10 copycat buildings that cost a fortune to build
Niamh Ollerton
25 April 2017
The originals and their clones
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and in recent years we have seen a rise in copycat buildings around the globe. From famous towers to government buildings, take a look at the cloned copies of iconic landmarks.
Tower Bridge, London, UK
Doesn't Tower Bridge look picturesque in the setting sun? It's one of the most famous bridges in the world thanks to its iconic structure, spectacular views of London and Victorian Engine Rooms. Opened in 1894, the total cost of construction at the time it was built amounts to about $151 million (£118m). Wait until you see a Chinese copy...
Tower Bridge, London, UK: Suzhou, China
Here we have the replica, in Suzhou in China's Jiangsu province. The difference here is the bridge features four 40-meter towers instead of two, and the Chinese version doesn't have the mechanism to allow boats to pass underneath. But, other than that, the brickwork and style of the towers are almost identical to the London original.
Tower Bridge, London, UK: Suzhou, China
And if anyone in the area has a hankering for a further taste of England, the bridge also boasts a cafe which promises 'English-style tea and coffee'. With construction costs of $12 million (£9.4m), that's a whole lot of tea and crumpets they'll need to sell.
Twisting Torso, Sweden
The $220 million (£172m) wacky 54-floor-high building took inspiration from a sculpture of the same name by Santiago Calatrava, and is thought to be the first twisted skyscraper in the world. Thanks to careful design, each apartment monitors heat and water consumption, allowing inhabitants to plan their own energy and living costs.
Cayan Tower, Dubai, UAE
If you’re going to build something similar, you need to go even bigger! And Cayan Tower certainly makes an impression on the Dubai skyline, as it stands tallest in the middle of a cluster of other buildings.
Cayan Tower, Dubai, UAE
The $272 million (£212m) skyscraper is made up of 73 floorplates which are all identical, but each is slightly rotated against the story below it, which shows a full 90-degree twist through the 307-meter rise. And this innovative design ensures more tenants enjoy the stunning views of the nearby marina and gulf.
The Kremlin, Moscow, Russia
Stunning, isn’t it? A fortified complex which sits in the heart of Moscow and dates back to the 15th century. Inside the Kremlin are five palaces and four cathedrals enclosed by the Kremlin Wall with Kremlin towers. It’s also the official residence of the President of the Russian Federation. With such a prestigious history, it’s no wonder a copycat building popped up.
The Kremlin copycat, Beijing suburb, China
It’s eerily similar, wouldn’t you say? This white-walled, gold-domed office complex, designed to look like the Kremlin, was built in a suburb of Beijing. The buildings were built to house seismological, local weather, water services and landscaping bureaux. This has angered local people as rents are sky high and the extravagant buildings are pushing them out of their neighborhoods. Experts have estimated the cost ranged from 9.3 million yuan ($1.5m/£1.2m) to 21 million yuan ($3.5m/£2.7m).
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
When a resort fronts Marina Bay in Singapore, the design must be captivating. When Marina Bay Sands opened in 2010, it was thought to be the world’s most expensive standalone casino property at $8 billion (£6.3bn). With a price tag like that, you need to make it worthwhile. The resort features a 2,561-room hotel, the 800,000 square-foot The Shoppes at Marina Bays Sands mall, a museum, two large theaters, and the world’s largest atrium casino. But can it be topped?
The Gate Towers, Abu Dhabi, UAE
This building in the Abu Dhabi skyline bears more than a passing resemblance to the Marina Bay Sands. The Gate Towers on Al Reem Island offer 3,533 residential units, The Arc, a retail and leisure floor and is an award-winning mixed-use development.
The Gate Towers, Abu Dhabi, UAE
But it wouldn’t be Abu Dhabi without an added hint of exclusivity. The three towers are topped with the Penthouse Bridge, which is said to be one of the highest residential developments in the world. The properties are made up of one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments, as well as townhouses and duplex penthouses, with prices ranging from $286k (£223k) to $3.5 million (£2.7m).
The Gherkin, London
Once ridiculed for its odd shape and glass features, the Gherkin is now one of the most iconic skyscrapers gracing the London skyline. But, as you can imagine, it wasn’t cheap. The land costs alone were $116 million (£91m) and construction costs soared to $177 million (£138m). But as the winner of the Royal Institute of British Architects’ Stirling Prize in 2004, other architects had to follow suit.
