With Saudi Arabia
announcing plans to start construction of the world’s tallest tower next week,
The Telegraph takes a look at some of the world’s tallest buildings.
Petronas Tower: Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia
Also known as the
Petronas Twin Towers, these twin skyscrapers are the tallest twin buildings in
the world, coming in at 1,483 feet high and 88 floors. It's construction in the
late 1990s symbolised Malaysia's emergence on the world stage.
Petronas Tower: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
International Commerce
Centre China: Hong Kong
The International
Commerce Centre stands at 1,588 feet tall, with a total of 118 floors. It is
the tallest building in Hong Kong.
International Commerce Centre China: Hong Kong |
Shanghai World
Financial Center: Shanghai, China
The Shanghai World
Financial Center is made up of office space, hotels, and observation decks with
a shopping mall on the ground floor. It measures 1,614 feet and has 101 floors.
It also has the world's highest observation deck, standing at 1,555 feet above ground.
Shanghai World Financial Center: Shanghai, China |
Taipei 101: Taipei,
Taiwan
The Taipei rises to a
grand total of 1,669 feet. It has five floors underground and 101 above. It is
also the largest environmentally conscious skyscraper in the world. During
national celebrations, Taiwan often launches its fireworks.
Taipei 101: Taipei, Taiwan |
One World Trade
Center: New York, NY
Also known as the
Freedom Tower, this tower is 1,776 feet, and has 104 floors, making it the
tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. It was built to be 1,776 feet in
reference to 1776, the year of American Independence.
One World Trade Center: New York, NY |
Makkah Royal Clock
Tower Hotel: Mecca, Saudi Arabia
The Makkah Royal Clock
Tower Hotel was built as an attempt to modernise the holy city of Mecca. It is
the tallest hotel in the world, the tallest clock-tower, and it also contains
the world’s largest clock-face. It stands at 1,972 feet high and has 120
floors.
Makkah Royal Clock Tower Hotel: Mecca, Saudi Arabia |
Burj Khalifa: Dubai,
United Arab Emirates
The Burj Khalifa,
previously known as the Burj Dubai, is the tallest building in the world. It
measures 2,723 feet high and has 163 floors. It took five years to build, and
was completed in 2009 in Dubai’s main business district.