15 Most Amazing Skyscrapers In The World

If you head downtown in any major city, the first thing you'll see are soaring skyscrapers in every direction. Yeah, our city skylines are dominated by spectacular skyscrapers of all shapes and sizes. Some of them may blend into the background, serving their purpose as office buildings or apartment complexes. But some skyscrapers were born to stand out. From hotels that are home to record-breaking rooftop infinity pools, to living skyscrapers that are covered in lush greenery and wild animals, these are the 15 most amazing skyscrapers in the world. I'm on top of the tallest building in Scandinavia, the Turning Torso. Taiwan Echo Tower. The sky's the limit when it comes to this epic eco-friendly skyscraper. The Taozhenyan Tower aims to be one of the leading environmentally sustainable buildings on earth with minimal energy consumption, loads of natural light, a rainwater recycling system, and plenty of large garden areas. It's these vertical planters that will allow the tower to absorb an incredible 130 tons of carbon dioxide from the air every single year. This tower in Taiwan features over 23,000 individual plants across its exterior. Why can't every skyscraper be made like this? Vince Calibut Architectures, the firm responsible for the amazing build, explained that they were trying to find the right symbiosis between the human being and nature with their design, and they drew inspiration from the double-helix structure of DNA to create the rotating tower. Yeah, you heard that right. The tree-like building twists and turns, adding to its natural curves. The 20-story tower completes a 90-degree twist as it grows taller, with a 4.5-degree turn for every level. We think this sustainable skyscraper is totally stunning. What about you guys? Let us know about what you think in the comment section below. China's Horizontal Skyscraper We've all seen vertical skyscrapers, but what about a horizontal skyscraper? World-famous architect Moshe Safdie has devised a mammoth megastructure that was inspired by traditional Chinese sailing vessels as a homage to John King's ancient trading history. The $3.8 billion build features eight towers and a huge skybridge that connects the individual skyscrapers. The 984-foot-long bridge is named Crystal and is one of the world's highest bridges. Imagine the giant Eiffel Tower laid on its side, and you'll start to get a good idea of the scale of the amazing skybridge. No wonder they call it a horizontal skyscraper. It even illuminates at night, transforming in a huge light beam. It's also said to be the tallest observation deck in the entire western China. We bet you can soak in some mind-blowing views from up there. The Raffles City Zhongqing Project spans over one million square meters in total, including a 230,000-square-meter shopping mall, a luxury hotel, 1,400 private apartments, and 160,000 square meters of office space. Skyscrapers don't get much more impressive than this. The Turning Torso Welcome to the first twisted skyscraper in the entire world. So there are no straight lines to reference against, and the result is it feels like the whole building is twisting off. That's right, this neo-futurist building officially set the record for being the world's first rotating skyscraper back in 2005, bagging it the coveted Gold and Porous Skyscraper Award in the same year. And that's not the only engineering milestone that the Turning Torso has achieved. This unusual tower is the tallest building in Sweden. Actually, it's the tallest building in all of Scandinavia. Located in the city of Malmo, the unconventional Turning Torso building was inspired by a white marble sculpture called Twisting Torso, which was made by artist and engineer Santiago Calatrava. The scanty skyscraper is divided into nine segments of pentagons that rotate 90 degrees all the way up, peaking at 623 feet high, and if that wasn't awe-inspiring enough, the Turning Torso runs entirely on renewable energy, harnessing hydro, solar, and wind power, as well as geothermal energy. Now this is the future of skyscrapers, everybody. Buildings like this one make us feel like we're one step closer to flying cars and hoverboards. Now it's only a matter of time. 56th Leonard Tree Also known as the Jenga Building, this luxury high-rise was designed to resemble houses stacked into the sky. Located in New York City, this is the tallest structure in the trendy Tribeca area, offering jaw-dropping views from every single angle. Perhaps that's the reason why these glamorous apartments sell for a staggering $3.5 million to $50 million each. Yep, this extraordinary building is reserved exclusively for the mega-wealthy members of the Manhattan elite. Standing