20 incredible skyscrapers set to soar over city skylines soon
Daniel Coughlin
23 July 2018
Super-tall buildings that will blow you away
You won't believe the amazing skyscrapers under construction around the globe at the moment. The world's most lofty all-timber tower, the highest sky gardens, restaurant and observation decks, and even a new contender for tallest structure ever are all taking shape right now. We give you the lowdown on 20 of the most exciting projects in the pipeline.
Mjøsa Tower, Brumunddal, Norway
Eco-friendly, fast to build and surprisingly safe, a new generation of wooden skyscrapers, or 'plyscrapers', is taking root across the world. At 262 feet (60m), Norway's 18-storey Mjøsa Tower will be the planet's tallest all-timber structure when completed in March 2019.
Mjøsa Tower, Brumunddal, Norway
Designed by Voll Arkitekter, the $54 million (£42m) tower will be made from prefabricated cross-laminated timber, a sustainable material which is as strong as concrete when arranged in a certain way, and extra-speedy to assemble.
Mjøsa Tower, Brumunddal, Norway
The wood is also remarkably fire-resistant – in the event of a blaze, the timber chars rather than goes up in flames. Other wooden skyscrapers in the pipeline include all-timber or mostly timber towers in Berlin, Vienna and Tokyo.
Leeza SOHO, Beijing, China
Poised for completion later this year, Leeza SOHO was one of the final projects designed by renowned starchitect Zaha Hadid before her untimely death in 2016. The 679-foot (207m) tower will take centre stage in Beijing's new Lise financial district.
Leeza SOHO, Beijing, China
In total, Leeza SOHO will offer 1.86 million square feet (172,800 square metres) of office and residential space. The exterior of the 46-floor glass skyscraper is impressive enough, but it's the interior that will really wow.
Leeza SOHO, Beijing, China
Leeza SOHO will boast the world's tallest central atrium at a lofty 623 feet (190m). The title is currently held by the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai. Not just any atrium, Hadid's wonder space twists and turns, filling the building with natural light right down to the ground floor.
220 Central Park South, New York, USA
Overlooking Central Park, this elegant 953-foot (290m) residential tower will boast New York's most expensive condo, a sprawling quadruplex unit with an almost unbelievable price tag of $250 million (£193m).
220 Central Park South, New York, USA
Construction started on the 69-storey skyscraper in 2013 and the building, which is designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, will open later this year. Several A-list celebrities are rumoured to have snapped up condos, including Sting and Trudie Styler.
220 Central Park South, New York, USA
A refreshing change from the identikit glass towers that crowd our cities, the limestone-clad 220 Central Park South nods to the Art Deco architecture of the 1930s, paying homage to Manhattan's grand early skyscrapers.
Australia 108, Melbourne, Australia
At 1,040 feet (317m), Australia 108 in Melbourne will be the tallest building Down Under by roof height when it opens in 2020. Like 220 Central Park South, the tower is solely residential, and will consist of 1,105 luxury apartments over 100 floors.
Australia 108, Melbourne, Australia
Conceived by Fender Katsalidis Architects, the project is expected to cost AU$891 million (US$660m/£508m). Apartment prices will range from AU$347,100 (US$257,000/£198,000) for a studio, to AU$24.7 million (US$18.3m/£14m) for a five-bedroom penthouse.
Australia 108, Melbourne, Australia
Residents will enjoy unparalleled amenities, including three stunning pools, a fitness centre and spa, a private theatre, and virtual golf space. Best of all, they'll get to hang out in the gold star-shaped sky lobby, the building's standout feature.
Empire 88 Tower, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
The star of the $1.2 billion (£922m) Empire City project in Ho Chi Minh City, the 1,093-foot (333m) Empire 88 Tower, which is designed by German architect Ole Scheeren, will pack in numerous apartments, offices, a luxury hotel and high-end shopping mall.
Empire 88 Tower, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Slated for completion in 2022, the 88-storey skyscraper is a collaboration between Vietnamese property developers JSC Property Tien Phuoc and Tran Thai Properties, and Denver Power, which is based in the UK.
