It’s really astonishing how far the human race has come in terms of architecture. Today’s buildings are safer, tougher, taller and more unconventional than ever! Angular or fluid, compact or mind-bogglingly tall, the buildings that we create today are much more advanced than those we’ve seen in the past. This list of most spectacular buildings in the world will show you just how glorious the future can be, considering that the present is already so amazing.
1. Antilia Residence, Mumbai
Antilia, aka the Taj Mahal of the 21st century, is the most astonishing personal residence in the world. Its owner is Mukesh Ambani, a famous Indian magnate, chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries. The twenty-seven floor dwelling needs 600 people to take care of its maintenance and boasts more amenities than you can dream of. Designed by Perkins + Will, the personal tower was finished in 2010.
Dubai is famous for being a land of luxury and opulence, so it’s only fitting that some of the most spectacular buildings in the world are located there. One of them is the imposing Burj Khalifa tower, the tallest structure in the world. It “scrapes” the sky at 2,717 feet and was finished in 2010 thanks to the financial support of UAE president Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan who did not cease to invest in the huge building during the difficult economic times of 2008-2010. This led to a change in name for the project, from Burj Dubai to Burj Khalifa, in honor of the generous president.
3. Gazprom Headquarters, St. Petersburg
Constructed in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1993, the stunning Gazprom Headquarters building is one of the tallest structures in the world and stands as a symbol of power for the largest natural gas extraction company in the world. Its most fascinating feature is the color changing exterior. The shimmering facades of the building change hues ten times a day, depending on the position of the sun! This is what we call spectacular art and architecture fusion.
4. Penang Global City Centre, Penang Island
Due to great controversies regarding the undemocratic decision making process, the impact on Penangites and the lack of an environmental assessment, the bold Penang Global City Centre (PGCC) project had to be abandoned. If completed, PGCC would have occupied a 104 ha plot and it would have cost a whopping RM25 billion to build. It was supposed to be finished in 15 years with two 656-foot towers and other remarkable structures.
Russia Tower is another spectacular building that could not be finished due to serious conflicts of interest. Between September 2007 and June 2009, the construction process took over $2 billion, but then the project was abruptly stopped. The tower was supposed to boast 118 floors and occupy an area of 520,000 square meters (5,597,233 square feet). Now the imposing half-structure is used as a parking space for the other buildings in the area. A very sad ending for a glorious plan.
Still in design stage, the Regatta Hotel is a stunning project by Atkins Design. Ten small towers representing sailing boats are set near the main building, which represents a lighthouse. This last structure is the most impressive of all, as it boasts a striking architecture, resembling a folded tube. Regatta Hotel is the kind of futuristic building that we would just love to see finished one day. Can you imagine the prices a hotel like this would boast?
China Central Television Headquarters is a unique skyscraper in Beijing, flaunting a truly radical shape. It has 44 stories and is 234 meters (767 feet) high. It was designed by Office for Metropolitan Architecture in collaboration with Arup, who provided the complex engineering design. The construction process lasted from June 2004 until January 2008 and the final result is simply astonishing. One of the greatest challenges for the developers of the CCTV Headquarters was to find the ideal solutions to the seismic menaces of the area.
Chicago Spire is an uncompleted skyscraper project in Chicago, Illionois. After the recession began in 2008, the building process was affected by serious financing problems which eventually led to the abandonment of the project. Designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and developed by Garrett Kelleher of Shelbourne Development Group, Inc., the tower was supposed to be one of the tallest buildings in the world, measuring 610 meters (2,001 feet) in height.
Also in Chicago, the Aqua Tower is famous for two reasons: its remarkable wave-like façade and the fact that it is the tallest building ever designed by a woman. Leading the design team for this project was Jeanne Gang and the building was named the Emporis Skyscraper Award 2009 skyscraper of the year. It measures 859 feet high and it was Gang’s first such project. It holds terrace gardens, pools, gazebos, a walking/running track, a fire pit and hot tubs, plus hotel rooms and residential units.