Tall buildings are found all around the world, although the majority of the world’s tallest ones are in Asia. Approximately 50% of the buildings on this list are located in China alone.
Architecture enthusiasts are not the only ones fascinated by skyscrapers that appear to rise eternally above the cities at their feet. Undoubtedly, their eye-catching design contributes to their attraction, but what truly grabs attention is their supposedly physics-defying existence.
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Here are the list of the top 13 tallest buildings in the world:
Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates – (2,717 ft in height)
At the moment, the Burj Khalifa is the world’s tallest structure. Standing 2,717 feet tall, the skyscraper in Dubai contains hotel rooms, offices, and apartments in addition to the highest restaurant and viewing deck in the world. The building was formally finished in 2010 and was designed by Adrian Smith of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Construction started in 2004. Since then, it has held the title of both tallest and most-floored building in the world. By the way, the Burj Khalifa bears the name of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who served as the United Arab Emirates’ president before his departure.
Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – (2,228 ft in height)
Merdeka 118, or PNB 118, is the newest of these many amazing sky highs and the second-tallest building in the world, located in Kuala Lumpur. Just this year, it was finished at 2,228 feet. The building’s original name is an abbreviation for Permodalan Nasional Berhad, the investment management firm based in Malaysia that built the project and will occupy the majority of it when it opens in 2024. But its current name, which is Malay for “independence,” was chosen to honor the neighboring Stadium Merdeka, the location of the nation’s 1957 proclamation of independence.
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Shanghai Tower in Shanghai (China) – (2,073 ft in height)
Rising 2,073 feet into the sky, the Shanghai Tower was created by the American firm Gensler and is situated in the Chinese city of the same name. It is China’s tallest structure and is located right adjacent to Shanghai Financial Center. One of the tower’s most unique features is its nine distinct inside zones, each with its atrium, garden, and cafes, among many other remarkable numbers. Because it lessens wind resistance, the Shanghai Tower’s twisted design has a functional as well as decorative purpose.
Makkah Royal Clock Tower in Mecca, Saudi Arabia – (1,972 ft in height)
Reaching an incredible 1,972 feet in height, the Makkah Royal Clock Tower, also called Abraj Al Bait, is situated in Mecca. Out of the millions of pilgrims that come to Mecca every year, seven hotels are part of the Clock Tower complex. Less than a quarter mile from the property is the holiest place in Islam, the Great Mosque of Mecca. Not only does the building stand as the fourth highest in the globe, but it also has the biggest clock on top of it. They are each 141 feet in diameter, with faces on all four sides.
Ping An Finance Center in Shenzhen, China – (1,965 ft in height)
The Ping An Finance Center is a 1,965-foot-tall skyscraper that soars over Shenzhen’s skyline. The 100-story structure, which houses the Ping An Insurance company’s headquarters and is centered around an atrium, was constructed to act as an anchor for the city’s economic district. KPF was the designer of it.
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Goldin Finance 117 in Tianjin, China – (1957 ft in height)
China 117 Tower, also called Goldin Finance 117, is an unfinished skyscraper located in Tianjin, China’s Xiqing District. At 1957 feet in height, the tower was topped out in 2015. 117 of the skyscraper’s 128 stories are above ground and are used for residential, hotel, and commercial space. This is where the building gets its name.
Lotte World Tower in Seoul, South Korea – (1,821 ft in height)
Standing 1,821 feet tall, the Lotte World Tower is the tallest structure in South Korea and the sixth tallest structure globally. It is situated in Seoul. It is home to a hotel, retail space, concert theater, offices, residences, and a viewing platform. It was also designed by KPF.
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One World Trade Center in New York City – (1,775 ft in height)
One World Trade Center in New York is the highest structure in the nation and the city at 1,775 feet. In contrast, the height of the Empire State Building is merely 1,453 feet. David Childs of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill designed the structure, which was erected on the spot where the original World Trade Center towers had stood before September 11, 2001. In addition to being a towering building, One World Trade Center is a potent monument and a representation of resiliency.
Tianjin CTF Finance Center in Tianjin, China – (1,739 ft in height)
Tianjin CTF Finance Center and Guangzhou CTF Finance Center are identical in height in addition to sharing similar names. Standing at 1,739 feet apiece, places eight and nine are tied. For the former, its glass walls, which curve gently, are not only aesthetically pleasing but also serve a useful purpose by shielding the interior from the elements like wind, sun, and dampness. Like the other buildings on this list, the primary uses of this one are as hotels, offices, and flats. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill architects created this record-breaking design.
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Guangzhou CTF Finance Center in Guangzhou, China – (1,739 ft in height)
In Guangzhou, however, the CTF Finance Center is boxier in shape and measures roughly 1,739 feet in height. In addition to retail space, the building has hotel rooms and offices. In homage to a regional craft history, the project’s principal architect, Forth Bagley, employed white glazed tiles for the building’s vertical mullions. Another impressive structure by KPF is this one.
China Zun Tower in Beijing – (1,732 ft in height)
The China Zun Tower, popularly referred to as the CITIC Tower, is not only the tallest structure in Beijing but also one of the highest in the world. At 1,732 feet tall, the skyscraper is mostly used for office space. A zun is a traditional Chinese wine vessel, and the building’s profile mimics this design. Farrells and KPF, two architectural firms, collaborated on the design.
Taipei 101 in Taipei, Taiwan – (1,667 ft in height)
Taipei 101 stands 1,667 feet tall and dominates the city’s other rooftops. It is distinguished from the other buildings on this list by its unique shape, which drew inspiration from traditional Chinese architecture. The tower primarily contains offices, although it also has dining areas and a viewing platform. Fireworks are fired out from the roof on New Year’s Eve every year, drawing revelers from all around the world.
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Shanghai World Financial Center in Shanghai, China (1,614 ft in height)
Shanghai World Financial Center soars 1,614 feet into the sky, directly close to the Shanghai Tower, another structure on this list. Among other things, it has hotels and workplaces. Its peculiar design has given rise to the satirical moniker “bottle opener.” The American architectural company Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF), which is in charge of about half of the structures on this list, created the design for it.
