The last of this series of posts pertaining to my favorite works of architecture will be on skyscrapers. These iconic buildings are the sheer demonstration of mankind's resourcefulness. They are created with a sole purpose to provide capital in a booming markets. In today's ever expanding global economy, these buildings serve as the beacons of trade. Their immense height and design are true architectural wonders, and they have become iconic cultural landmarks.
My Top Ten Favorite Skyscrapers
10. One World Trade Center
Culture: American
Date of Construction: 2013
Designed by: David Childs
Architectural Style: Contemporary Modern
Height: 1776 feet
Location: New York City, USA
Significance: It was built as a replacement of the World Trade twin towers that were destroyed by terrorists in 2001. Standing at a resounding 1776 feet it is the tallest building in New York City, and the 6th tallest building in the world. It's design incorporates a framed tube structure with slight triangular crevices and a glass exterior. It has become a modern symbol of American architecture as well as freedom.
9. Abraj al Bait
Culture: Arabian
Date of Construction: 2011
Designed by: Dar Al-Handasah
Architectural Style: Postmodern
Height: 1972 feet
Location: Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Significance: It is currently the 3rd tallest building in the world and has become the modern day beacon of Islam. The unique design consists of a base of multiple buildings. From this base comes a giant main building with a clock tower and a crescent moon at it's top. The multi-plex building is almost a city within itself and sits at the center of the expanding sacred sity of Mecca. The purpose of this extraordinary monument is to modernize the city for further sacred pilgrimage.
8. The Shard
Culture: British
Date of Construction: 2012
Designed by: Renzo Piano
Architectural Style: Neo-futurism
Height: 1016 feet
Location: London, United Kingdom
Significance: It is the tallest building in England and it's most modern wonder in a city of such classic architecture. It incorporates a pyramidal style, with a shimmering glass exterior. It dominates the London skyline looking over the River Thames, the London Bridge, and many more of it's iconic landmarks.
7. Shanghai Tower
Culture: Chinese
Date of Construction: 2015
Designed by: Jun Xia
Architectural Style: Post-modernism/Neo-futurism
Height: 2073 feet
Location: Shanghai, China
Significance: This incredibly modern design has become an iconic symbol of futuristic architecture. It is also the 2nd tallest building in the world behind the Burj Kaflia, and tallest building with usable floor. It incorporates a very unique twisting structure, with glimmering glass windows. It also has the world's fastest elevators. Rising over the Jin Mao Tower, the Oriental Pearl Tower, and the Shanghai World Financial Center it is the captain of one of the most tallest skylines in the world.
6. Chrysler Building
Culture: American
Date of Construction: 1930
Designed by: William van Allen
Architectural Style: Art Deco
Height: 1046 feet
Location: New York City, NY USA
Significance: In 1930 this revolutionary building surpassed the 40 Wall Street as the tallest building in the world. A record it would hold only for a year until it was surpassed by the similiar designed Empire State Building. The Chrysler Building is an ideal homage to the cultural boom from the 1920s that produced jazz and Art Deco. Its most defining feature is it's spire at the top, consisting of 7 layered arches with intricate steel design. It is one of the most iconic buildings in the New York City skyline. This one I have seen with my own eyes when we visited New York in 2005.
5. Petronas Towers
Culture: Malaysian
Date of Construction: 1998
Designed by: Cesar Pelli
Architectural Style: Postmodern
Height: 1483 feet
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Significance: In 1998 this striking structure surpassed the Sears Tower as the new tallest building in the world. It held this record for 6 years until it was surpassed by the Taipei 101 in 2004. It was a true eye-popping creation as it incorporated two giant towers connected with a bridge. It's structure was sheer modernism with it's multi-layered spire design. Each tower has large pinnacles shootings from the rooftop. This jaw dropping structure shares it's magnificence with the Kuala Lumpur tower, to dominate the skyline of a booming city.
4. Taipei 101
Culture: Chinese
Date of Construction: 2004
Designed by: CY Lee & Partners
Architectural Style: Postmodern
Height: 1671 feet
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Significance: This structure surpassed the Petronas Towers as the tallest building in the world in 2004, and held the title until it was surpassed by the futuristic Burj Khalifa in 2010. Compared to the Petronas Towers, the Taipei tower is a beautiful building of simplicity yet astonishment. It incorporates layered creases in it's structure with a defining light green color. The building consists of 10 segments of which at the top lies a tower with a sphere. It is one of the most iconic skyscrapers and a true cultural icon of Taiwan.
