A skyscraper is a building taller than 150 m (490 ft), sometimes 100 m (330 ft), though the term can be used for lower buildings in cities where tall buildings are less common.
While structures such as TV towers, observation towers, chimneys, wind turbines and bridge pylons might reach similar heights, they are usually excluded from the definition of "skyscraper", which is commonly restricted to buildings.
Skyscrapers are mainly used for corporate and government offices, hotels or residences. Many of them are mixed-use buildings; for example the 88-storey Jinmao Tower in Shanghai is mostly offices but has a shopping mall on the first few floors, a food court in a basement, and a Hyatt hotel on floors 54-85. The tallest usually have some facility where visitors can enjoy the view, an observation deck or a restaurant with huge windows, and the views are often sensational.
Understand
[edit]There has been a fascination with tall, impressive structures since antiquity, as reflected by the presence of the 100-meter Lighthouse of Alexandria (now ruined) and other tall structures among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World as considered by the ancient Greeks. Even before that, tall pyramids were built in ancient Egypt, and also by several peoples in Mexico and Central America, with the Mayan pyramids being the best known in the Americas today.
In the Middle Ages, the skyscrapers were towers and Gothic cathedrals (see Gothic architecture), which dominated the views of travelers for days while they walked to the cities where they were built. Many of them still exist today.
The development of the modern elevator in the 19th century led to the proliferation of taller buildings, though even 12-story buildings were considered skyscrapers through the 1910s. A landmark in skyscraper construction was the completion of the Woolworth Building in New York in 1912. A 55-story structure, it was the world's tallest building until 1930, when it was surpassed by the 70-story 40 Wall Street and then the 77-story Chrysler Building, the first over 1,000 feet and 300 meters tall. The Chrysler Building was in turn quickly eclipsed by the Empire State Building, completed in 1931, that remained the tallest in the world until 1971, when it was surpassed by the original Twin Towers of the World Trade Center (destroyed by terrorism in 2001). The era of New York's dominance in skyscraper construction ended with the construction of the Sears Tower in Chicago in 1973. Since 1998, supremacy in skyscraper construction has shifted to Asia, with the Petronas Twin Towers dominating the skyline of Kuala Lumpur, surpassed by Taipei 101 in 2004 and Burj Khalifa in Dubai in 2010. It is also notable that so many Chinese skyscrapers are among the world's 100 tallest, and that there are several other buildings in the United Arab Emirates on that list.
Many skyscrapers have very popular observation decks with great views of the city and surrounding areas.
Destinations
[edit]Asia
[edit]The continent of most 21st-century skyscrapers.
- 1 Burj Khalifa (Jumeirah, Dubai). This 160-story structure is the tallest building in the world. Its observation deck is on the 124th floor.
- 2 Guangzhou. This southern Chinese metropolis has 13 buildings over 300 m, including three over 400 m. The tallest structures are the Canton Tower at 604 m and the CTF Finance Center, at 530 m.
- Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur/Golden Triangle (Malaysia). Visitors first visit the Skybridge at level 41-42, one of the highest suspended bridges in the world, before going to the observation deck at level 86.
- 3 Ping An Finance Center (Futian, Shenzhen). The fifth tallest building in the world. Its observation deck (one of the highest in the world) has 360-degree views of Shenzhen and Hong Kong's New Territories.
- 4 Pudong (Shanghai, China). The Pudong District has many skyscrapers. There are four buildings over 400 m (1320 feet, a quarter mile).
- 5 Taipei 101 (Taipei World Financial Center) (Taipei, Taiwan). The city has other tall buildings, but much the best known is this 101-storey 508-m tower designed to look like a bamboo plant.
Europe
[edit]Europe has few skyscrapers for its population size and density. Among the reasons are regulations of historic city environments, population stagnation since the late-20th century, and a decent supply of high-density buildings of moderate height.
- 6 Paris (France). The 110-metre Grande Arche de la Défense in Paris/La Défense, actually a suburb just beyond Paris city limits, has an observation deck at 100 metres. Within Paris proper, the 210-metre Tour Montparnasse in the 15th arrondissement is also known for its observation deck. Parisians appreciate the view from that tower in large part because it's the only panorama of Paris that does not include the tower!
- 7 Frankfurt (Germany). Nicknamed Mainhattan, the Frankfurt business district has the headquarters of the European Central Bank, and several financial companies.
- 8 Moscow International Business Center, Russia.
North America
[edit]The birthplace of the modern skyscraper.
- 9 Manhattan (New York City, United States). Manhattan has several famous skyscrapers. The tallest is One World Trade Center at 541 meters, though the most famous is the Art Deco Empire State Building. Both have popular observation decks, and Top of the Rock, part of Rockefeller Center, also has one.
- 10 Chicago (United States). Chicago has several skyscrapers over 300 meters. The tallest is Willis (originally Sears) Tower at 442 meters. See also Chicago skyline guide.
- 11 Torre Obispado, Monterrey (Mexico). Monterrey has several skyscrapers built in the 21st century, the tallest being Torre Obispado at 305 meters.
South America
[edit]- 12 Gran Torre Costanera, Santiago, Chile. At 300 meters, the Gran Torre Costanera is the tallest skyscraper in South America.
Oceania
[edit]- 13 Sydney CBD, Australia.
- 14 Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast. Home to various skyscrapers, including Australia's tallest building, the Q1 tower at 323 metres tall.