1. The Burj Dubai is now the tallest building in the world, according to its developer, Emaar Properties.
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Developer: Emaar Properties
Architect: Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill
Year: December 2009 (projected)
Height: 818 meters / 2,684 feet (includes spire)
Stories: 162
About the Burj Dubai
Dubai has become a showplace for innovative buildings, and the Burj Dubai is shaping up to be an icon for wealth and progress. The unfinished skyscraper soars higher than Taiwan's Taipei 101, which rises 508 metres (1,667 feet).
2. Taipei 101 Tower in Taipei, Taiwan is currently the world's tallest building - if you count its massive 60-foot spire.
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Architect: C.Y. Lee & Partner
Year: 2004
Height: 509 meters / 1,670 feet
Stories: 101
About the Taipei 101 Tower
The design of Taipei 101 borrows heavily from Chinese culture. Both the building's interior and exterior incorporate the Chinese pagoda form and the shape of bamboo flowers. The lucky number eight, which means blooming or success, is represented by the eight clearly delineated exterior sections of the building.
Taipei 101 Tower is currently the world's tallest building - if you count its massive 60-foot spire. But when construction is completed, the Burj Dubai in Dubai, United Arab Emirates will outrank Taipei 101 Tower.
3. Shanghai World Financial Centre
A trapezoid-shaped opening near the top reduces wind pressure on the 101 story Shanghai World Financial Centre.
Location: Pudong District, Shanghai, China
Project Architect and Engineer: Minoru Mori, Mori Building Co., Ltd.
Design Architect: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates P.C. (KPF)
Year: 2008
Structure: Steel-framed and steel reinforced concrete
Height: 492 meters / 1,600 feet
Stories: 101
About the Shanghai World Financial Centre
The Shanghai World Financial Centre, or Center, is a soaring glass skyscraper with a distinctive opening at the top. The original plans called for a 46 meter (151 foot) circular opening that would reduce wind pressure and also suggest Chinese symbolism for the moon. Many people protested that the design resembled the rising sun on the Japanese flag. Eventually the opening was changed from circular to a trapezoid shape.
The ground floor of Shanghai World Financial Centre is a shopping mall and an elevator lobby with gyrating kaleidoscopes on the ceiling. On the upper floors are offices, conference rooms, hotel rooms, and observation decks.
4. The Petronas Towers
Tall spires atop the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia make them among the world's tallest buildings, 10 meters higher than the Sears Tower in the USA.
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Architect: Cesar Pelli
Year: 1998
Petronas Tower 1 Height: 452 meters / 1,483 feet
Petronas Tower 1 Stories: 88
Petronas Tower 2 Height: 452 meters / 1,483 feet
Petronas Tower 2 Stories: 88
About the Petronas Towers
Traditional Islamic design inspired the floor plans for two Petronas towers in Kuala Lumur, Malaysia. Each floor of the 88-story towers is shaped like an 8-pointed star. The two towers have been called cosmic pillars that spiral heavenward. At the 42nd floor, a flexible bridge connects the two Petronas Towers.
5. Sears Tower
The Sears Tower in Chicago was the world's tallest building when it was built in 1973. Today it is the tallest building in North America.
Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Architect: Bruce Graham, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM)
Year: 1973
Height: 442 meters / 1,450 feet
Stories: 110
About the Sears Tower
To provide stability against high winds, architect Bruce Graham used a new form of tubular construction for Sears Tower. Two hundred sets of bundled tubes were laid into the bedrock. Then, 76,000 tons of prefabricated steel in 15-foot by 25-foot sections were put into place. Four derrick cranes moved higher with each floor to lift these steel "Christmas Trees" into position.
Facts about the Sears Tower:
* The Sears Tower covers two city blocks and has 101 acres (4.4 million square feet) of office and commercial space.
* The roof rises a quarter of a mile -- 1, 454 feet (442 meters).
* Its highest occupied floor is 1,431 feet above the ground.
* The foundation and the floor slabs have some 2 million cubic feet of concrete -- enough to build an eight-lane highway five miles long.
* The Tower has more than 16,000 bronze-tinted windows and 28 acres of black duranodic aluminum skin.
* The 222,500-ton building is supported by 114 rock caissons. Each is securely socketed into the bedrock.
* A 106-cab elevator system (including 16 double decker elevators) divides the Tower into three separate zones, with skylobbies in between.
* Two domed entrances, one with skylights, were added in 1984 and 1985.
