Building higher is not only the dream of mankind but now, it’s a compulsion. Let’s look at The 10 tallest buildings in the world.
The ten tallest buildings in the world are all located in either Asia or the United States. It is the ambition of many countries to own the highest skyscraper on earth and to be recognized globally as the country that has the tallest building.
The race to build taller attracts competition therefore, the list of the ten tallest buildings in the world is ever-changing, because another taller structure is already planned or already under construction.
Towers beyond the sky
As long as there are civilizations, they will keep trying to build taller. Just think of the Tower of Babel or the pyramids of the ancient Egyptians. But it was not until the beginning of the 20th century that they found the opportunity to build the first skyscrapers with the groundbreaking inventions of skeleton construction and the elevator.
Today, state-of-the-art and sophisticated technology allow buildings of unimaginable height to be constructed. These tall structures are safe from storms and other weather phenomena are tested to withstand even earthquakes.
It will not be too long before a building is completed that towers over a kilometre into the sky. The foundation stone for the Kingdom Tower of Jeddah / Saudi Arabia was laid in 2013 and is scheduled to be inaugurated in 2019.
The list of 10 tallest buildings in the world.
1. Burj Khalifa – Dubai – 829 Meters
First place on the list is the Burj Khalifa from Dubai. It measures 829 meters to the top, the roof height is 739 meters. In just 6 years from 2004 to 2010, the building was completed with its 163 above the ground floors.
It houses a posh hotel, restaurants and apartments and has 57 elevators and 8 escalators.
2. Shanghai Tower – China – 632 Meters
The 2nd place on the list of the 10 tallest buildings in the world is the Shanghai Tower. It is 632 meters to the top and its roof height is 575 meters.
It has 121 above the ground floors that are used for a hotel, shopping centre, offices and homes.
3. Makkah Clock Royal Tower – Saudi Arabia – 601 Meters
In third place is the Makkah Clock Royal Tower of Mecca / Saudi Arabia. Its height is 601 meters to the top and the roof is at an altitude of 558 meters.
In total, the building houses a hotel, shopping centre and apartments, has 120 floors, 94 elevators and 16 escalators.
4. Ping An Finance Centre – China – 599Meters
It is one of the newest entries in the list of the 10 tallest buildings in the world. It is 599m tall and is the 4th tallest building in the world. It was just completed in 2017. Floor 116th features an observation deck named Free Sky.
5. One World Trade Center – USA – 541 Meters
The 5th spot is occupied by the One World Trade Center of Manhattan in New York. It stands at the same place where the Word Trade Center was destroyed in 2001 in a terrorist attack.
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It measures 541 meters to the top and 417 meters to the roof. The 1 WTC was completed in November 2014.
6. CTF Finance Center – China – 530 Meters
At 530 meters, China’s CTF Finance Center is the 6th largest building in the world. The tower is used in a mixed proportion. Office space, hotel and apartments are located in it.
7. Taipei Tower – Taiwan – 509 Meters
At 509 meters, the Taipei Tower of Taiwan occupies the spot for the 7th tallest building in the world. It has 101 above the ground floors and was completed in 2004.
8. Shanghai World Financial Center – China – 494 Meters
In the 8th place, it is the Shanghai World Financial Center of China. Its unique feature is the aperture at the peak designed for reducing wind pressure at the height of 494 meters.
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9. International Commerce Center – China/ Hong Kong – 484 Meters
Spot 9 on the list of 10 tallest buildings in the world, is occupied by the International Commerce Center (ICC) of Hong Kong / China.
It has 118 floors and houses banks and other business offices as well as the highest hotel in the world on the top 13 floors.
10. Petronas Towers – Malaysia – 452 Meters
Petronas Twin towers hold the 10th spot in the list and have been a part of the 10 tallest buildings in the world since 1998.