I already poked fun to tons of "Bullshit Buildings," but let's make a more positive list. Here I will list my top 10 favorite skyscrapers. This totally depends on my taste on architecture, and has nothing to do with its utility. Some of them also were canceled or not yet built.
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| From: EnglishRussia |
10) Ostankino Tower
Location: Moscow Russia
Built: 1963 - 1967
Pinnacle Height: 540 m
There are tons of sky-high tower. My personal favorite is Ostankino Tower in Moscow.
I have to admit, I am extremely biased when I choose this tower instead of other more popular towers like CN Towers. Hey, blame my soft-spot for anything Russian, but since this is a subjective list, of course my bias is the whole point. So, why not started it with this one?
Besides, despite its tallness, it is not too fat like Tokyo Skytree, or involving any extreme deviation from the straight-line nearby its top like the Kuala Lumpur Tower or Tianjin TV & Radio Tower. Oh yeah, I also dislike non-solidness, the mast-ness (Is that an existing English word?) of Tokyo Skytree and Canton Tower.
Ostankino Tower represent the best of the best of the towers, started this list at #10.
9) Burj Khalifa
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Built: 2004 - 2010
Pinnacle
Heigh: 830 m
Floor Area: 517.240 m²
Blame it to the publicity. Blame it to the media. Whatever. I like this extremely well-known skyscraper. I once criticized the Abraj-al-Bait as ugly, this skyscraper can be said at its anti-thesis.
You can feel the Arabian atmosphere permeated by its shape. Unlike the Abraj-al-Bait that basically shouts "HEY, I am the Arabian ripped-off of Big Ben!" this design screams originality.
If you view it from top, it is even cooler. Unlike most building here when you saw blocky shape from top, this sky scraper has tri-star shape, showing stability, beauty, and elegance at the same time.
Oh yeah, the spectacular Dubai fountain also located right in front of this giant. That adds another point for this building.
Originality, publicity, and the most spectacular music fountain secured the #9 position for Burj Khalifa.
Oh yeah, the spectacular Dubai fountain also located right in front of this giant. That adds another point for this building.
Originality, publicity, and the most spectacular music fountain secured the #9 position for Burj Khalifa.
8) Palace of the Soviets:
Location: Moscow, Russia
Built: Cancelled
Pinnacle
Height: 495 m
Floor Area: ??
Yes, I am serious in putting one of the bullshit building in this list.
Why not? I already stated that every single building made to this list 100% by its aesthetic, not its utility. For the palace of the Soviets, it is not only tall, but also wide, large, and the statue on top of it adds grandeur to the already cool design. Even better, there is a large empty space in front of it, further enhancing its awesomeness.
I can't help but wonder "Wow, if there is some miracle and they managed to erect this building, I will be awed when I stand in front of it and stare it with my own eyes."
For its grandeur, this bullshit building earned itself #8.
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| From: Bustler |
7) Kingdom Tower
Location: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Built: Proposed
Pinnacle
Height: 1.000 m
Floor Area: 319.000 m²
Holy hell, they really planned to build a 1 km tall building? I mean ... ONE KILOMETER TALL BUILDING? Shit just got real!
That alone clenched a position in this Top 10 list. But that is not all. Unlike the Abraj-al-Bait, the design of this tower is very sleek and modern.
It is also very simple. Sometimes, simple design just work. Hey, one reason why the Abraj-al-bait is ugly as hell is its nonsensical complexity.
What else could be said about this tall tower? Hmm ... ah, why give a shit, it is a goddamn 1 kilometer building! Height doesn't always translated into beauty but 1 kilometer of height is just too awesome to be ignored. Of course it deserves #7 position! NEXT!
That alone clenched a position in this Top 10 list. But that is not all. Unlike the Abraj-al-Bait, the design of this tower is very sleek and modern.
It is also very simple. Sometimes, simple design just work. Hey, one reason why the Abraj-al-bait is ugly as hell is its nonsensical complexity.
What else could be said about this tall tower? Hmm ... ah, why give a shit, it is a goddamn 1 kilometer building! Height doesn't always translated into beauty but 1 kilometer of height is just too awesome to be ignored. Of course it deserves #7 position! NEXT!
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| From: wikipedia |
Location: New York, USA
Built: 1930 - 1931
Pinnacle
Height: 443 m
Floor Area: 208.879 m²
Unlike many other building here, this one was already known by all of us since our primary school time, I presume. It is everywhere, it is one of the most iconic representation of the phrase "sky scraper" itself. This building already captivated my eyes when I read the word "sky scraper" for the first time, thus I am quite sentimental about this tower.
But sentimentality is not the only reason why this building was included in this list. The art-deco architecture here combined the blocky shape of the tower, and the sharpness of the antennae gracefully.
This proportionally perfect skyscraper also impressed me with its intricacies, and symmetries. The fact that it looks like it had several blocks also added to its sophistication.
It is impossible not to put this classic and iconic building on this list, therefore the Empire State Building stand tall at #6.
5) Ulmer Münster
Ulmer Münster contemplatively sitting at #5.
But sentimentality is not the only reason why this building was included in this list. The art-deco architecture here combined the blocky shape of the tower, and the sharpness of the antennae gracefully.
This proportionally perfect skyscraper also impressed me with its intricacies, and symmetries. The fact that it looks like it had several blocks also added to its sophistication.