Empire 88 Tower, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
The highlight of the skyscraper has got to be the dreamy sky forest. The multi-level balcony garden will have a restaurant and water features, and is designed to evoke the rice terraces of rural Vietnam.
53W53, New York, USA
Back to the Big Apple, 53W53 will loom over the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) upon completion later this year and provide three levels of gallery space for the institution. The 1,100-foot (340m) building is designed by visionary French architect Jean Nouvel. Construction costs have been estimated at $1.06 billion (£810m).
53W53, New York, USA
The remainder of the 87-storey skyscraper will feature 145 swanky apartments, not to mention a wellness centre complete with a fabulous pool, a library, theatre and even climate-controlled wine rooms, all of which should attract rich arty buyers with discerning tastes.
53W53, New York, USA
One of the more interesting skyscrapers going up in New York, 53W53 makes for a striking addition to the Manhattan skyline with its exposed latticed concrete frame and tapered peaks, and is likely to win design accolade after accolade.
Comcast Technology Center, Philadelphia, USA
Due for completion this year, Philly's 1,121-foot (342m) Comcast Technology Center will be the city's greenest building, as well as its tallest, most expensive and most technologically advanced. All in all, construction costs for the over-budget tower are likely to top $1.2 billion (£924m).
Comcast Technology Center, Philadelphia, USA
Adding to the superlatives, the 59-storey building will contain America's highest hotel, which will take up the top floors. The middle storeys will serve as office space for Comcast, while the lower levels are going to be devoted to retail stores and TV studios.
Comcast Technology Center, Philadelphia, USA
As well as being super-tall, super-green and super-pricey, the Foster + Partners skyscraper will be packed with super-smart technology that can do everything from track people in the building to predict the weather.
Lotus Tower, Colombo, Sri Lanka
A beautiful new landmark for the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo's Lotus Tower is set to open in September. Finishing touches are being added to the 1,150-foot (350m) tower, which is now the tallest structure in South Asia.
Lotus Tower, Colombo, Sri Lanka
The tower is designed by the architecture department of the University of Moratuwa, and symbolises purity, peace and prosperity. A total of 32 enormous glass petals with LED lights that change colour adorn the structure.
Lotus Tower, Colombo, Sri Lanka
When it opens this autumn, the $104 million (£80m) tower, which is majority funded by the EXIM Bank of China, will house TV, radio and communications antennae, as well as offices and a number of tourist attractions.
Vista Tower, Chicago, USA
Super-tall buildings have been going up in Chicago for the past 134 years – the world's first proper skyscraper was built in the Windy City in 1884. The 1,191-foot (363m) Vista Tower is the latest attention-grabbing addition to the famous skyline.
Vista Tower, Chicago, USA
The work of world-class architect Jeanne Gang, Vista tower will be the tallest structure in the world designed by a woman when it opens in 2020, and Chicago's third tallest building. The 101-storey crystalline skyscraper will contain 406 condos and a five-star hotel.
Vista Tower, Chicago, USA
The subtly-undulating facade maximises views and reflects the hues of the sky and Lake Michigan. Rather than boring featureless roofs, each of the three blocks will be topped with a verdant terrace designed by top landscape architecture firm OLIN.
111 West 57th Street, New York, USA
You might wonder how they're going to get this skyscraper to stay upright. Standing 1,428 feet (435m) tall with a height-to-width ratio of 23-1, New York's 111 West 57th Street will be the skinniest skyscraper on the planet upon its completion.
111 West 57th Street, New York, USA
The 85-floor building, which is designed by SHoP Architects and features a glamorous terracotta and bronze facade, will be ultra-luxurious, housing only 60 massively spacious and high-ceilinged condos.
111 West 57th Street, New York, USA
Construction of the slender skyscraper was delayed by a scandal involving the contractor Parkside Construction Builders and concerns about cost overruns, but work on the building has resumed, though the original completion date has been put back to 2019.
