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Top 10 Skyscrapers in the World

Mongo

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Everybody has their own opinions, but here are my current top 10 skyscrapers (built, under construction or proposed) in the world, in chronological order:

Chrysler Building, New York (319m 77s 1930)
John Hancock Center, Chicago (344m 100s 1969)
Bank of China Tower, Hong Kong (305m 72s 1990)
Burj al Arab, Dubai (272m 60s 1999)
30 St Mary Axe, London (180m 41s 2004)
Burj Khalifa, Dubai (828m 163s 2010)
Infinity Tower, Dubai (307m 73s 2012)
Burj Al Alam, Dubai (510m 108s)
56 Leonard Street, New York (250m 58s)
Tower Verre, New York (320m 82s)

This was a tough list, there were at least the same number of very deserving buildings that did not quite make my list.

(I do wish that the SSP diagram for Tower Verre were better, it does no justice at all to the magnificent design of the building.)

Top10.jpg
 
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Great idea for a post, Mongo!

I know my top 5 for sure. Others will probably come to me...

1. Chrysler Building
2. American International Group/aka 70 Pine
3. MesseTurm
4. Bank of China tower, HK
5. 1 Liberty Place, Philadelphia (another Helmut Jahn gem, and the son of the Chrysler Tower)

Interesting choice with the Hancock Center, Mongo. It does have quite a unique profile for a late 60s tower, and the diagonal cross braces certainly set it apart.
 
My current list of 50 outstanding buildings (or building pairs), in chronological order:

1902 -- 89m -- 22s -- Flatiron Building -- New York
1913 -- 241m -- 57s -- Woolworth Building -- New York
1924 -- 103m -- 23s -- American Radiator Building -- New York
1925 -- 141m -- 36s -- Tribune Tower -- Chicago
1928 -- 159m -- 42s -- Mather Tower -- Chicago
1929 -- 153m -- 38s -- Carbon & Carbide Building -- Chicago
1930 -- 319m -- 77s -- Chrysler Building -- New York
1931 -- 443m -- 102s -- Empire State Building -- New York
1931 -- 195m -- 50s -- General Electric Building -- New York
1958 -- 137m -- 38s -- Seagram Building -- New York
1962 -- 179m + 179m -- 61s + 61s -- Marina City -- Chicago
1968 -- 197m -- 69s -- Lake Point Tower -- Chicago
1969 -- 344m -- 100s -- John Hancock Center -- Chicago
1972 -- 268m -- 48s -- Transamerica Pyramid -- San Francisco
1974 -- 442m -- 108s -- Willis (Sears) Tower -- Chicago
1976 -- 180m + 114m -- 41a + 26s -- Royal Bank Plaza -- Toronto
1977 -- 165m -- 42s -- Tour du Credit Lyonnais -- Lyon
1984 -- 197m -- 37s -- Sony (AT&T) Tower -- New York
1984 -- 194m -- 40s -- One PPG Place -- Pittsburgh
1988 -- 275m -- 68s -- Scotia Plaza -- Toronto
1990 -- 305m -- 72s -- Bank of China Tower -- Hong Kong
1998 -- 452m + 452m -- 88s + 88s -- Petronas Towers -- Kuala Lumpur
1998 -- 420m -- 93s -- Jin Mao Tower -- Shanghai
1999 -- 272m -- 60s -- Burj al Arab -- Dubai
2000 -- 355m + 305m -- 56s + 54s -- Emirates Towers -- Dubai
2000 -- 267m -- 44s -- Al Faisaliah Center -- Riyadh
2002 -- 302m -- 41s -- Markaz Al-Mamlakah -- Riyadh
2003 -- 412m -- 90s -- Two International Finance Centre -- Hong Kong
2004 -- 508m -- 101s -- Taipei 101 -- Taipei
2004 -- 180m -- 41s -- 30 St. Mary Axe -- London
2005 -- 190m -- 57s -- Turning Torso -- Malmo
2006 -- 182m -- 42s -- Hearst Tower -- New York
2008 -- 492m -- 101s -- Shanghai World Financial Center -- Shanghai
2008 -- 261m -- 52s -- Grand Lisboa -- Macau
2008 -- 200m -- 52s -- QIPCO Tower -- Doha
2008 -- 170m -- 36s -- Nagoya Mode Gakuen Building -- Nagoya
2009 -- 262m -- 86s -- Aqua -- Chicago
2009 -- 234m -- 51s -- CCTV Headquarters -- Beijing
2010 -- 828m -- 163s -- Burj Khalifa -- Dubai
2010 -- 302m + 257m -- 76s + 65s -- City of Capitals -- Moscow
2010 -- 130m -- 24s -- Seocho Garak Tower East -- Seoul
2011 -- 267m -- 76s -- Beekman Tower -- New York
2011 -- 233m -- 52s -- F&F Tower -- Panama City
2011 -- 178m + 160m -- 56s + 50s -- Absolute Towers -- Mississauga
2014 -- 313m -- 77s -- MahaNakhon -- Bangkok
On hold -- 510m -- 108s -- Burj al Alam -- Dubai
On hold -- 250m -- 58s -- 56 Leonard Street -- New York
Proposed -- 420m -- 80s -- Da Vinci Tower -- Dubai
Proposed -- 385m -- 70s -- Urban Forest -- Chongqing
Proposed -- 320m -- 82s -- Tower Verre -- New York