The Texas State Capitol is located in Austin, Texas. It is the fourth building in Austin to serve as the seat of Texas government. It houses the chambers of the Texas State Legislature and the office of the Governor of Texas. Originally designed by Elijah E. Myers, it was constructed from 1882–88 under the direction of civil engineer Lindsay Walker, and a $75 million underground extension was completed in 1993. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1986. It is the largest state capitol building in the United States. Although popularly believed to be the tallest capitol building in the U.S., the Louisiana State Capitol building is taller by 142 feet (450 feet tall) and Texas' is 308 feet tall. It has less square footage than the National Capitol in Washington, D.C., but is 14 feet taller. It is, however, the largest state capital building in terms of total square footage.
History
Construction of the Italian Renaissance Revival capitol building was funded through an article in the state constitution, adopted February 15, 1876, which authorized the sale of public lands for the purpose. In one of the largest barter transactions in recorded history, the builders of the capitol were paid with over three million acres (12,000 km²) of public land in the Texas panhandle; this tract later became the largest cattle ranch in the world, the XIT Ranch. The value of the land, combined with out-of-pocket expenses, added to a total cost of $3.7 million for the original building. It was largely constructed by convicts or migrant workers, up to 1,000 at a time. The building has been renovated many times, with central air conditioning installed in 1955 and the most recent refurbishments completed in 1997.
The cornerstone for the building was laid on March 2, 1885, Texas Independence Day, and the completed building was opened to the public on April 21, 1888, San Jacinto Day. The building was originally planned to be constructed entirely of limestone from Oatmanville (present-day Oak Hill), about 10 miles to the southwest. However, the limestone was found to have a high iron content after it began to discolor. Hearing of the problem, the owners of Granite Mountain near Marble Falls offered to donate to the state free of charge the necessary amount of pink granite as an alternative. While the building is mostly built of the Oak Hill limestone, most of it is hidden behind the walls and on the foundations. Pink granite was subsequently used in many state government buildings in the Austin area.
The capitol rotunda features portraits of every person who has served as president of the Republic of Texas or governor of the state of Texas. The south foyer features sculptures of Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin made by Elisabeth Ney. The rotunda also acts as a whispering gallery. The capitol has 360,000 square feet (33,000 square meters) of floor space, more than any other state capitol building, and sits on 2 1/4 acres (.9 hectares) of land. The building has nearly 400 rooms and over 900 windows.
The Texas State Capitol was ranked 92 in the "America's Favorite Architecture" poll commissioned by the American Institute of Architects, that ranked the top 150 favorite architectural projects in America as of 2007. In a 2008 poll by the AIA, it was also ranked the number one state capitol.
We often dream about the cozy warmth of home, where you can relax after working day. It is pleasant morning walk to work, where you will be happy to work all day. A weekend can be safely held in country house. And nothing you do not irritate: either the color of the walls, no bright light, glaring eyes, no noise, impede sleep. Nothing alarming. All for you …
Are you looking for a change in their lives. Changing the environment, transformation of interior spaces, all of this will make your life more harmonious, what do you want it. It all starts with what you determine why starting repairs, you need to do and how they do at the lowest cost power and money.
Each room has its own unique history.
* You have acquired a new building;
* You got tired of the old wallpaper.
* Do you expect an addition to the family.
* You want to create a comfortable environment for work and leisure,
* There is a need to place employment at the office and make it to the atmosphere with its largest labor productivity,
* There is a desire to surprise people.
The interior space can be changed in different ways - from the simplest methods of decoration, and ending with the complete re-adaptation to complex artistic decisions. Decor premises does not require major works. This introduction of fresh notes to the existing situation. You just change - curtains, furniture, carpeting, add decorative elements.
Any changes require the interior forces, time, knowledge. It is necessary to consider all the details of the project: space-spatial composition of the interior, stylistic decision to choose finishing materials, furniture and equipment. In other words - should take into account all possible relations style, color and light, and compare your needs with building regulations.
Of course, you can make repairs with their own hands, in their free time. The resulting interior is impregnated your energy. It will be good and comfortable. If you do not have time to change their own interior space, you hire a construction brigade, which will assume the execution of works. With the help of a designer, you can realize your dreams into reality, or just to get practical advice.
To make sure that you have chosen the correct direction in resolving the interior of his style can be seen before the start of construction work. To this end, we offer photo-visualization project or creating a movie, would feel in the new environment.
