. Its height is 441 m (along the spire) and 381 m - along the roof. There are 102 floors here. The Empire State Building was the largest skyscraper in the world until 1972.
In 2012, in New York, in lower Manhattan, the World International Center 1 (or Freedom Tower) was built. Its height is 541 m. Today, the Freedom Tower is not only the tallest skyscraper in New York, but throughout America.
Skyscrapers of Moscow
Dozens of skyscrapers rise in the capital of Russia today. Every now and then there are rumors about new, even larger projects. In 2014, the Federation Tower complex was erected - the tallest skyscraper in Moscow. It consists of two towers with the names "East" and "West". The "East", whose height is 374 m, has 97 floors, and the "West" - 63 (242 m) floors. Both buildings are equipped with high-speed elevators.
It is the "Vostok" that still remains the "high-rise" leader among the skyscrapers of Moscow.
Ping'an Financial Center
Pingan International Financial Center is a complex of skyscrapers. It is located in China, in the city of Shenzhen. The height of one of the towers from the peak is 599 m. The center was opened in 2017. It took 8 years to build this skyscraper. Next to it is a tower, which is also part of the complex. Its dimensions are more modest - 307 meters in height.
Super tall skyscraper in Seoul
In April 2017, one of the largest skyscrapers in the world was opened. The building is located in the capital South Korea, in the area of the entertainment complex Lotte World Tower. Its construction began in 2005. The height of the building is 555 m. 123 floors of this majestic building are divided into shops, offices and apartments, a hotel. On the last three floors is the highest observation deck in Korea.
In May 2017 climber Jane Kim climbed to the top of this skyscraper. At the same time, the girl did not use a special facility. She managed to conquer the summit in 2 hours and 30 minutes.
The most expensive skyscraper in the world
It takes more than $1,000,000,000 to build one skyscraper. However, the government of the country spent $3,900,000,000 on the World International Center 1. The Freedom Tower (the center's second name) was built on the site of the twin towers that collapsed in 2001. This tragedy affected many American families whose members died during the attack.
The most expensive skyscraper sold for $5.15 billion was a building in Hong Kong. The deal took place as recently as November 2017. In the entire history of the sale of skyscrapers, this one has become the most expensive. Previously, the high-rise building belonged to CK Asset, a company whose owner is recognized as the richest man in China. Li Ka-shing sold the building to a large consortium.
Skyscrapers of the future
Despite the fact that Buj Khalifa still retains the status of the tallest skyscraper in the world (how many floors in the building are indicated above), future projects promise to become even larger.
Already in 2020, several impressive skyscrapers, the height of which will exceed a kilometer, should be ready.
The Dubai Crete Harbor Tower project promises to create a structure that will significantly exceed the height of the famous Khalifa Tower. The name of this structure is still unknown, but journalists have already explored its approximate parameters.
The height of the spire will be 1014 m, and the height of the roof - 928 m. However, these figures are inaccurate, because the project is kept secret. Construction is estimated at $1 billion.
The foundation was laid in October 2016. The opening of the tower should take place before the Eksmo-2020 exhibition, which will be held in Dubai. Perhaps the skyscraper can become a symbol of the capital of the UAE, like eiffel tower in Paris. Whether this is so, we will find out in a few years.
The Jeddah Tower is another massive project. It is also planned to be completed by 2020. However, construction is proceeding quite slowly - the foundation was laid back in 2013, and by 2016 only 47 floors were ready. The height of the rebuilt skyscraper will be 1007 m.
A tower is being built in the desert Saudi Arabia. Estimated cost - about 1 billion dollars. In the future, the desert area will be assigned to the Kingdom Center business district, which will include Jeddah.
sky tree tokyo
Tokyo Skytree is the tallest TV tower in the world. The building is located in the Sumida area. The height of the tower is 634 m. The structure was erected to transmit a digital television signal to the upper floors of the city's skyscrapers. The building also houses a restaurant and a viewing platform.
Tokyo Skytree is considered the second largest building in the world. It is built in a futuristic style. Particular attention during construction was paid to the reliability of the structure during natural disasters. According to the architects, a special system compensates up to 50% of tremors.
Humanity is moving upward. The construction of skyscrapers every year is becoming larger, and their design is more attractive.
The most outstanding marvels of engineering in modern architecture!
10. Gherkin, London
The skyscraper Mary-Ex, 30, known by the nickname "Gherkin" (Gherkin), rises in the main financial district of London. The 40-storey building reaches a height of 180 meters. The building uses energy-saving electrification methods that use half as much energy as a building of this size would normally require. The skyscraper houses the headquarters of the reinsurance company Swiss Re.