Images of the structures:

1902 -- 89m -- 22s -- Flatiron Building -- New York

1902--89m--22s--FlatironBuilding--NewYork.jpg


1913 -- 241m -- 57s -- Woolworth Building -- New York

1913--241m--57s--WoolworthBuilding--NewYork.jpg


1924 -- 103m -- 23s -- American Radiator Building -- New York

1924--103m--23s--AmericanRadiatorBuilding--NewYork.jpg


1925 -- 141m -- 36s -- Tribune Tower -- Chicago

1925--141m--36s--TribuneTower--Chicago.jpg


1928 -- 159m -- 42s -- Mather Tower -- Chicago

1928--159m--42s--MatherTower--Chicago-1.jpg


1929 -- 153m -- 38s -- Carbon & Carbide Building -- Chicago

1929--153m--38s--CarbonCarbideBuilding--Chicago-1.jpg


1930 -- 319m -- 77s -- Chrysler Building -- New York

1930--319m--77s--ChryslerBuilding--NewYork.jpg


1931 -- 443m -- 102s -- Empire State Building -- New York

1931--443m--102s--EmpireStateBuilding--NewYork.jpg


1931 -- 195m -- 50s -- General Electric Building -- New York

1931--195m--50s--GeneralElectricBuilding--NewYork.jpg


1958 -- 137m -- 38s -- Seagram Building -- New York

1958--137m--38s--SeagramBuilding--NewYork-1.jpg


1962 -- 179m + 179m -- 61s + 61s -- Marina City -- Chicago

1962--179m179m--61s61s--MarinaCity--Chicago.jpg


1968 -- 197m -- 69s -- Lake Point Tower -- Chicago

1968--197m--69s--LakePointTower--Chicago.jpg


1969 -- 344m -- 100s -- John Hancock Center -- Chicago

1969--344m--100s--JohnHancockCenter--Chicago.jpg


1972 -- 268m -- 48s -- Transamerica Pyramid -- San Francisco

1972--268m--48s--TransamericaPyramid--SanFrancisco-1.jpg


1974 -- 442m -- 108s -- Willis (Sears) Tower -- Chicago

1974--442m--108s--SearsTower--Chicago.jpg


1976 -- 180m + 114m -- 41a + 26s -- Royal Bank Plaza -- Toronto

1976--180m114m--41a26s--RoyalBankPlaza--Toronto.jpg


1977 -- 165m -- 42s -- Tour du Credit Lyonnais -- Lyon

1977--165m--42s--TourduCreditLyonnais--Lyon.jpg


1984 -- 197m -- 37s -- Sony (AT&T) Tower -- New York

1984--197m--37s--SonyATTTower--NewYork.jpg


1984 -- 194m -- 40s -- One PPG Place -- Pittsburgh

1984--194m--40s--OnePPGPlace--Pittsburgh.jpg


1988 -- 275m -- 68s -- Scotia Plaza -- Toronto

1988--275m--68s--ScotiaPlaza--Toronto.jpg


1990 -- 305m -- 72s -- Bank of China Tower -- Hong Kong

1990--305m--72s--BankofChinaTower--HongKong-1.jpg


1998 -- 452m + 452m -- 88s + 88s -- Petronas Towers -- Kuala Lumpur

1998--452m--88s--PetronasTowers--KualaLumpur.jpg


1998 -- 420m -- 93s -- Jin Mao Tower -- Shanghai

1998--420m--93s--JinMaoTower--Shanghai.jpg


1999 -- 272m -- 60s -- Burj al Arab -- Dubai

1999--272m--60s--BurjalArab--Dubai.jpg


2000 -- 355m + 305m -- 56s + 54s -- Emirates Towers -- Dubai

2000--355m305m--56s54s--EmiratesTowers--Dubai.jpg


2000 -- 267m -- 44s -- Al Faisaliah Center -- Riyadh

2000--267m--44s--AlFaisaliahCenter--Riyadh.jpg


2002 -- 302m -- 41s -- Markaz Al-Mamlakah -- Riyadh

2002--302m--41s--MarkazAl-Mamlakah--Riyadh.jpg


2003 -- 412m -- 90s -- Two International Finance Centre -- Hong Kong