proudly at 821 feet tall, 57 stories high, the world-renowned Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron built this spectacular skyscraper with luxury in mind. As you walk into the lobby, you're immediately wowed by gleaming black granite, and each individual apartment has high ceilings with at least 11 feet of headspace, with some penthouses even boasting 19 feet of space from floor to ceiling. Yep, this is one epic skyscraper, even if it does look like one gigantic game of Jenga. Petronas Twin Towers Located in Kuala Lumpur, the soaring Twin Towers were inspired by sacred Islamic geometry and were built as a symbol for the growth that Malaysia is experiencing as a country. At 1,483 feet high, the Petronas Twin Towers were the tallest buildings in the entire world from 1998 to 2004, only to be beaten by the gigantic Taipei 101. Even though the crown of the tallest building was snatched from their summit, they're still to this day the tallest Twin Towers in the world. Designers were so keen to get these record-breaking skyscrapers built that two construction companies were hired to speed up the project, one for each tower. They even turned the build into a high-stakes race, with the first company to finish their tower winning the rights to build the iconic Skybridge. Talk about a work incentive. Between the South Korean and Japanese consortiums competing, the South Korean team ultimately won, completing Tower 2 first. And while we're on the subject of quick ascents to the top, the French urban climber Alan Robert, sometimes nicknamed the Spider-Man, scaled the second tower in just under two hours back in 2009. This brave daredevil used only his bare hands and feet, defying two previous attempts that had ended in his arrest. This guy must have nerves of steel. The Lokta Center The 1,515-foot-tall Lokta Center in Russia was developed by Russian gas company Gazprom, breaking a whole bunch of world records throughout its construction. This remarkable skyscraper was inspired by the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg and is topped by a breathtaking spire that has a 90-degree twist. The Lokta Center is the northernmost skyscraper in the world as well as being Russia's tallest building. In fact, it's the tallest building in the whole Europe. And the records don't just stop there. 16,500 panes of curved glass were used for the exterior of this building, which is the largest volume of glass ever used on a high-rise building. Amazing, right? And they even smashed a world record building the tower's foundation. 20,000 cubic meters of concrete was poured into the base of the building over 49 hours of work, making it the longest continuous pour of concrete ever. Architects RMJM definitely pushed the boundaries when it came to designing the lavish Lokta Center. While gas company Gazprom will take up most of the skyscraper with their offices, a third of the building has been dedicated to public spaces with an amphitheater, concert hall, education center, and even a planetarium in the works. Shanghai World Financial Center. This bold building is designed to stop you in your tracks, nicknamed the bottle opener. I'm standing on the highest roof of the world, the Shanghai World Financial Center. The Shanghai World Financial Center was supposed to have a large circular cavity at the top. However, concerns that it looked too much like the rising sun design of the Japanese flag led to designers opting for this snazzy trapezium shape instead. We have to admit, it really does look like a gigantic bottle opener. You can even buy bottle openers modeled on this unique building in the gift shop. The 1,600 14-foot skyscraper was built in 2007, and it cost a whopping $1.2 billion to complete. But when you check out those views from the 100th floor, it all seems totally worth it. Plus, adrenaline junkies will love the elevator ride to the 95th floor. You can soar into the sky in just one minute, traveling at a speed of 32 feet per second. That is seriously fast. And if you're staying in the world-famous Park Hyatt Hotel, located on the 79th to 93rd floors, you can bag yourself your own private view of the city right from your room. When the Park Hyatt first made its home here in the Shanghai World Center, it was the highest hotel in the entire world. Great if you like sweeping panoramic vistas, not so great if you're scared of heights. Tencent HQ. Now, this is exactly the kind of super skyscraper you would expect from a multi-billion dollar tech company. Asia's largest publicly traded company, Tencent, has built a headquarters that looks like it flew straight out of a science fiction movie. Located in Shenzhen, less than two hours away from Hong Kong, this megastructure comes