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Here we present a few examples of the most impressive
work. We think all of the following buildings are a hopeful sign that
the future is near — and it’s going to be awe-inspiring. Just look at
the sheer size and ambition of what’s being built!
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Cobra Towers:
These towers in the form of two intertwined cobras are scheduled to be
built in Kuwait. Construction was due to start as early as 2008, but the
project was frozen because of the financial crisis. One of the key
questions has centred on how to build lifts for a building with a spiral
structure. There has been a proposal to use a system based on
compressing air using pneumatic tubes. |
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Shanghai Tower:
The construction of this 121-storey building began in 1993, but was only
completed this year — and fitting work is still going on. However, the
impressive view from the top of the tower has already been seen by
millions of people, thanks to head-spinning images taken by two fearless
Russian adrenaline junkies, who broke into the building site and climbed
to the top illegally last year. |
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King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research
Center:
It may be the shortest building in this list, but it’s not less
magnificent than the others. This building in Saudi Arabia is similar to
the lair of a James Bond villain, with its futuristic design centred on
interlocking hexagonal cells. |
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Lotte World Tower:
Considerably higher than all other buildings in Seoul, South Korea, the
soaring, 556-metre Lotte World Tower is due to be completed in 2016. It
will contain shops, offices, apartments, hotels and a viewing platform. |
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Dawan Mountain Resort:
The Dawang Mountain Resort in China will open in 2016. It will include
an ’ice amusement complex’, an indoor skiing complex, a water park, and
hanging gardens. As you can see, it’s a real work of art.
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The Songjiang Hotel:
This hotel, again located in China, is designed to sit inbetween cliffs
on a lake. A waterfall will literally stream down its outside walls. If
you don’t like the view from the top, you can always go to the lowest
floors and have a look out — they’re located underwater.
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Suzhou Zhongnan Center:
Recently, in China the construction of a new 730-metre tower, costing
$4.5 billion, was begun. It’s going to take a long, long time to
complete. But if it’s completed by 2020 in accordance with its schedule,
it will become the highest building in China nad the third highest in
the world.
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World One Tower:
The 117-storey World One tower is due to become the tallest residential
building anywhere in the world. It will also be the tallest in the city
of Mumbai. It will have 300 luxury apartments designed by Georgio
Armani. |
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Agora Garden Tower:
The construct of the Agora Garden Tower is set for 2016. It will become
an interesting compromise between man’s industriousness and the
influence and importance of nature. The twisting tower will be in green
in all senses of the word: every balcony will have a garden, and it will
rely on energy from the sun and recycled rain water. |
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Kingdom Tower:
The Kingdom Tower, which when completed will be even taller than the
Burj Khalifa (currently the tallest building in the world), is being
constructed in Saudi Arabia. It will be the first building in the world
to reach a height over a kilometre. It will have space for offices,
luxury apartments, an observatory, a Four Seasons hotel, and the highest
viewing platform in the world. Construction started last year and should
be completed by 2019. |
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