2003--412m--90s--TwoInternationalFinanceCentre--HongKong-1.jpg


2004 -- 508m -- 101s -- Taipei 101 -- Taipei

2004--508m--101s--Taipei101--Taipei-1.jpg


2004 -- 180m -- 41s -- 30 St. Mary Axe -- London

2004--180m--41s--30StMaryAxe--London-1.jpg


2005 -- 190m -- 57s -- Turning Torso -- Malmo

2005--190m--57s--TurningTorso--Malmo-1.jpg


2006 -- 182m -- 42s -- Hearst Tower -- New York

2006--182m--42s--HearstTower--NewYork.jpg


2008 -- 492m -- 101s -- Shanghai World Financial Center -- Shanghai

2008--492m--101s--ShanghaiWorldFinancialCenter--Shanghai-1.jpg


2008 -- 261m -- 52s -- Grand Lisboa -- Macau

2008--261m--52s--GrandLisboa--Macau.jpg


2008 -- 200m -- 52s -- QIPCO Tower -- Doha

2008--200m--52s--QIPCOTower--Doha.jpg


2008 -- 170m -- 36s -- Nagoya Mode Gakuen Building -- Nagoya

2008--170m--36s--NagoyaModeGakuenBuilding--Nagoya.jpg


2009 -- 262m -- 86s -- Aqua -- Chicago

2009--262m--86s--Aqua--Chicago.jpg


2009 -- 234m -- 51s -- CCTV Headquarters -- Beijing

2009--234m--51s--CCTVHeadquarters--Beijing.jpg


2010 -- 828m -- 163s -- Burj Khalifa -- Dubai

2010--828m--163s--BurjKhalifa--Dubai.jpg


2010 -- 302m + 257m -- 76s + 65s -- City of Capitals -- Moscow

2010--302m257m--76s65s--CityofCapitals--Moscow.jpg


2010 -- 130m -- 24s -- Seocho Garak Tower East -- Seoul

2010--130m--24s--SeochoGarakTowerEast--Seoul.jpg


2011 -- 267m -- 76s -- Beekman Tower -- New York

2011--267m--76s--BeekmanTower--NewYork.jpg


2011 -- 233m -- 52s -- F&F Tower -- Panama City

revolution_tower_mar22.jpg


2011 -- 178m + 160m -- 56s + 50s -- Absolute Towers -- Mississauga

2011--178m160m--56s50s--AbsoluteTowers--Mississauga.jpg


2014 -- 313m -- 77s -- MahaNakhon -- Bangkok

2014--313m--77s--MahaNakhon--Bangkok-1.jpg


On hold -- 510m -- 108s -- Burj al Alam -- Dubai

Onhold--510m--108s--BurjalAlam--Dubai-1.jpg


On hold -- 250m -- 58s -- 56 Leonard Street -- New York

Onhold--250m--58s--56LeonardStreet--NewYork.jpg


Proposed -- 420m -- 80s -- Da Vinci Tower -- Dubai

Proposed--420m--80s--DaVinciTower--Dubai.jpg


Proposed -- 385m -- 70s -- Urban Forest -- Chongqing

Proposed--385m--70s--UrbanForest--Chongqing.jpg


Proposed -- 320m -- 82s -- Tower Verre -- New York

Proposed--320m--82s--TowerVerre--NewYork.jpg


I got these images from various online sources, can't remember where.
 
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Added six buildings to the list:

1902 -- 89m -- 22s -- Flatiron Building -- New York
1913 -- 241m -- 57s -- Woolworth Building -- New York
1924 -- 103m -- 23s -- American Radiator Building -- New York
1931 -- 195m -- 50s -- General Electric Building -- New York
2000 -- 355m + 305m -- 56s + 54s -- Emirates Towers -- Dubai
2010 -- 130m -- 24s -- Seocho Garak Tower East -- Seoul

and deleted one:

On hold -- 597m -- 117s -- Goldin Finance 117 -- Tianjin

for a new total of 35 buildings (or building pairs).
 
