Skyscrapers that seem to rise endlessly into the sky fascinate more than just architecture enthusiasts with their spectacular designs. While tall buildings can be found all over the world, all but one on the list of the 12 tallest are in Asia and half the buildings are located in China alone. Here you can learn about these wonders of engineering, where they are located, and some of the stories behind them.
Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The Burj Khalifa is currently the tallest building in the world. The 828-metre-high skyscraper is located in Dubai and houses apartments, offices, and hotel rooms, as well as the world’s highest restaurant and the world’s highest viewing platform. Construction of the building, designed by Adrian Smith of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, began in 2004 and it was completed in 2010. Since then, it has not only been the tallest building in the world, but also the one with the most floors. Incidentally, the Burj Khalifa is named after Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the former president of the United Arab Emirates.
Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur’s Merdeka 118, also known as PNB 118, is considerably smaller than the Burj Khalifa at a height of 679 metres. Nevertheless, this skyscraper, which is the newest one on our list having been completed this year, is the second tallest building in the world and the tallest in Southeast Asia. The original name of the building is short for Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), a Malaysian investment management company that developed and financed the project and which will occupy most of it when it opens in 2024. Its current name means “independence” in Malay. Merdeka 118 houses offices, stores, hotel rooms, and a viewing platform.
Shanghai Tower in Shanghai
The Shanghai Tower, designed by the American firm Gensler and located in the Chinese metropolis of Shanghai, rises 632 metres into the air. This definitely makes it the tallest building in the city and also the tallest building in China. But the city has even more record-breakers to offer: Right next to the Shanghai Tower is the 12th tallest building in the world, the Shanghai World Financial Center. One of the most interesting features of the tower are its nine different indoor zones, each with its own atrium, garden, and cafes. The Shanghai Tower’s twisting shape is both aesthetic and practical as it reduces wind resistance.
Makkah Royal Clock Tower in Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Makkah Royal Clock Tower, also known as Abraj Al Bait, is located in Mecca and reaches a height of 601 metres. The Clock Towers complex includes seven hotels to cater to the millions of pilgrims who visit Mecca each year. The development overlooks the Great Mosque of Mecca, Islam’s holiest site. One distinctive feature is noted in its name, its gigantic clock. There are clock faces on all four sides of the tower, each with a diameter of 43 metres. This makes it the largest clock in the world.
Ping An Finance Center in Shenzhen, China
A 599-metre-high skyscraper rises above Shenzhen’s skyline: the Ping An Finance Center which was built to provide an anchor for the city’s business district. The 100-storey building is centred around an atrium space and serves as the headquarters of the Ping An Insurance company. It was designed by the American architecture firm Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF).
Lotte World Tower in Seoul
The Lotte World Tower is located in Seoul and, with a height of 555 metres, it is the tallest building in South Korea and the sixth tallest building in the world. Just like the Ping An Finance Center in Shenzhen, this skyscraper was also designed by the American architecture firm Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF). Today, it houses offices, apartments, a hotel, and stores. There is also a concert hall and a viewing platform.
One World Trade Center in New York City
At 541 metres, One World Trade Center in New York is the tallest building in the city, and the country. By comparison, the Empire State Building with its popular viewing platform is only 443 metres high. The building was designed by David Childs of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and constructed on the site where the World Trade Center stood until September 11, 2001. One World Trade Center is not only a soaring skyscraper, it also serves as a memorial to that day and a symbol of resilience.
Guangzhou CTF Finance Center in Guangzhou, China
The Guangzhou CTF (Chow Tai Fook) Finance Center in Guangzhou is a skyscraper with a height of 530 metres that sits atop an eight-storey base. The building houses offices, hotel rooms, and retail space. Forth Bagley, the lead architect on the project, used white glazed tiles for the vertical mullions of the structure, a nod to a local craft tradition. One of the world’s tallest buildings, this is another from the well-known American architecture firm Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF).
Tianjin CTF Finance Center in Tianjin, China
Numbers eight and nine on this list are, believe it or not, a tie. The Tianjin CTF Finance Center in Tianjin is the same height as the Guangzhou CTF Finance Center—both come in at 530 metres. If you look at the city skyline, the tower soars above other nearby high-rise buildings. Its softly curving glass walls have been described as “lyrical,” and they have the practical benefit of reducing exposure to wind, sun, and moisture. This building, like others on this list, is mainly used for offices, apartments, retail space, and hotel rooms. This record-breaker was designed by architects at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.
China Zun Tower in Beijing
Beijing’s tallest building is also the tenth tallest building in the world. This is the China Zun Tower, also known as the CITIC Tower. The skyscraper is 528 metres high and mainly houses offices. A zun is an ancient Chinese vessel for wine, and the building’s profile echoes its shape. The design was a collaboration between the architectural firms Farrells and Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF).
Taipei 101 in Taipei, Taiwan
Taipei 101 is 508 metres high and towers above the other rooftops of Taipei. Compared to the other world’s tallest buildings on this list, it stands out thanks to its unusual shape. The design was inspired by traditional Chinese architecture. The skyscraper mainly houses offices, but also restaurants and a viewing platform. Every New Year’s Eve, fireworks are set off from the roof attracting celebrating spectators from all over the world.
Shanghai World Financial Center in Shanghai (China)
Shanghai World Financial Center rises 492 metres into the sky, right next to the Shanghai Tower. It houses offices and hotels, among other things. Because of its unusual shape, it has earned the nickname of the “bottle opener.” Alongside the Ping An Finance Center, the Lotte World Tower, the Guangzhou CTF Finance Center, and the China Zun Tower, it is the fifth building on this list to be designed by the American architecture firm Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF).