I. The Basket Building (United States)
What started out as a dream by Dave Longaberger, Founder of The Longaberger Company, has been built Home Office into a giant basket to house the entire corporate offices of the company. Dave believed the idea was one of his best and would draw attention to the company, while simultaneously helping to build our brand.
However, when he started spreading the idea of building a Home Office that was really a basket, he found that most people just thought that Dave was making a joke as Dave was a notorious practical joker. Not only did the bankers, architects and construction companies not take Dave seriously, neither did many of the employees who worked for The Longaberger Company, but Dave persevered. The dream was achieved on December 17, 1997 when the Home Office that is designed to resemble a basket finally opened for business.
II. The Dancing House (Czech Republic)
What started out as a dream by Dave Longaberger, Founder of The Longaberger Company, has been built Home Office into a giant basket to house the entire corporate offices of the company. Dave believed the idea was one of his best and would draw attention to the company, while simultaneously helping to build our brand.
However, when he started spreading the idea of building a Home Office that was really a basket, he found that most people just thought that Dave was making a joke as Dave was a notorious practical joker. Not only did the bankers, architects and construction companies not take Dave seriously, neither did many of the employees who worked for The Longaberger Company, but Dave persevered. The dream was achieved on December 17, 1997 when the Home Office that is designed to resemble a basket finally opened for business.
III. The Piano House (China)
This unique piano house was built recently in An Hui Province, China.
Inside of the violin is the escalator to the building. The building displays various city plans and development prospects in an effort to draw interest into the recently developed area.
IV. Kansas City Library (United States)
Kansas City Library has one seriously cool façade. Local residents were asked to nominate influential books that represent kansas city, humungous versions of the winning nominations were then used as the exterior of the library car-park.
V. The Robot Building (Thailand)
The Robot Building, located in the Sathorn business district of Bangkok, Thailand, houses United Overseas Bank's Bangkok headquarters. It was designed for the Bank of Asia by Sumet Jumsai to reflect the computerization of banking; its architecture is a reaction against neoclassical and high-tech postmodern architecture.
The building's features, such as progressively receding walls, antennae, and eyes, contribute to its robotic appearance and to its practical function.
Completed in 1986, the building is one of the last examples of modern architecture in Bangkok and has garnered international critical acclaim.
VI. The Blue Building (Netherlands)
The borough of Delfshaven, Rotterdam, asked Schildersbedrijf N&F Hijnen to come up with a plan for a block of derelict buildings, which will eventually be demolished.
The agreement with the neighbourhood is that the block will remain blue as long as there isn't a new plan for the area. This was once one of the most unseen blocks of houses in Rotterdam, and by applying a layer of only 2 micron of blue paint onto it, it became Rotterdam's most photographed one.
VII. The Astra House (Germany)
The strange building is actually a brewery in Hamburg, Germany. The floors can move up or down on it's skinny column core. As of now, the unique building has been destroyed. One of it's more famous beer brands was recently bought by a big refreshment corporation. And that beer brand was called Astra.
VIII. The Crooked House (Poland)
Polish architect of the Crooked House, Szotynscy Zaleski, was inspired by the fairytale illustrations of Jan Marcin Szancer and the drawings of the Swedish artist and Sopot resident Per Dahlberg.
The most photographed building in Poland, the 4,000 square meter house is located in Rezydent shopping center in Sopot, Poland.
IX. Sam Kee Building: six feet deep, world's thinnest (Canada)
The Sam Kee building is situated at 8 West Pender Street. It runs from the corner of Pender and Carral to the lane at the halfway point of the block.
It is two storeys tall and 1.5 meters (six feet) deep. The story behind the building is as exotic as the structure with several intriguing twists and turns included in its telling. The City of Vancouver provided the original owner, Chang Toy, with a challenge when it expropriated all but two meters of his property as part of an expansion of Pender Street. No compensation was provided to its owner who was left with what most believed to be a useless property. In a creative turn of events fuelled by spite and some say a bet an architect was hired to design a building to fit the remaining property. The rest is history in more ways than one.
This building was home to 13 businesses at one time. It was the only place in Chinatown for residents to enjoy hot baths. There is a tunnel beneath the building that was used as an escape route from raids on Opium dens situated on neighbouring Shanghai Alley. The building is also fronted by the only remaining glass sidewalk in Chinatown.
As part of the ongoing history of this structure, issues still arise between the owners and the city with respect to encroachment and overhangs. In spite of each side having an element of right it seems to boil down to the proverbial "tit for tat". It makes for an interesting study in civics.