complete with smart rooms that can adjust the temperature based on how many people are in it, and facial recognition for the elevators. This building is accelerating right into the future. There are even robot concierges that guide employees who work from Tencent, composed of two towers that are connected by a series of innovative links. At the bottom of the skyscraper, the first link is named the Culture Link, and it leads the guests to a huge reception area and exhibition space that embodies Tencent's company culture. Then, on the 21st floor, the Health Link leads to a state-of-the-art gym, basketball court, and even foosball tables, perfect for grabbing a workout on your lunch break. Finally, the Knowledge Link on the 34th floor is home to Tencent's very own university, a dining hall, and epic rooftop garden. Could this be the most awesome office headquarters ever? We think so. It kind of feels like I'm in a science fiction movie. Everything is just super modern. The skyscraper cost a staggering $599 million, but it sounds like every cent was spent wisely. Would you want to work here? John Hancock Center This 1,500-foot-tall skyscraper is one of Chicago's main attractions thanks to its exhilarating observatory with 360-degree views of the Windy City on the 94th floor. Once known as the John Hancock Center, the building is now simply known as 875 North Michigan Avenue, but these days, it's more well-known for Tilt, the terrifying viewing experience that allows you to free-fall from the side of the building over 1,000 feet in the air. This petrifying platform literally tilts visitors over the edge at a 30-degree angle, four degrees past the point of equilibrium, the moment when you start to feel the sensation of the fall. The enclosed glass and steel platform can hold up to eight visitors at a time, slowly tilting you forwards until you have a literal bird's-eye view of the city below. That's one way to explore a city. When did open-top buses stop being exciting enough? If you aren't quite brave enough to take the tilt, the actual observatory still offers stunning views of the city and even four different American states in the distance. Marina Bay Sands This skyscraper in Singapore truly is one of a kind. Created by superstar architect Moshe Safdie, who also designed China's Horizontal Skyscraper, this trio of towers is simply mind-blowing. The three Marina Bay Sands Hotel's towers stand 656 feet tall, with incredible views of the city below. But it's not just the skyscrapers themselves that make this megastructure so impressive. Nope, it's the incredible floating ship that is perched on top of the hotel. In an outstanding feat of engineering, this awesome building is home to the highest and largest infinity-edge pool in the entire world. Imagine swimming laps in this luxurious pool. We bet a sunset dip in this record-breaking pool would be life-changing. The super-sleek swimming pool is 478 feet long from one end to another, and over 1.4 million liters of water were used to fill the pool. How did they even get all that water up there? This amazing bridge even has the world's longest cantilever, a long beam that supports the incredible structure. The Marina Bay Sands makes an Olympic swimming pool look like a paddling pool. Libyan International Building The 396-foot-tall Libyan International Building is located in the city of Guinyang in the southwest of China, a city of mountains and forests. The architect wanted to create a feeling of water and green space in an urban environment dominated by skyscrapers, and they certainly achieved that with this magnificent tower. Home to one of the world's tallest artificial waterfalls, this Chinese skyscraper has been making headlines across the globe. The very first time they switched the waterfall on, the city's residents even called the authorities to report a major leak. Yikes! We guess they didn't get the memo. This spectacular man-made waterfall is powered by four powerful pumps. However, there is one major drawback to this enchanting water feature. It costs 800 yuan or 118 US dollars per hour to run the novelty waterfall. In fact, it's so expensive that they'll only switch it on for very special occasions. This quirky skyscraper may look pretty cool, but it might be one of the last wacky high-rises to dot the city's skyline. Back in 2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an end to weird architecture in the country. Hmm, we take it he's not a big fan of this waterfall skyscraper. The Hotel of Doom This 1,080-foot pyramid-shaped skyscraper in Pyongyang, North Korea has been through many delays and setbacks over the past couple of decades, and it's even listed by Guinness World Records as being the tallest unoccupied