9. Bank of China Tower, Hong Kong
The most recognizable structure of the world capital of skyscrapers is Hong Kong. Reaching a height of 305 meters, from 1989 to 1992 it was the tallest building in all of Asia. The exterior design elements of the skyscraper resemble bamboo, a symbol of longevity and prosperity. True feng shui practitioners have criticized the skyscraper for its sharp lines. A small observation deck is open on the 43rd floor of the building.
8. Willis Tower, Chicago
108-story skyscraper in Chicago. At the time of its appearance in 1973, it was the tallest building in the world, surpassing the buildings of the World Trade Center in New York. The observation deck on the 103rd floor of the skyscraper is Chicago's most famous landmark. On a clear day, from there you can see not only the whole of Chicago, but also the opposite shore of Lake Michigan. Prior to its renaming in 2009, the skyscraper was called the Sears Tower.
7. Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai
The 101st floor of the Shanghai World Financial Center houses offices, hotels, observation decks and shops. In 2007, the skyscraper reached a height of 492 meters, becoming the tallest building in all of China, including Hong Kong. The most characteristic feature in its design is the huge "hole" at the top. Initially, this element was planned to be round, but this caused a number of protests due to the fact that such a design was too similar to the rising sun on the Japanese flag. In the final version, the circle was replaced with a trapezoid, making the skyscraper look like a giant bottle opener, according to many.
6. Taipei 101, Taiwan
The skyscraper, reaching a height of 508 meters, was the tallest building in the world until 2007, when it was overtaken by the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The special design of the skyscraper allows it to withstand typhoons and earthquakes, which are not uncommon in Taiwan. The number of floors in the building - 101 - is dedicated to the meeting of the new century, at the beginning of which a skyscraper (100 + 1) was erected.
5. Chrysler Building, New York
Art Deco skyscraper in east Manhattan. Its height is 319 meters; for 11 months, until the construction of the Empire State Building in 1931, it was the tallest building in the world. This is a classic example of art deco architecture, which many modern architects consider to be beautiful building all over New York.
4. Burj Khalifa, Dubai
The highest building on the planet and the main attraction of Dubai rises to an unprecedented height: 818 meters. The lower 37 floors are occupied by the Armani Hotel. Luxury apartments are located from the 45th to the 108th floor, and the uppermost part of the building is reserved for offices. The observation deck, which offers breathtaking views of ultra-modern Dubai, is located on the 124th floor of a skyscraper.
3. Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur
Until 2004, these skyscrapers in the Malaysian capital were the tallest buildings in the world, until they were overtaken by the Taipei 101 skyscraper. Be that as it may, they still remain the tallest twin buildings in the world to this day. Their most famous feature is the "sky bridge" connecting the buildings at the 42nd floor level. It is built in such a way that, if necessary, it can be "pulled" inside buildings to protect against possible hurricanes. The bridge plays an important role in the security system: if an emergency occurs in one of the buildings, people can quickly evacuate to the neighboring tower.
2. Burj Al Arab, Dubai
One of the tallest and most luxurious hotels in the world, the appearance of which evokes associations with luxury and a beautiful life. It reaches a height of 321 meters. Situated on artificial island 280 meters from the coast. Not everyone can afford to get into its territory: one night in a hotel costs from 1.5 to 30 thousand dollars!
1. Empire State Building, New York
Although the Empire State Building has not been the tallest building in the world for many decades, it still remains one of the most recognizable symbols of New York. For 40 years, he held the world palm in height. It was erected in 1931 during the Great Depression, and for many years most of its offices were empty. Until 1950, the skyscraper did not bring benefits to the owners. The building houses one of the most visited observatories in the world, offering impressive 360-degree views of New York!
In a previous article, we discussed the tallest skyscrapers in Russia. Unfortunately, now none of the skyscrapers erected in the country is among the ten tallest buildings in the world. Therefore, until the completion of the construction of the Lakhta Center (hello to the commentators of the previous article), we will talk about skyscrapers in the United United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, China, USA, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
willis tower
The oldest of the ten tallest skyscrapers in the world today was built in 1974 in Chicago. Its height is 442 meters without the spire, with the spire - 527 meters. In the Russian-language Wikipedia, the Willis Tower is ranked 11th, but this is somewhat incorrect: the Lakhta Center, which has already been ranked 8th in the ranking, will be completed in 2018.Just think: in forty years, only nine skyscrapers in the world have surpassed the 108-story Willis Tower in Chicago, and in the United States, only the Freedom Tower, opened in 2014, beat this result.