Damac Park Towers, Dubai, UAE
As they say, why have one, when you can have two? Park Towers in the heart of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is a two-tower mixed-use development. Like its London counterpart, the striking dark glass buildings are recognized as one of the most picturesque real estate projects in Dubai.
Damac Park Towers, Dubai, UAE
Rooms with a view are found in abundance at Park Towers, which offer panoramic views of the neighborhood’s parks, cafés and entertainment facilities. Each tower is 49 stories high with a choice of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments in various styles and designs. But views come with a price and Damac Park Towers construction costs soared to $163 million (£127m), so you can only imagine how much properties are to buy.
The Statue of Liberty, New York, US
Lady Liberty stands regal and proud in all her glory on Liberty Island. A collection of 2,250,000 francs was taken to fund the statue. In today’s money, building both the statue and the pedestal would cost more than $10 million (£7.8m). A gift of friendship from the French people in the 1800s, she is now recognized as a universal symbol of freedom and democracy.
The Statue of Liberty, Shenzhen, China
Why see one attraction when you can see them all? The Window of the World theme park is home to around 130 reproductions of some of the most famous locations and monuments around the world. Some of the most impressive at the park must be the 1:3 scale versions of the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty (pictured).
St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, Italy
As one of the largest churches in the world it’s no wonder the stunning Italian Renaissance architecture of St Peter’s Basilica is admired by many. From its impressive dome to the piazza, the landmark was a piece of artwork well before its time.
St Peter’s Basilica, Nikkō, Japan
Looking at the larger-than-life dome, the sweeping colonnades and, of course, the piazza filled with tourists, you might believe you’re thousands of miles away in Rome. But this replica 1:25 scale of St Peter’s Basilica can be found at the impressive Tobu World Square about 80 miles (130km) north of Tokyo.
St Peter’s Basilica, Nikkō, Japan
As we pan the camera out, it's easy to see the time and effort that must have gone into the intricate design of the mini St Peter's Basilica. Even the thousands of miniature people look realistic!
The Parthenon, Athens, Greece
Are you picturing Hercules the movie when you see the Parthenon? So are we. The former temple on the Athenian Acropolis was dedicated to the goddess Athena in 447BC, and is still standing strong after centuries of existence, proving it to be an architectural marvel. But it’s not the only Parthenon…
The Parthenon, Great Wall Dream World International Tourist Recreational Garden, Lanzhou, China
Are you sensing a theme here? Or should we say theme park. Another park in China featuring some of the most renowned landmarks in the world can be found in Lanzhou. But this Parthenon is said to be life-sized, adding a little authenticity to the copycat. The theme park expected to cost 50 billion Yuan ($674 million/£526m) with a slogan that boasts ‘Give me one day, I’ll show you 1,000 years; and give me one day, I’ll show you the whole world’. Around the world in one day doesn’t sound bad to us!
Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
There are few people across the globe who can’t name this stunning Parisian landmark. Standing at 324 meters tall, and constructed between 1887-89 for 8 million Francs ($34 million/£26.5m in 2007), the Eiffel Tower is the most iconic structure in France. It’s no wonder copycat versions have popped up, like this one…
Tianducheng/Sky Capital City, Hangzhou, China
If you ever find yourself craving a taste of Europe while in China, look no further. In the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou there stands a 108-meter-high fake Eiffel tower, built in the middle of Parisian-style architecture and landscaping.
Tianducheng/Sky Capital City, Hangzhou, China
However, like other copycat architecture built across China, Sky Capital City didn’t pull in as many tenants as hoped, with only 2,000 people living within the 10,000-resident capacity neighborhood.
Eiffel Tower, Las Vegas, USA
The Las Vegas strip is crawling with fakery. Sin City features landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, a Colosseum, and an Egyptian pyramid, but the icing on the cake has got to be the Eiffel Tower at the Paris Las Vegas hotel and casino – the resort alone is said to have cost about $785 million (£612m). The replica was almost built to scale, but that would have been a nightmare so close to the airport…
Eiffel Tower, Las Vegas, USA
The replica’s design isn’t the only similarity between the fake and the original. Revelers can take a glass elevator to the top for panoramic views from the 46-story high observation deck, and there’s also a restaurant to try up there too. When in Vegas, do as the French do.
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