building in the world. The mysterious building was intended to be a luxury hotel at the heart of the secretive city. However, in 1992, the building was halted due to an economic crisis in North Korea following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The hotel had already reached its full height, making it the tallest building in the entire North Korea, but it sat unfinished for over 10 years with no fixtures, fittings, or even windows, earning it the nickname, The Phantom Hotel. So, is this so-called Hotel of Doom ever destined to host guests? Well, there have been signs of life in recent years with a large LED screen being installed on the side of the skyscraper in 2018, bearing a brightly-lit North Korean flag and even screening movies. Then in 2019, a brand-new sign featuring the hotel's name and logo was fitted over the main entrance. Could the city be getting ready for an influx of tourists? We guess we'll have to wait and see! Taipei 101 Standing at a staggering 1,667 feet, this Taiwanese skyscraper was once the tallest building in the world with, you guessed it, 101 floors. The Taipei 101 held the title for an impressive six years between 2004 and 2010 before being defeated by the majestic Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Since then, it's settled for some slightly less iconic world records like being home to the world's tallest sundial and the largest New Year's Eve countdown clock, and despite being knocked off the top, it's still certainly an extraordinary building. This incredible skyscraper is one of the most stable buildings on Earth due to the fact that it's located in the infamous Pacific Ring of Fire where intense earthquakes could rock the ground at any moment. In fact, Taipei 101 stands just 660 feet away from a major fault line. Architects prepared for any devastating events in their design, installing eight mega-columns of concrete as well as using high-performance steel throughout the super-tall building. And even though the tower is strong and sturdy, it's still beautiful to look at. The aesthetics of the building were inspired by Asian pagodas, bamboo stalks, and stacks of ancient Chinese money boxes to symbolize growth and abundance. Okay, so it may not be the tallest building in the world anymore, but it's still one of the greatest. Oasia Hotel Downtown This spectacular 30-story skyscraper really is a work of art, incorporating flowers, vines, and 21 different species of climbing plants on its exterior. The wonderful Oasia Hotel Downtown is a living skyscraper featuring a number of sky gardens and a green facade that is designed to grow wild and eventually cover the building's trademark red aluminum panels and a lush coat of greenery. How cool is that? WOHA architects wanted to create a building that would absorb heat in the scorching Singapore sun and came up with a green concept that is home to 314 luxury hotel rooms and 100 offices, complete with a restaurant, a swimming pool, and a gym. How awesome would it be to stay here? The green facade attracts all kinds of wild guests, including insects, squirrels, and even hummingbirds right outside your window. This eco-friendly hotel even received the 2018 award for Best Tall Building in the World from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. We don't know about you, but we wish there were more living skyscrapers like this one around the world. It's a living, breathing building. There's 22 different types of creepers here. Abraj Al Bait Tower The annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca sees millions of Muslims visit the holy site every year, and now a $15 billion hotel has been built to accommodate the huge rush of pilgrims. Spanning over 1.5 million square meters and reaching a whopping 1,972 feet tall, it's the tallest building in all of Saudi Arabia. This government-owned complex is made up of seven individual skyscraper hotels and was inspired by Dubai's Burj Khalifa and the Big Ben clock tower in London, and we can see the resemblance. The soaring skyscraper is topped by an absolutely enormous four-faced clock, which can actually be seen from over 25 kilometers away. In fact, these clock faces are the largest in the world. The tower has everything anyone making the famous pilgrimage to Mecca might need, including spacious prayer rooms and a short walk to Mecca itself. This skyscraper is a truly unique building. You won't ever see anything quite like it. So, which one of these amazing skyscrapers would you most like to visit? Let us know in the comment section below and don't forget to give us a big thumbs up if you enjoyed this video. You can also hit subscribe for more awesome Missing Files content. Thanks for watching and see you next time!