The skyscraper was designed by the architectural bureau Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, which later erected both the Freedom Tower and the tallest building at the moment, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The building was originally called the Sears Tower, and the Willis name was given in 2009. The foundation of the Willis Tower rests on concrete piles driven into solid rock. The frame consists of nine square "tubes" forming one large square at the base. Each such "pipe" consists of 20 vertical beams and many horizontal ones. All nine "pipes" are welded up to the 50th floor, then seven pipes go up to 66, five remain to the 90th floor, and the remaining two "pipes" rise another 20 floors. What exactly it looks like is clear from a 1971 photograph.
The worker stands on the spire of the tower.
Willis Tower is on the right in this photo, with two spiers.
Zifeng Tower
In Chinese Nanjing, until the middle of the 19th century, there was a Porcelain Pagoda, a Buddhist temple 78 meters high. Travelers described it as one of the wonders of the world. It was replaced by the Zifeng skyscraper.The construction of the 450-meter Zifeng high-rise building was completed in 2009. It is the business center of the city. It houses offices, shops, shopping centers, restaurants and an observatory. In total - 89 floors.
Work on the construction of the tower lasted only four years. In the process, the project was changed: the tower could have a height of 300 meters. For China, where the population density is extremely high, the efficient use of land is essential. The triangular site for construction was used to the maximum: the skyscraper has a triangular base.
The idea of the architects was to interweave the motifs of Chinese dragons, the Yangtze River and green gardens. The river is the vertical and horizontal seams separating the glass surfaces. These surfaces themselves, according to architectural thought, are a reference to dancing dragons. Vegetation and pools were placed inside the building.
View of the city from the spire on a skyscraper.
petronas towers
In the capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, in 1998, skyscrapers were erected called the Petronas Towers. The height of the two 88-storey skyscrapers is 451 meters, including the spire.The skyscraper was built in the "Islamic" style, each building is an eight-pointed star with semicircular ledges for stability. The construction site was changed after geological surveys. Initially, one skyscraper was supposed to stand on limestone, the other on rock, so one of the buildings could sag. The site was moved 60 meters. The foundation of the towers is currently the deepest concrete foundation: the piles are driven 100 meters into the soft ground.
Construction was complicated by an important condition: only domestically produced materials could be used. Especially for the building, they developed durable elastic concrete, reinforced with quartz and comparable in strength to steel. The mass of the skyscraper turned out to be twice that of similar steel buildings.
The bridge between the twin towers is fixed with ball bearings. Rigid fastening is impossible, as the towers sway.
The elevators in the building are two-story models designed by Otis. One cabin stops only on odd floors, the second - on even ones. This allowed to save space inside the skyscrapers.
International Commerce Center
The 118 floors of the Hong Kong International Commerce Center house offices, a hotel and shopping malls. The height of the building is 484 meters. It was originally planned to build a skyscraper with a height of 574 meters, but the project was changed due to a ban on the construction of buildings higher than Mount Victoria.Construction was completed in 2010, but there was no official opening: tenants were already using the building with might and main. From floors 102 to 118, it is the highest above ground hotel operated by the Ritz-Carlton. On the last, 118th floor, there is the highest swimming pool in the world.
The building can withstand earthquakes up to seven points, has fire-protected floors. After the attack on the Twin Towers in New York, the design of the building was finalized so that it could withstand a direct hit by an aircraft.
Due to its silhouette, the skyscraper got the name "opener". The trapezoidal opening at the top was supposed to be spherical, but the Chinese government forced the design to be changed so that the building did not resemble rising Sun on the flag of Japan. Such changes made it possible to reduce the cost and simplify the design. This was the plan for the upper part of the building:
Here is the result:
Taipei 101
Taiwan's capital, Taipei, boasts a skyscraper over half a kilometer tall. Together with the spire, Taipei 101 is 509.2 meters tall and has 101 floors.Taipei 101 for some time was also distinguished by the fastest elevators in the world: they rise at a speed of more than 60 kilometers per hour, or 16.83 meters per second. From the fifth to the eighty-ninth floor, people rise in 39 seconds. Now the new record belongs to the Shanghai Tower.
On the 87th and 88th floors there is a 660-ton steel pendulum ball. This architectural solution was made not only to decorate the interior. The pendulum allows the building to compensate for gusts of wind. A strong, but not rigid steel frame can withstand the strongest earthquakes. These solutions, together with a foundation of piles one and a half meters in diameter, driven 80 meters into the ground, made the building one of the safest in the world. On March 31, 2002, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake destroyed two cranes on the building and killed five people. The tower itself was not damaged. But there is a theory that it was the skyscraper that activated the seismic activity.