World One, Mumbai, India
Mumbai's World One will soar 1,450 feet (442m), making it the tallest residential tower in the world for a time. The 117-floor building is designed by New York architectural firm Pei Cobb Freed & Partners and is projected to cost $321 million (£246m).
World One, Mumbai, India
The developer Lodha has been dogged with regulatory issues that have slowed the project, which began back in 2011, and should have been completed by now. At the moment, the project is set to be finished sometime next year.
World One, Mumbai, India
World One should most definitely be worth the wait. The tower's 290 apartments will feature interiors designed by Armani, and residents will have access to a roof terrace pool, gym, and a whole lot more besides.
Lakhta Centre, Saint Petersburg, Russia
The 1,516-foot (462m) Lakhta Center, which was topped out in January but won't be finished until the autumn, is now the tallest building in Russia and Europe, as well as the 13th tallest building in the world. It is located in the outskirts of Saint Petersburg, so as not to overshadow the historic city centre.
Lakhta Centre, Saint Petersburg, Russia
One of the greenest in the world, the building will feature some of the most sophisticated eco technology ever invented, from motion detectors to monitor electricity and water usage, to floor tiles that harness kinetic energy when stepped on.
Lakhta Centre, Saint Petersburg, Russia
The sci-fi-style centre, which was designed by architect Tony Kettle along with studios RMJM and Gorproject, will contain offices and co-working areas, a sports centre, conference and exhibition space, as well as a children's science centre.
Tianjin CTF Finance Centre, Tianjin, China
On the way to becoming one of China's tallest buildings, the Tianjin CTF Finance Centre is coming together nicely. Designed by New York architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the building will have a total height of 1,739 feet (530m).
Tianjin CTF Finance Centre, Tianjin, China
Work on the 97-floor skyscraper started in 2013 and is expected to finish before 2020. Yet another mixed-use building, Tianjin CTF Finance Centre will have apartments and a five-star hotel in addition to plenty of office space.
Tianjin CTF Finance Centre, Tianjin, China
The clever design meets LEED Gold standards, making it especially eco-friendly, and the curved crystalline facade helps protect the structure from strong winds, which can reach dangerous speeds when typhoons hit the city.
Baoneng Shenyang Global Financial Centre, Shenyang, China
Due for completion in 2020, the Baoneng Shenyang Global Financial Centre, aka the Pearl of the North, will grace Shenyang's CBD. The tower will stand 1,864 feet (568m) tall, and is designed and engineered by British firm Atkins.
Baoneng Shenyang Global Financial Centre, Shenyang, China
The jewel in the crown, the top of the building features an enormous glass 'pearl' that will contain an exclusive executive club. The pearl represents wisdom, luxury and purity according to the developer's blurb.
Baoneng Shenyang Global Financial Centre, Shenyang, China
The building's lower floors will have conical canopies inspired by the nomadic tents of the Qing Dynasty. They de-emphasise the extreme verticality of the building, which might otherwise seem overwhelming from ground level, and integrate it perfectly with the city street.
Grand Rama 9 Tower, Bangkok, Thailand
Thailand's soon to be tallest building, the 125-storey Grand Rama 9 Tower in Bangkok will have a total height of 2,018 feet (615m) and is scheduled for completion in 2021, with the official opening anticipated the following year.
Grand Rama 9 Tower, Bangkok, Thailand
Construction began last year. The $554 million (£426m) skyscraper, which is designed by Bangkok's Architects 49 Ltd with New York studio Skidmore, Owing & Merrill, will be mixed-use, housing retail stores, restaurants, and apartments, and second only to New York's Empire State building in terms of office space.
Grand Rama 9 Tower, Bangkok, Thailand
The upper floors will be home to a swanky six-star hotel, while the roof will have a public observation deck, which is likely to become one of the Thai capital's most popular tourist attractions.
