Famous Skyscrapers

Architectural design has advanced to a phenomenalBuilding is a perfect example of Art Deco and has a
stage where every modern city would like to boastlobby clad in different marble, onyx and amber.
having one of the tallest buildings. While criteria definingTaipei 101
the tallest buildings or skyscrapers differ widely, listedAt a height of 1671 feet, this high-rise building has
below are the ten most popular architectural marvelssurpassed all to become the tallest skyscraper today.
of our time.Taipei 101 holds the world record in three of the Council
Empire State Buildingon Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat's height categories:
A world famous New York City landmark and skytallest to the structural top, tallest to the roof, and
scaper, it rises above the island of Manhattan, about ahighest occupied floor. The 89th floor has an indoor
quarter of a mile into the sky. The observatory isobservation area while the 91st floor has an outdoor
located on the 86th floor, 1050 feet above the groundobservation deck, known as the highest in the world.
and offers the most breathtaking and panoramic viewThe pagoda shaped design of this building is inspired
of Manhattan and beyond from within a glassby traditional Chinese architecture. The sectioned
enclosed pavilion. Besides the observatory there aretower is also symbolic of the bamboo plant
several tourist attractions, including, restaurants, shopscharacterizing strength, resilience and elegance. The
and banks. It also has a New York SKYRIDE antower's design specifications are based on the number
independently owned and operated simulated8, considered lucky in the Chinese culture.
helicopter ride and virtual-reality movie theatre. WilliamJin Mao Building
Lamb, an architect at Shreve, Lamb and Harmon wasThis building in Shanghai symbolizes the progress and
chosen to design the Empire State Building in 1930advancement made by the Chinese. It boasts of being
Petronas Towersthe first tallest sky scrape in the country and the third
Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lampur lay claim totallest in the world. A great blend of East-West
being the tallest twin towers of the 20th century,architecture it denotes aptly the emergence of
standing at a height of 1483 feet. They were designedShanghai as a modern global city. It follows the
by architect Cesar Pelli and completed in 1998. Theversatility model by offering retail at it base, offices
88-floor towers are constructed largely of reinforcedabove and the Grand Hyatt's World's highest Hotel
concrete, with a steel and glass facade designed tooccupying the upper 38 floors. The magnificently
resemble motifs found in Islamic art, a reflection ofdesigned building combines the elements of traditional
Malaysia's Muslim religion. The towers feature aChinese architecture and a vastly Gothic influence.
sky-bridge between the towers on the 41st and 42ndBurj Al Arab
floors which is 170m high and 58m long.The Burj Al Arab rises to a level of 1053 feet, and is
Sears Towerknown as one of the world's tallest structure with a
Architect Bruce Graham designed the Sears Towermembrane façade, 24-meter wide helipad. This
of Chicago in 1974. At 1450 feet, and 110 stories, it isis the tallest operating hotel building in the world and the
the tallest building in the United States of America. Thedesign is influenced by the profile of an Arabian sailing
construction system consists of steel fram withship. The Al Muntaha restaurant is located 200 meters
bronze tinted glass curtain wall. The Sears Towerabove the Persian Gulf offering a panoramic view of
Skydeck observation deck and tourist attraction is onDubai while the atrium is situated at a height of 180
the 103rd floor, 1353 feet above the ground.meters.
Bank of China TowerCN Tower
Located in Honk Kong, in addition to being one of theAt a height of 1815 feet, the CN Tower in Toronto is
famous skyscrapers in the world, it is one of the mostthe tallest building and freestanding structure in the
outstanding achievements of modern architecture. Theworld. It is considered to be the signature icon of the
construction was started in 1985 and completed in fivecity and hosts almost two million visitors a year. The
years by the architects I. M. Pei & Partners andview from the exterior glass floored observation deck
Sherman Kung & Associates. The buildinglocated 342 meters above ground is breathtaking as it
standing at 1205 feet, is a grouping of four triangularis exciting. It also has the Space Deck at 447 meters,
glass and aluminium towers of different heights, allthe world's tallest observation deck with a 160 km
emerging from a single granite podium. The changesview and the revolving 360 Degree Restaurant.
rising from a square base to a single spire results in aHancock Place
magnificent façade of angles and profiles thatA reflective obelisk sky scrape at Boston is an
reflect the light and seem almost crystalline inarchitectural marvel. It is regarded as 'icily magnificent'
composition. On the 42nd floor is a sky-deck providingwherein the surface changes as the day changes,
a panoramic view of the northwest Hong Kong.each side reflecting the color of the sky it faces.
Chrysler BuildingMoreover, this dramatic effect is highlighted by the
Rising at 1046 feet, it was considered to be anparallelogram shape of the prism, which provides
engineering marvel and the tallest building in 1931.uniquely differing reflections on adjoining surfaces.
However, it still remains the tallest brick building in theThe architectural buildings mentioned above are
world. The tower is a beautifully tapered stainless steelfamous creations and literally considered architectural
crown supporting the famous spire at its peak. Aworks of art today.
quintessence of skyscraper design, the Chrysler