3. Willis Tower
Culture: American
Date of Construction: 1973
Designed by: Skidmore, Owings,, and Merrill
Architectural Style: International
Height: 1450 feet
Location: Chicago, IL
Significance: Upon it's completion in 1973 this monumental skyscraper surpassed the World Trade Center as the tallest building in the world. It held this honor for over twenty years until it was surpassed by the Petronas Towers in 1998. It's defining characteristics are it's black color and it's unique tubed structure. This revolutionary design was known as an international style that incorporated a bundled structure of multiple buildings merged into one. Along with it's giant antennas the building has dominated the Chicago skyline for some time now. It is a true wonder to behold. As a kid I always was inspired on trips to Chicago, when setting eyes on this giant wonder, in those days it was known as the Sears Tower.
2. Empire State Building
Culture: American
Date of Construction: 1931
Designed by: Shreve, Lamb, & Harmon
Architectural Style: Art Deco
Height: 1250 feet
Location: New York City, NY, USA
Significance: Upon it's construction in 1931 it became the tallest building in the world for nearly 40 years until it was surpassed by the Chrysler Building in 1970. It's architectural design was the definitive work of Art Deco that was most popular during the 1920s and 30s. The large pointed tip became the famous site of the groundbreaking film King Kong. To this day it has become a booming source of trade at the heart of New York City. It is the defining skyscraper of the New York City Skyline as well as an iconic American landmark. I have also seen this tower with my own eyes on our trip to New York in 2005.
1. Burj Kaflia
Culture: Dubai
Date of Construction: 2009
Designed by: Adrian Smith
Architectural Style: Neo-futurism
Height: 2717 feet
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Significance: In 2009 it shattered the previous tallest structure, Taipei 101 to became the undisputed tallest skyscraper in the world. To this day there is no structure that even comes close to comparison of the behometh 2717 feet tall Burj Kaflia. It is a sight of total wonder, a glimmering beacon of the future and a hommage to the ancient Tower of Babel. It incorporates elements from the Willis Tower, such as it's bundled structure, and from the Petronas Towers layered exterior. It dominates the modern global skyline of Dubai as a symbol of oil and Arabian wealth. It looks like something straight out of a fantasy such as Wizard of Oz.
My Top Ten Favorite Skyscrapers
10. One World Trade CenterCulture: American
Date of Construction: 2013
Designed by: David Childs
Architectural Style: Contemporary Modern
Height: 1776 feet
Location: New York City, USA
Significance: It was built as a replacement of the World Trade twin towers that were destroyed by terrorists in 2001. Standing at a resounding 1776 feet it is the tallest building in New York City, and the 6th tallest building in the world. It's design incorporates a framed tube structure with slight triangular crevices and a glass exterior. It has become a modern symbol of American architecture as well as freedom.
9. Abraj al Bait
Culture: Arabian
Date of Construction: 2011
Designed by: Dar Al-Handasah
Architectural Style: Postmodern
Height: 1972 feet
Location: Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Significance: It is currently the 3rd tallest building in the world and has become the modern day beacon of Islam. The unique design consists of a base of multiple buildings. From this base comes a giant main building with a clock tower and a crescent moon at it's top. The multi-plex building is almost a city within itself and sits at the center of the expanding sacred sity of Mecca. The purpose of this extraordinary monument is to modernize the city for further sacred pilgrimage.
8. The ShardCulture: British
Date of Construction: 2012
Designed by: Renzo Piano
Architectural Style: Neo-futurism
Height: 1016 feet
Location: London, United Kingdom
Significance: It is the tallest building in England and it's most modern wonder in a city of such classic architecture. It incorporates a pyramidal style, with a shimmering glass exterior. It dominates the London skyline looking over the River Thames, the London Bridge, and many more of it's iconic landmarks.
7. Shanghai Tower
Culture: Chinese
Date of Construction: 2015
Designed by: Jun Xia
Architectural Style: Post-modernism/Neo-futurism
Height: 2073 feet
Location: Shanghai, China
Significance: This incredibly modern design has become an iconic symbol of futuristic architecture. It is also the 2nd tallest building in the world behind the Burj Kaflia, and tallest building with usable floor. It incorporates a very unique twisting structure, with glimmering glass windows. It also has the world's fastest elevators. Rising over the Jin Mao Tower, the Oriental Pearl Tower, and the Shanghai World Financial Center it is the captain of one of the most tallest skylines in the world.