KL 118, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Reminiscent of New York's Freedom Tower, KL 118 (aka PNB 118) in Kuala Lumpur will top out at some 2,113 feet (644m), rising well above the city's famous Petronas Twin Towers and Exchange 106 skyscraper to become the tallest building in Malaysia and southeast Asia.
KL 118, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The building, which is projected to cost $861 million (£661m), will have 118 floors containing a mix of office, retail and residential space, along with a luxury hotel. Construction started in 2016 and the building won't be completed until 2024.
KL 118, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Designed by Kuala Lumpur firm RSP Architects Sdn Bhd in collaboration with Fender Katsalidis Architects, the Melbourne studio behind Australia 108, the skyscraper's diamond design symbolises the diversity of the Malaysian people.
Dubai One Tower, Dubai, UAE
Groundwork is underway on the Dubai One Tower, which at 2,333 feet (711m) will overtake Mumbai's World One to become the tallest residential building in the world. Part of the $6.8 billion (£5.2bn) Meydan One project, the tower will house 885 apartments and a luxury hotel.
Dubai One Tower, Dubai, UAE
A guaranteed tourist magnet, the complex will have everything from the largest indoor ski resort in the world to a designer shopping mall and spectacular dancing fountain, as well as its very own beach and marina. The project is due for completion in 2021.
Dubai One Tower, Dubai, UAE
Visitors are also likely to flock in their droves to the 360-degree observation deck, which at 2,149 feet (655m) will be the tallest on the planet, as well as the world's highest sky restaurant at 2,215 feet (675m).
Suzhou Zhongnan Center, Suzhou, China
Suzhou Zhongnan Centre will be China's tallest building and the world's third tallest upon its completion, which should be sometime in 2021 at the earliest. Designed by San Francisco firm Gensler, the 138-floor skyscraper will be 2,392 feet (792m) tall.
Suzhou Zhongnan Center, Suzhou, China
Construction of the tower has been on hold since 2015 due to a glut of office space in Suzhou but is expected to resume soon. When finished, the skyscraper will have high-end retail stores, premium offices, luxury apartments, a six-star hotel and large observation deck.
Suzhou Zhongnan Center, Suzhou, China
This megatall skyscraper certainly doesn't come cheap, another factor behind the delay. Together with the adjacent plaza and industrial park, the entire development is expected to come in at an eye-watering $4.46 billion (£3.4bn).
Jeddah Tower, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
The world's first kilometre-high building, Saudi Arabia's Jeddah Tower will soar above the kingdom's second city, and will be mixed-use, housing retail stores, offices, apartments and a swish hotel across its 167 floors. The building is designed by Chicago architectural firm AS+GG.
Jeddah Tower, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Initially, the tower was envisaged to stand a mile high, but following testing of the soil and local geology, the height was revised down to 3,281 feet (1km). Construction kicked off in 2013 and has beset by a series of delays.
Jeddah Tower, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
The drop in global oil prices affected funding for the $1.23 billion (£945m) project, but a deal has since been struck to finish the building. The revised completion date is sometime in 2020. Despite being higher than the current world's tallest structure, the Burj Khalifa, another tower is set to steal the title.
Dubai Creek Tower, Dubai, UAE
If the latest reports are to be believed, the sensational Dubai Creek Tower will stretch up to a stomach-churning 4,413 feet (1,345m) into the sky. Set for completion in 2020, the $1 billion (£768m) observation tower will be anchored to the ground with giant cables.
Dubai Creek Tower, Dubai, UAE
Groundwork has already begun on the tower, which is designed by Spanish architect, engineer and artist Santiago Calatrava, who drew inspiration for the graceful structure from the minarets of the UAE.
Dubai Creek Tower, Dubai, UAE
When completed, the hypertall tower will boast 210 floors but only 54 of them will be usable. These levels will contain observation decks, sky gardens, residences and a hotel, and the tower will also have TV, radio and communications antennae. One thing's for sure, the views from the top will be absolutely breathtaking.
Comments
Be the first to comment
Do you want to comment on this article? You need to be signed in for this feature