Reaching for the Sky

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Currently the tallest building in the world, Burj Khalifa is located in Dubai. It was designed by Adrian Smith of the Chicago-based architectural firm Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill. On January 4, 2010, it was formally inaugurated. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Maktoum, the president of both Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates, is the source of the name Khalifa. The building is located in a high-rise building sector along Sheikh Zayed Road in Downtown Dubai. There are three observation decks for tourists. Burj Khalifa has over 900 private apartments, a hotel, and the highest observation deck in the world, offering eateries and breathtaking views over Dubai.

It was built on a shamrock-shaped footprint and resembles the letter “Y” from above in the air. This shape is derived from Hymenocallis, also known as desert lily, a local plant live in the desert; the tower's cross-sectional area reduces gradually as it rises.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Merdeka 118 is now the second-tallest structure in the world and the tallest in Southeast Asia. The rooftop’s spire adds to its height and contains an observation deck. The tower’s name Merdeka, which translates to “Independence Day” in Malaysian, honors the country’s independence. It was built near the famous Merdeka Stadium on Jalan Hang Jebat, which is a historic landmark. It was designed by the local architectural firm RSP Architects Sdn Bhd joint with Fender Katsalidis, a Melbourne-based architectural firm. Merdeka 118 contains office spaces, a luxury hotel, and an observation deck.

Petronas Towers are twin skyscrapers connected by a sky bridge and the tallest in Malaysia. They were completed in 1998. Petronas is short for “Petroliam Nasional,” the national petroleum company in Malaysia. The company owns the towers and has its headquarters there. A double-deck Sky Bridge connects the two towers on the 41st and 42nd floors. It is opened to the public for sightseeing and awesome views all around.

Petronas Twin Towers were designed by Argentina-American architect Cesar Pelli; traditional Islamic arts inspired him to design the towers for Malaysia, a country in which Islam is the major religion. Each tower’s cross-section is made up of two crossing squares that overlap, and each of the eight spots where two squares connect is encircled by a little circle, resulting in curved walls that combine angles and round portions.

Suria KLCC, a shopping mall with retail outlets and dining options, is located at the base, and it is also home to the Petronas Philharmonic Hall of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra.

Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Abraj Al Bait is situated near the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the holiest place in Islam. It consists of several high-rise buildings and is known as the Makkah Royal Clock Tower. It is among the only four buildings in the world categorized as mega-tall skyscrapers. Each of the 4 sides of the clock tower has a large clock; the clocks are currently the largest in the world. A museum occupies the clock tower’s uppermost floors, containing an outdoor observation deck, which is right below the clocks.  

Abraj Al Bait has the largest floor area among the skyscraper buildings in the world; it is composed of 7 individual towers of different heights. Aside from the central clock tower, all the other shorter towers are over 230 meters, and the 2 beside the Middle Tower stand 280 meters. The buildings, mainly used as hotels, contain 858 suites, operated by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, a Canadian operator of 5-star luxury hotels. It was designed by Dar Al-Handasah, an architecture firm from Lebanon; the building complex is designed with a typical Islamic style.

Shanghai, China

Since its completion in 2015, the Shanghai Tower has been the tallest building in China. It is the tallest skyscraper in East Asia and the third tallest in the world. The Shanghai Tower houses a mix of offices, hotels, and public spaces, including restaurants and an indoor garden. It features the world's highest observation deck and incorporates sustainable design elements throughout its structure. The building was designed by the San Francisco-based architectural firm Gensler, led by Chinese architect Xia Jun.

The Half Acre Garden is an indoor green space that enhances the building's sustainability and provides a relaxing environment for visitors.

Taipei, Taiwan

Taipei 101 is the tallest building built in an earthquake zone. The building contains a 60m spire structure atop its roof. There's an outdoor round observatory square on the 91st floor of the building. Taipei 101 is currently the only skyscraper in the world that has concerts held on the rooftop; many singers and bands have held some smaller concerts on its open-air terrace at 91st floor. The building’s main section is made up of eight identical modules that are piled on top of one lower module and flare outward, each with eight floors.

The tower’s distinctive shape was influenced by the pagodas of ancient China, and the number eight is seen as a lucky number in Chinese culture, signifying wealth and good fortune. It was designed by the Taiwanese architectural firm C.Y. Lee & Partners, led by architect C.Y. Lee himself. The building, completed in 2004, reflects a blend of modern engineering and Taiwanese cultural identity. Taipei 101 houses a mix of office spaces, a shopping mall, restaurants, and an observation deck.