6. Chrysler Building
Culture: American
Date of Construction: 1930
Designed by: William van Allen
Architectural Style: Art Deco
Height: 1046 feet
Location: New York City, NY USA
Significance: In 1930 this revolutionary building surpassed the 40 Wall Street as the tallest building in the world. A record it would hold only for a year until it was surpassed by the similiar designed Empire State Building. The Chrysler Building is an ideal homage to the cultural boom from the 1920s that produced jazz and Art Deco. Its most defining feature is it's spire at the top, consisting of 7 layered arches with intricate steel design. It is one of the most iconic buildings in the New York City skyline. This one I have seen with my own eyes when we visited New York in 2005.
5. Petronas Towers
Culture: Malaysian
Designed by: Cesar Pelli
Architectural Style: Postmodern
Height: 1483 feet
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Significance: In 1998 this striking structure surpassed the Sears Tower as the new tallest building in the world. It held this record for 6 years until it was surpassed by the Taipei 101 in 2004. It was a true eye-popping creation as it incorporated two giant towers connected with a bridge. It's structure was sheer modernism with it's multi-layered spire design. Each tower has large pinnacles shootings from the rooftop. This jaw dropping structure shares it's magnificence with the Kuala Lumpur tower, to dominate the skyline of a booming city.
4. Taipei 101Culture: Chinese
Date of Construction: 2004
Designed by: CY Lee & Partners
Architectural Style: Postmodern
Height: 1671 feet
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Significance: This structure surpassed the Petronas Towers as the tallest building in the world in 2004, and held the title until it was surpassed by the futuristic Burj Khalifa in 2010. Compared to the Petronas Towers, the Taipei tower is a beautiful building of simplicity yet astonishment. It incorporates layered creases in it's structure with a defining light green color. The building consists of 10 segments of which at the top lies a tower with a sphere. It is one of the most iconic skyscrapers and a true cultural icon of Taiwan.
3. Willis Tower
Date of Construction: 1973
Designed by: Skidmore, Owings,, and Merrill
Architectural Style: International
Height: 1450 feet
Location: Chicago, IL
Significance: Upon it's completion in 1973 this monumental skyscraper surpassed the World Trade Center as the tallest building in the world. It held this honor for over twenty years until it was surpassed by the Petronas Towers in 1998. It's defining characteristics are it's black color and it's unique tubed structure. This revolutionary design was known as an international style that incorporated a bundled structure of multiple buildings merged into one. Along with it's giant antennas the building has dominated the Chicago skyline for some time now. It is a true wonder to behold. As a kid I always was inspired on trips to Chicago, when setting eyes on this giant wonder, in those days it was known as the Sears Tower.
2. Empire State Building
Culture: AmericanDate of Construction: 1931
Designed by: Shreve, Lamb, & Harmon
Architectural Style: Art Deco
Height: 1250 feet
Location: New York City, NY, USA
Significance: Upon it's construction in 1931 it became the tallest building in the world for nearly 40 years until it was surpassed by the Chrysler Building in 1970. It's architectural design was the definitive work of Art Deco that was most popular during the 1920s and 30s. The large pointed tip became the famous site of the groundbreaking film King Kong. To this day it has become a booming source of trade at the heart of New York City. It is the defining skyscraper of the New York City Skyline as well as an iconic American landmark. I have also seen this tower with my own eyes on our trip to New York in 2005.
1. Burj Kaflia
Culture: Dubai
Date of Construction: 2009Designed by: Adrian Smith
Architectural Style: Neo-futurism
Height: 2717 feet
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Significance: In 2009 it shattered the previous tallest structure, Taipei 101 to became the undisputed tallest skyscraper in the world. To this day there is no structure that even comes close to comparison of the behometh 2717 feet tall Burj Kaflia. It is a sight of total wonder, a glimmering beacon of the future and a hommage to the ancient Tower of Babel. It incorporates elements from the Willis Tower, such as it's bundled structure, and from the Petronas Towers layered exterior. It dominates the modern global skyline of Dubai as a symbol of oil and Arabian wealth. It looks like something straight out of a fantasy such as Wizard of Oz.
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