Freedom Tower
World Trade Center 1 in Manhattan, New York, overtook its pursuer in the face of Taipei 101 by 32 meters on the spire, although if you count the distance from the ground to the roof, the American Freedom Tower, on the contrary, loses to the Taiwanese tower by 37 meters. The height of the World Trade Center 1 is 541.3 meters along the spire and 417 meters along the roof.The building stands on the site that was occupied by the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, which were destroyed as a result of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The design of WTC1 took into account the experience of the past, and the lower 57 meters are made using concrete instead of the steel structure that has become the standard.
The building officially opened on November 3, 2014. It is occupied by offices, marketplaces, restaurants and the City Television Alliance.
Royal clock tower
In Mecca, Saudi Arabia, in 2012, a complex of high-rise buildings of the Tower of the House was built opposite the entrance to the al-Haram mosque, where the main shrine of Islam, the Kaaba, is located. The tallest building in the complex is the Royal Clock Tower Hotel with a height of 601 meters. It is designed to accommodate up to one hundred thousand pilgrims from the five million people who visit Mecca every year. The Royal Clock Tower is the third tallest building in the world.On the tower at a height of 400 meters there are four dials with a diameter of 43 meters. They are visible from any part of the city. This is the highest altitude clock in the world at the moment.
The length of the spire at the top of the hotel is 45 meters. The spire has 160 loudspeakers for the call to prayer. The 107-ton crescent at the very top of the building has several rooms, one of which is a prayer room.
The tower has 21,000 flashing lights and 2.2 million LEDs.
shanghai tower
The second tallest skyscraper is located in China. This is the Shanghai Tower, a building with a height of 632 meters, adjacent to another skyscraper from the list - the Shanghai World Financial Center. 130 floors housed offices, retail and entertainment centers, hotel.The elevators in the building were developed by Mitsubishi Electric. Their speed is 18 meters per second, or 69 kilometers per hour. At the moment, these are the fastest elevators in the world. There are three such elevators in the building, four more two-story elevators develop a speed of 10 meters per second.
beautiful view you should not expect from the windows of a skyscraper. The building has double walls and a second shell designed to keep the temperature in.
The tower has a twisted design, which adds stability to fight the wind.
This view shows a spiral trough for collecting rainwater used for heating and air conditioning.
Burj Khalifa
Opened in 2010 in Dubai, UAE, the Burj Khalifa tower overtook all existing skyscrapers and is still the leader in height.The tower was designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, the architects behind the Willis Tower and 1 World Trade Center we talked about earlier. The construction of the Dubai Tower was carried out by Samsung, which also participated in the construction of the Petronas Towers. There are 57 elevators in the building, you need to use them with transfers - only one service elevator can go up to last floor.
The tower houses the Armani Hotel, which was designed by Giorgio Armani himself, apartments, offices, shopping centers, fitness centers and observation decks with jacuzzis. Indian billionaire B.R. Shetty purchased two floors in their entirety, including the 100th floor, at a cost of over US$12 million each.
As with the Petronas Towers, the world's tallest skyscraper has its own special kind of concrete. It can withstand temperatures up to 48 degrees Celsius. During construction, concrete was laid at night, adding ice to the solution. The builders did not have the opportunity to fix the foundation in the rocky soil, and they used two hundred piles 45 meters long and 1.5 meters in diameter.
If the Shanghai Tower has a gutter for collecting rainwater, then in the case of the Burj Khalifa tower, this approach is not needed: there is little rainfall in the desert. Instead, the building has a condensate collection system that collects up to 40 million liters of water per year for watering plants.
During the filming of Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol, Tom Cruise decided to climb the tower to write Katie Holmes's name on it and get a great shot.
Planned buildings
At the moment, there are only two building projects that can take the first line in the ranking of the tallest skyscrapers in the world.At 828 meters high, the Burj Khalifa doesn't seem as impressive compared to the Dubai Creek Harbor Tower project. Its height on the roof will be 928 meters - that is, it will already beat the current record by 100 meters. And the height along the spire will completely exceed one kilometer - it will reach 1014 meters. But this is not certain - the parameters of the building are kept secret. Like the Eiffel Tower, the Dubai Creek Harbor Tower will be open for World Expo 2020 if all goes according to plan. The foundation was laid on October 10, 2016. Add tags
