The tallest and most iconic skyscrapers in the world.

Having appeared in the late 1800s in America, skyscrapers are now widespread in the Middle and Far East. The development of materials and new design possibilities has given rise to iconic, cutting-edge buildings.

The word “skyscraper” is the faithful translation of the American term sky-scraper, a term that initially indicated buildings between ten and twenty floors. In fact, the model of the tall building “with its head in the clouds” comes from theUnited States. The very first tower buildings to approach this threshold were the buildings inNew York, even if the history of skyscrapers originates from the so-calledChicago School, a movement founded by a group of American architects in the late 19th century.

From the beginning, Chicago and New York competed for the title of thetallest skyscraper in the world, but the twentieth century saw the emergence of the nations of the Middle and Far East. Today, these areas of the world hold the record.

A skyscraper is both an engineering triumph and a tremendous, breathtaking emotional experience…

according to one of the greatest musicians of the early twentieth century, George Gershwin

The development of new materials and new design and construction possibilities has contributed to the development of truly avant-garde skyscrapers , in form and materials. Their functions have also changed over the years: originally skyscrapers generally housed offices and commercial spaces, today they can reserve parts of their space for residential purposes or they can house luxury hotels or museums.

Burj Khalifa, the tallest skyscraper in the world

The Dubai skyscraper, with its 828 meters of height and 163 floors, represents today an iconic work that combines technology and luxury. Designed by the American studio Skidmore, Owings and Merrill , the skyscraper houses the five-star Armani hotel, the Armani luxury apartments, offices, a mosque and terraces. The interior design style is a mix between West and East. The skyscraper is located within an 11-hectare park whose grounds are irrigated through a system that recovers water from air conditioners.

Shangai Tower, the greenest skyscraper in the world

The Shanghai Tower is 692 meters high and 127 floors high, a skyscraper that thanks to the application of eco-sustainable strategies holds the record for the greenest tower in the world. Precisely for the technologies applied, the building has obtained the LEED Platinum certification from the US Green Building Council. The tower, designed by the American studio Gensler , hosts up to 16,000 people in residential, commercial, office and hotel spaces.

Lakhta Center, the tallest skyscraper in Europe

The tallest building in Europe stands at 462 m in St. Petersburg and is iconic in terms of engineering and design. Designed by Gorproject architects , the skyscraper has also obtained LEED Platinum certification thanks to some strategic innovations in terms of environmental sustainability: a heating system that uses infrared radiators to reuse excess heat, sensors to optimize lighting and the water system, a pneumatic system for waste disposal.

Getting closer to the sky: 1000 meters of altitude are now a reality

Designed by Chicago-based Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill Architecture , and scheduled to open in late 2021, Jeddah Tower will soon become the world's tallest tower. The building will cover 530,000 square meters on 167 floors, occupied by luxury hotels, offices and luxury apartments.

The sky is the limit above this and this will be a fantastic place to live. I don't know of a place like this in the whole world right now.

Adrian Smith, architect and designer of the Jeddah Tower

The tower could be surpassed in 2022 by the newDubai Creek Tower, which at 1,345 meters could hold the record for the tallest tower in the world. Designed by architect Santiago Calatrava , the skyscraper is inspired by the natural shape of the lily and the shape of a minaret, a distinctive architectural feature in Islamic culture. The tower will not be a traditional skyscraper, but a panoramic point over the city: a complex architectural structure, supported and equipped with observation decks that will allow visitors to enjoy a 360-degree panorama of Dubai.