You definitely like NYC... and I don't blame you. Funny that Chicago gets so much attention for architecture, and deservedly so, but we still can't help but love the Big Apple no matter what the prevailing fashions are!
 
Ironically, I just now added another Chicago tower:

1928 -- 159m -- 42s -- Mather Tower -- Chicago

together with a more well-known pair of towers:

1998 -- 452m + 452m -- 88s + 88s -- Petronas Towers -- Kuala Lumpur

But it is certainly true that New York is full of outstanding buildings!

edit -- four more Chicago buildings added:

1925 -- 141m -- 36s -- Tribune Tower -- Chicago
1929 -- 153m -- 38s -- Carbon & Carbide Building -- Chicago
1962 -- 179m + 179m -- 61s + 61s -- Marina City -- Chicago
1968 -- 197m -- 69s -- Lake Point Tower -- Chicago
 
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Personal choices (in no particular order)

30 St. Mary Axe/Swiss Re - London, Foster and Partners
Tribune Tower - Chicago, Howard and Hood
HSBC Headquarters - Hong Kong, Foster and Partners
Citigroup Centre - NYC, Stubbins Associates
Turning Torso - Malmo, Calatrava
Commerzbank Tower - Frankfurt, Foster and Partners
New York Times Building - NYC, Renzo Piano Building Workshop/FXFOWLE
Transamerica Pyramid - San Francisco, William L. Pereira
88 Wood Street - London, Richard Roger Partnership
RWE AG Tower - Essen, Ingenhoven, Overdiek, Kahlen and Partner

(yes, I am a Hi-Tech fiend)

AoD
 
Scotia Plaza is a good example of restrained 1980s Post-Modernism. Another good example is the Sony Tower (1984) in New York, called when it was being built "the world's first Chippendale skyscraper":

1984--197m--37s--SonyATTTower--NewYork.jpg


but I do not think that it is quite as attractive as Scotia Plaza. In general, I have not included any full-blown PoMo buildings, with their pyramidal roofs and stepped facades, mainly because they just do not appeal to me that much. But Scotia Plaza is more restrained and elegant than the typical PoMo building, and I needed to include SOMETHING from the 1980s.

edit -- on reflection, I have decided to include this building on the list. So,

1984 -- 197m -- 37s -- Sony (AT&T) Tower -- New York
 
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Some of these skyscraper photographers need to invest in tilt shift lenses. Or at least Photoshop plugins.

I shouldn't talk though. That's what all my own building photos look like, since I also have neither of the above. ;)
 
Scotia Plaza is a good example of restrained 1980s Post-Modernism. Another good example is the Sony Tower (1984) in New York, called when it was being built "the world's first Chippendale skyscraper":
but I do not think that it is quite as attractive as Scotia Plaza. In general, I have not included any full-blown PoMo buildings, with their pyramidal roofs and stepped facades, mainly because they just do not appeal to me that much. But Scotia Plaza is more restrained and elegant than the typical PoMo building, and I needed to include SOMETHING from the 1980s.


Well, AT&T/Sony is of of more authentic historical importance, maybe as a sort of Lever House of Postmodernism (though not nearly as elegant). But Scotia Plaza has always struck me as more of a dorky/nerdy skyscraper-geek thing, i.e. its "restraint and elegance" actually adds up to a blandness. It's like placing Bryan Adams in a pantheon of rock greats, IOW...
 
Today's additions:

1984 -- 197m -- 37s -- Sony (AT&T) Tower -- New York
Proposed -- 420m -- 80s -- Da Vinci Tower -- Dubai
Proposed -- 385m -- 70s -- Urban Forest -- Chongqing
 
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One problem with Sony, I feel, is that Johnson was being too self-consciously cheeky and "ugly"--it was Postmodern showboating, but scarcely a celebration of the skyscraperness of a skyscraper. But he, along with others like Helmut Jahn and KPF, did wind up going in that direction...take, for example, Johnson's Transco/Williams Tower in Houston. Which I think still comes across quite well..
 
I agree about the "cheekiness", but it fits with the notion of Johnson as a hairdresser giving fashionable cuts and stylings rather than as an innovator ... and also with the notion of PoMo as an attempt to extend Modernism into a new age through startling exterior flourishes rather than representing anything substantially new.
 

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