The worldÂ’s tallest buildings are reaching dizzy heights. Currently the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which stands at 828 metres high, is the world’s highest. Compare that with the Shard which stands at ‘just’ 244 metres and yet is the tallest in Western Europe, and you begin to get a sense of just how tall some of these buildings are becoming.
Next year will see the completion of the Shanghai Tower but, at 632m tall, that will still be almost 200 metres short of the Burj Khalifa. So what are the tallest buildings of the future and when will we see the first to reach an ear-popping 1,000 metres?
The answer to that last question is, apparently, as early as 2018. The Kingdom Tower in Jeddah, Saudia Arabia will have 167 floors and reach a height of 1,000m. Designed by Chicago-based Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill Architecture, construction work on the tower began in March this year.
$20bn plans for the building’s construction include a large, glass-floored, outdoor sky terrace that will overlook the Red Sea.
It will also be home to a Four Seasons hotel, Four Seasons serviced apartments, office space, luxury condos and the worldÂ’s highest observatory. Such is the scale of the building that it will have no less than 59 high-tech elevators.
Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel ‘Best Travel Influencer’ Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Daily Telegraph.
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4 Comments
The 1000 metre mark will truly be something incredible! Living in London I have seen the Shard many times, and have often been bedazzled by its height.
However, after visiting Dubai a few weeks back I finally got to see the Burj Khalifa in person, and what a sight it was! Just to think that the Kingdom Tower will have an extra 172m on top of the Burj Khalifa is truly a mind boggling thought.
Yes, Tom… it’s hard to imagine. The Kingdom Tower will be not far off in height to the Burj Khalifa with the Shard on top!
I too find this amazing, I have not been fortunate enough to have visited Dubai yet, but enjoyed the views over London February this year on the official opening day of the Shard.
I do find it strange how Europe has yet to even come close in hight to anything else in the world with the shard having a Shortfall of 600m.
I was invited to the Shard on the official opening day also, Jon… I couldn’t make it, but I understand it was unfortunately rather foggy that day…?
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Next year will see the completion of the Shanghai Tower but, at 632m tall, that will still be almost 200 metres short of the Burj Khalifa. So what are the tallest buildings of the future and when will we see the first to reach an ear-popping 1,000 metres?
The answer to that last question is, apparently, as early as 2018. The Kingdom Tower in Jeddah, Saudia Arabia will have 167 floors and reach a height of 1,000m. Designed by Chicago-based Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill Architecture, construction work on the tower began in March this year.
$20bn plans for the building’s construction include a large, glass-floored, outdoor sky terrace that will overlook the Red Sea.
Next year will see the completion of the Shanghai Tower but, at 632m tall, that will still be almost 200 metres short of the Burj Khalifa. So what are the tallest buildings of the future and when will we see the first to reach an ear-popping 1,000 metres?
The answer to that last question is, apparently, as early as 2018. The Kingdom Tower in Jeddah, Saudia Arabia will have 167 floors and reach a height of 1,000m. Designed by Chicago-based Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill Architecture, construction work on the tower began in March this year.
$20bn plans for the building’s construction include a large, glass-floored, outdoor sky terrace that will overlook the Red Sea.
It will also be home to a Four Seasons hotel, Four Seasons serviced apartments, office space, luxury condos and the worldÂ’s highest observatory. Such is the scale of the building that it will have no less than 59 high-tech elevators.
The 1000 metre mark will truly be something incredible! Living in London I have seen the Shard many times, and have often been bedazzled by its height.
However, after visiting Dubai a few weeks back I finally got to see the Burj Khalifa in person, and what a sight it was! Just to think that the Kingdom Tower will have an extra 172m on top of the Burj Khalifa is truly a mind boggling thought.
Yes, Tom… it’s hard to imagine. The Kingdom Tower will be not far off in height to the Burj Khalifa with the Shard on top!
I too find this amazing, I have not been fortunate enough to have visited Dubai yet, but enjoyed the views over London February this year on the official opening day of the Shard.
I do find it strange how Europe has yet to even come close in hight to anything else in the world with the shard having a Shortfall of 600m.
I was invited to the Shard on the official opening day also, Jon… I couldn’t make it, but I understand it was unfortunately rather foggy that day…?