Originally published on February 10, 2017; updated on November 23, 2022.
Below is a selection of 5 large buildings that have been built in various parts of the world.
The construction of large buildings has grown exponentially in recent years. As a result, it’s very common to see news stories about the opening of a new building that turns out to be the most sustainable, the tallest, or the most environmentally friendly. But… What are the most impressive skyscrapers that have been built in recent years?
The tallest and most impressive buildings constructed in recent years
1. Lotte World Tower
We’ll start with the megastructure, which was originally scheduled to be completed by the end of 2016 but was actually finished in 2017. It ranks among the world’s tallest skyscrapers. The Lotte World Tower is located in Seoul (South Korea), near the original Lotte World complex, and has become one of the tallest buildings on the planet, standing at approximately 555 meters, with 123 plants distributed throughout the building.
Source: english.visitkorea
The built-up area exceeds 300,000 m2, which houses, among other features, 58 elevators that will allow the tower’s users to move throughout the structure at speeds of about 10 meters per second. This impressive building features shops, restaurants, offices, residential apartments, and a luxury hotel.
As a fun fact, it’s also worth noting that the building’s top floor features one of the the world's tallest observation decks, at an altitude of about 500 meters.
2. Dubai Creek Harbor Tower
Another of the world's tallest skyscrapers, the Dubai Creek Harbor Tower, is located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This skyscraper a freestanding observation tower, which is taller than the Burj Khalifa at 828 meters, making it the tallest skyscraper in the world.
It is not yet known exactly when construction of this stunning structure will be completed, but we do know that it is intended to reach a final height of 1,300 meters as seen in some leaked images. The skyscraper will offer 360-degree views of Dubai, with several observation decks inside. The building will also feature residential units, offices, restaurants, and a hotel.
In the construction—which has already begun—the structure will be primarily made of glass and high-strength cables, with a design inspired by lily leaves. In addition, the building will feature elevated green spaces, in line with the latest trends in architecture. The project will incorporate significant technological and environmental advancements in this regard.
The Dubai Creek Harbor Tower will cost about $1,000 million, which amounts to approximately 900 million euros, and it is estimated that it could be operational by 2020. Finally, it is worth noting that the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava Valls has been involved in the design of this project.
3. The Lakhta Center Skyscraper
This skyscraper, located in St. Petersburg, Russia, has become the tallest building in Europe and the 12th tallest in the world. The complex includes retail and entertainment areas, residential spaces, offices, and a hotel.
The height of the Lakhta Center skyscraper is 462 meters, in which a total of 87 plants are distributed across 330,000 m2. The building has 34 elevators that can transport people vertically at speeds ranging from 2.5 to 8 meters per second.
Source: Wikipedia
As a point of interest, we’d like to highlight that, in the event of a fire in the building, it uses an innovative system to extinguish it. This system involves reducing the size of water droplets, which are sprayed at high pressure, to provide a more efficient and advanced fire suppression system. In addition, a project has been developed to create green spaces around the building, a new subway station, and a new road access to the area.
4. The Toblerone Towers
This cluster of skyscrapers is built in the Elephant & Castle, a London neighborhood which, without a doubt, provided a major boost to job creation at the time. These six buildings are designated for various land uses: residential (with a total of 400 housing units), commercial, and recreational, and also include office space.
Source: constructionenquirer
The Toblerone Towers reach a maximum height of 146 meters and owe their nickname to their triangular shape, which is reminiscent of the famous chocolate brand. The tallest building offers breathtaking views of the city. The Toblerone Towers project is boosting the area’s economic development by creating thousands of jobs.
This skyscraper complex includes retail spaces, approximately 50,000 square meters of office space, restaurants, and a 350-seat auditorium. It also features several landscaped terraces at the top of the buildings. This project was designed by SOM Architects and cost approximately 500 million pounds sterling, which is equivalent to about 595 million euros.
5. Dubai's Rotating Tower
To wrap up, we’ll tell you about this striking building located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which will be the first project of dynamic architecture from all over the world. The building will be about 420 meters. Each floor can rotate 360 degrees independently, completing a full rotation in a time frame ranging from 1 to 3 hours.
This building will have a total of 78 floors, each of which can rotate independently, and will be used for various purposes. It will include floors dedicated to offices, a six-star hotel, and luxury homes and apartments.
This project was designed by architect David Fischer, and its construction will be entirely prefabricated. The materials used in the process will be natural, such as ceramic, glass, wood, and marble.
The facade of this rotating skyscraper will be equipped with solar panels, and the plan is to produce more energy than it consumes. In addition to these solar panels, the structure will be equipped with wind turbines capable of generating about 1.2 million kilowatts per hour. The price per square meter of one of the upper floors is estimated to reach $30,000.
Although construction began in 2013, it is still unknown when this impressive project will be completed.
As you can see, the present and future The skyscraper industry is at the forefront of developing new, innovative, and disruptive structures.
