Skyscrapers, these behemoths that reach into the sky, are not only masterpieces of modern engineering, but also symbols of urban prosperity and modernization. Giants stand in the heart of bustling cities around the world, redefining the city's skyline with its extraordinary height and unique design language.
Back at the end of the 19th century, when the Home Insurance Building in Chicago was erected in 1885, it not only set a new record for the height of the building, but also marked an important turning point in the history of human architecture. In the nearly 100 years since, supertall buildings have sprung up in major cities in the United States, not only changing the face of cities, but also promoting innovation in building technology, especially the application of steel frame structures, which enable buildings to overcome gravity and advance to higher heights.
By contrast, China's skyscraper construction started late, but the pace of development is remarkable. In 1985, the completion of the Shenzhen International Trade Center marked China's official entry into the era of skyscrapers. The 160-metre-tall building is not only the first building in China to meet internationally recognized skyscraper standards, but also works wonders at its construction speed, with an average of 4.8 days to complete a floor, and the fastest time to complete a structural layer in just 3 days, an achievement that has been praised by the media as "Shenzhen speed".
As time went on, China's major cities rushed to join the skyscraper construction boom. According to the latest data, Shenzhen has become one of the cities with the highest number of skyscrapers in China and the world due to its booming economy and cutting-edge architectural concepts. This is followed by Hong Kong, Wuhan, Shanghai and Guangzhou, which also form a spectacular city skyline. These skyscrapers are not only a high-level competition, but also a demonstration of the city's comprehensive strength, scientific and technological innovation ability and international influence.
10 tallest skyscrapers in the world (5 in China)
No. 10: Beijing CITIC Building, also known as China Zun, with a total height of about 528 meters; No. 9: Tianjin Chow Tai Fook Finance Center, with a total height of about 530 meters, has won the Global Engineering and Construction Industry Excellence Award and the Best Tall Building Excellence Award (400 meters and above).
Eighth place: Guangzhou Chow Tai Fook Finance Center, with a total height of about 530 meters, in addition to office buildings, the project also includes a commercial podium K11 art shopping center, hotels, apartments, etc.; 7th place: One World Trade Center, with a total height of about 541 meters, one of the tallest buildings in the Western Hemisphere.
Sixth place: Lotte World Tower, a 123-storey building with a total height of about 555 meters, located in Seoul, South Korea; Fifth place: Ping An International Financial Center, with a total height of about 599 meters, the skyscraper in Futian, Shenzhen, was originally designed to be 660 meters, but due to aviation height restrictions, the final height was adjusted to below 600 meters.
Fourth place: Royal Clock Tower Hotel, Makkah, with a building height of about 601 meters, one of the tallest hotel buildings in the world; Third place: Shanghai Tower, with a building height of about 632 meters, mainly used for office, hotel, commercial, sightseeing and other public facilities.
Second place: Merdeka 118, with a height of about 678.90 meters, located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, has become the tallest building in Southeast Asia, and the world's tallest building: Burj Khalifa, with a total height of about 828 meters and a total of 162 floors. It took six years to build and used more than 330,000 cubic meters of concrete, breaking several construction records during construction. In addition to being used as office and residential space, it also features an observation deck, a luxury hotel, a restaurant, and other recreational facilities.
The double-edged sword of skyscrapers: trade-offs of pros and cons
While skyscrapers enhance the image of the city, optimize land use, and promote commercial activities, they also bring many challenges. High construction and maintenance costs, environmental impacts, safety concerns, and additional pressure on urban mobility and utilities are all issues that cannot be ignored. In recent years, China's first-tier cities have begun to shift to a more rational and sustainable development model after a period of rapid construction, no longer simply pursuing the height of buildings, but paying more attention to ecological environmental protection, humanistic care and the improvement of urban functions.