It is impossible not to put this classic and iconic building on this list, therefore the Empire State Building stand tall at #6.
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| From arkoudi.de |
Location: Ulm, Germany
Built: 1377 - 1890
Pinnacle
Height: 161,5 m
I am not really into church and cathedral architecture. But I make an exception for this one. With good reasons.
It is tall, it is grand, it is antique, it is the Ulmer Münster, the tallest church in da world. Yes, in da world!
It is the pinnacle of all Gothic design. It is the pinnacle of cathedral architecture. It is the pinnacle of Germany Christendom.
And this is also the only building in this list that was built BEFORE the beginning of 20th century. You have to respect that!
I am not really into church and cathedral architecture. But I make an exception for this one. With good reasons.
It is tall, it is grand, it is antique, it is the Ulmer Münster, the tallest church in da world. Yes, in da world!
It is the pinnacle of all Gothic design. It is the pinnacle of cathedral architecture. It is the pinnacle of Germany Christendom.
And this is also the only building in this list that was built BEFORE the beginning of 20th century. You have to respect that!
Ulmer Münster contemplatively sitting at #5.
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| By Path2k6 |
Location: Chicago, USA
Built: 1965 - 1969
Pinnacle
Height: 457 m
Floor Area: 260.126 m²
Like I said before, sometimes, a simple design is the aesthetically best design. John Hancock Center in Chicago is a fine example of it. It is just a "simple black block with 2 antennae" but this building is still really cool.
The simple "block" design gives the impression of firmness, stability, and solidity.
The simple "black" color gleams the aura of non-compromise, strength, and power.
The dual antennae strangely increase the size of the building, enhancing its aura enormously.
John Hancock Center utilizes simplicity at most, comfortably rests at #4.
Like I said before, sometimes, a simple design is the aesthetically best design. John Hancock Center in Chicago is a fine example of it. It is just a "simple black block with 2 antennae" but this building is still really cool.
The simple "block" design gives the impression of firmness, stability, and solidity.
The simple "black" color gleams the aura of non-compromise, strength, and power.
The dual antennae strangely increase the size of the building, enhancing its aura enormously.
John Hancock Center utilizes simplicity at most, comfortably rests at #4.
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| By Calvin Teo |
Location: Singapore
Built: 1999 - 2002
Pinnacle
Height: 144 m
Floor Area: 39.145 m²
Unlike other skycrapers listed here, this one is not even reached 150 m. But this is about aesthetic, not height. Height does not always translated into beauty.
This building really fascinated me because during my stay in Singapore, this building shine in extreme awesomeness in comparison with its surrounding. Its classiness put other bland Singaporean buildings into shame. Effortlessly. Totally. Undoubtedly.
That's why my view on Singapore's downtown always focuses on this specific classic building. The art deco and oriental combination of the design works extremely beautifully here.
Parkview Square is an oasis in the middle of the desert of blandness named "Singapore downtown," without any problem grabbed the #3 position.
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| From: Foster&Partners |
Location: Moscow, Russia
Built: cancelled
Pinnacle
Height: ca. 600 m
Floor Area: 520.800 m²
Why Russians have the habit of canceling very awesome buildings?
Seriously, when I saw this building's sketch, it was love at first sight. It soars high to the sky, and the beam from the lamp on its roof amplify that impression even more!
It also reminded me of the ancient pyramid, while at the same time permeates modernity. Russian style modernity? The soaring light also imbued this skyscraper with the majestic aura it deserves.
Oh yeah, finally, bonus point for being located in Russia, and has "Russia" in its name! You can't be more Russian than that!
Russia Tower, towering at #2.
It also reminded me of the ancient pyramid, while at the same time permeates modernity. Russian style modernity? The soaring light also imbued this skyscraper with the majestic aura it deserves.
Oh yeah, finally, bonus point for being located in Russia, and has "Russia" in its name! You can't be more Russian than that!
Russia Tower, towering at #2.
And the best sky scraper is ...
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| By Mätes II |
Location: Shanghai, People's Republic of China
Built: 1994 - 1998
Pinnacle
Height: 420 m
Floor Area: 278.707 m²
It is tall, it is majestic, it is classic, it is totally Chinese. It is the Jin Mao Tower. With so many terrific buildings in this world, it is a tough job to get #1, but the Jin Mao Tower did it.
Just see that building. It invokes grandeur permeated by ancient Chinese pagodas. And amplify it with its size.
What else? Let's see ... it's shape radiates the classical-oriental aura and its material produces modern feeling, enhancing both contradictory feeling. Sounds impossible, but that's why this building is the best-designed building in this world, aesthetically, in my opinion.
Jin Mao Tower somehow woven 2 impossible contradictory aura, got the pinnacle position at this list.
It is tall, it is majestic, it is classic, it is totally Chinese. It is the Jin Mao Tower. With so many terrific buildings in this world, it is a tough job to get #1, but the Jin Mao Tower did it.
Just see that building. It invokes grandeur permeated by ancient Chinese pagodas. And amplify it with its size.
What else? Let's see ... it's shape radiates the classical-oriental aura and its material produces modern feeling, enhancing both contradictory feeling. Sounds impossible, but that's why this building is the best-designed building in this world, aesthetically, in my opinion.
Jin Mao Tower somehow woven 2 impossible contradictory aura, got the pinnacle position at this list.
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