The Most Feared Luxury Building

China, at first glance, may not seem like an ideal location to construct one of the most luxurious and tallest buildings in the world. However, a Chinese company decided to take a leap of faith and envision the creation of the remarkable Golden Finance 117 skyscraper.

This structure was intended to offer an abundance of amenities for the super wealthy. Unfortunately, it eventually became known as one of the tallest abandoned buildings globally, with no signs of life or activity. The world boasts an impressive collection of towering skyscrapers, with the first one being built in Chicago in 1885. Currently, the tallest skyscraper stands in Dubai, followed by others in Shanghai, Mecca, and Shenzhen. The plan for Golden Finance 117 was to become the fifth tallest skyscraper ever erected. Construction began 13 years ago, and initially, everything appeared promising. By 2015, the building had reached its maximum height of 1,955 feet. However, something mysterious occurred, causing people to abandon the skyscraper shortly after its completion. Consequently, the entire project remains unfinished until today.

The concept for this skyscraper originated in 2008, during a period when numerous cities in China were attempting to create remarkable structures to gain global recognition. Golden Finance 117 aimed to serve as a commercial and residential tower exclusively for the extremely wealthy. With interior designs inspired by Italian and French styles, the building would have featured a polo club, expansive gardens, and a remarkable three-story diamond-shaped atrium at its pinnacle. The top floors would house a swimming pool, Sky Bar, and restaurant, providing a paradise for those who could afford it. Additionally, it was set to have the world's highest observation deck. Imagine the lifestyle of residing at the pinnacle of such an extraordinary skyscraper. Golden Finance 117 was designed to be habitable throughout its entire height. This mixed-use skyscraper was projected to rise 128 floors above ground level, with 117 floors designated for commercial space and a hotel, while the remaining 11 floors served operational and mechanical purposes.

The height-to-width ratio of the building was 9.5 to 1. When constructing a tall and slender tower, precautions must be taken to withstand strong winds. The skyscraper was designed with a perimeter frame of mega braces, large tapering columns, and transfer trusses, giving it excellent and unique structural integrity. However, before the company could begin pre-sales, they had to undergo inspection and approval from the authorities. This process is standard for new developers in order to establish credibility and maintain high quality standards in the property market. At the time, the company was new to the Chinese market and had to self-finance their project. They could only start recouping their investment once each building was completed. Despite the challenges, they remained focused on the end result, as the reward would be significant if they successfully completed the entire project without major issues.

Construction began in August 2008, and although China weathered the global financial crisis that occurred that year, the market was still impacted. This added pressure forced the company to halt construction in January 2010. It wasn't until 2011 that they decided to resume work and prepare the tower for sale, as the market began to recover. However, the company found themselves in a vulnerable position due to the complex regulations in the property market. In 2015, another crisis hit the stock market, further complicating matters. The series of unfortunate events continued to plague the project, eventually causing it to fade into obscurity. Another challenge was the location of the skyscraper, which was being built on former industrial land. The area did not have a significant number of affluent individuals who could afford to live in such a building. The company may have hoped that people would relocate once the construction was completed, but this never materialized.

China currently boasts the highest number of tall buildings globally, with 1,400 skyscrapers. The United States comes in second with over 800 high-rise buildings, followed by Japan with over 250 skyscrapers. In 2018, China led the world in constructing 88 new skyscrapers, each measuring at least 656 feet in height. Unfortunately, due to various unforeseen events, Golden Finance 117 never had the opportunity to make its mark and now stands as an abandoned structure, forgotten by many since.