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| Burj Khalifa |
The first true skyscrapers date back to the innovations in building technology in the last century. The invention of the steel frame, gave architects the ability to build to much greater heights than had previously been achievable, using brick and masonry constructions. The skyscraper began its life in Chicago however, today one can travel the entire globe in pursuit of the worlds tallest buildings.
What is the World’s Tallest Building? The Burj Khalifa
What constitutes the worlds tallest building is frequently a matter of debate, and answers will change over time, as architects build ever taller structures. However, in the first instance one should state that a building is considered to be a structure in which over 50% of its height is dedicated to habitable space. As such other structures, such as the CN tower built by the Canadian National railroad constitute towers and structures but not buildings.
At present the world’s tallest building is considered to be the Burj Khalifa, the building stands at an impressive 828m in height and was completed in 2010. The Burj Khalifa occupies the centre stage of Dubai, the building houses a variety of residential and commercially habitable floors. Looking to see this building, why not consider a stay at the Burj Al Arab?
The Burj Khalifa is somewhat unique in its record as the world’s tallest building. In previous times the world’s tallest building accolade could have been issued to a number of contenders depending on category. The Burj Khalifa however, claims the title whether considering overall height, spire, antenna or habitable floor as the key element.
World’s tallest buildings – Where to Visit Chicago to Dubai
Whilst modern tall buildings started their life in Chicago, today the architectural tourist can work their way right around the globe in the pursuit of the highest observation decks and spectacular views. Here are some tall buildings of note.
CN Tower – The CN Tower is a communications tower located in down town Toronto. The tower was officially opened in 1976 at a cost of approximately CDN$63m, the building rising to a height of 553 meters is complete with an observation deck.
Willis Tower – Formally known as the Sears Tower, this is Chicago’s tallest building and stood for a time as the worlds tallest building before losing the title to the Petronas Towers in 1998. The Willis Tower stands at 442m and or 108 stories, hosting a variety of commercial functions. The Willis Tower still holds the title as North America’s tallest building, although the CN Tower is a taller structure.Petronas Towers – The Petronas Towers located in central Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia are still the world’s tallest pair of twin towers. The twin towers feature an ornate pair of Islamic inspired spires, as well as the trade mark sky bridge connecting the two towers 170m above ground level. The Petronas Towers was opened in 1998, stealing the title of world’s tallest building from the Sears Tower (Now Willis Tower) at a height of 452m.
Taipei 101 – Another Asian contribution to the myriad of tall buildings and skyscrapers around the world. Taipei 101 is the former holder of the title of world’s tallest building, previous to the opening of the Burj Khalifa in 2010. Not only is Taipei 101 a unique building from an aesthetic perspective. The building is also one of radical engineering achievement, the building is designed to withstand the prospect of both typhoon winds and an earthquake, both features of the region. Taipei 101 is located in Taiwan’s capital, Taipei and stands at an impressive 509m. The building is largely occupied by a number of leading financial institutions, including ABN AMRO, Goldbank Taiwan and ING.
The Pyramids at Giza – Hardly a contender for world’s tallest structure in the modern environment. However, any travel guide to tall structures would not be complete without a historical reference to the pyramids. The tallest of the pyramids stands at just 146m. However, the title of worlds tallest man made structure was held by the pyramids for around 3,800 years, longer than any other structure.
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