Shanghai Tower

This collection brings together skyscrapers that showcase advances in modern engineering and architecture worldwide. These structures rise above metropolises and reshape city horizons, from the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab in Dubai to the CCTV headquarters in Beijing with its two linked towers. Each building reflects a unique architectural approach and technical innovations tailored to its environment. The selection spans all continents and features buildings with various functions. The Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, 452 meters high and connected by a sky bridge, stand alongside New York’s One World Trade Center, which reaches 541 meters. The Lakhta Center in Saint Petersburg is notable for its twisted glass facade, while the Torre Costanera in Santiago offers panoramic views of the Andes. Whether residential buildings like the Eureka Tower in Melbourne or commercial structures such as the Kingdom Centre in Riyadh, these constructions demonstrate how contemporary architecture shapes 21st-century cities.

The world of skyscrapers reflects the technical and architectural developments of recent decades. From New York to Dubai and Shanghai, buildings have risen that now define their cities' skylines while combining different construction traditions and innovations. This collection includes towers across multiple continents, among them the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which at 2,717 feet (828 meters) stands as the world's tallest completed structure, and the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, which served for years as a reference point for modern Asian design. The buildings listed serve various functions: office complexes such as One World Trade Center in New York or Shanghai Tower combine workspaces with observation decks, while the Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower in Mecca blends religious and commercial uses. In Europe, The Shard in London, Tour Montparnasse in Paris, and Commerzbank Tower in Frankfurt represent examples of high-rise buildings in historically developed cities. Other structures like Lakhta Center in Saint Petersburg or Gran Torre Santiago in Chile demonstrate that this building form has expanded well beyond traditional centers. Visiting these towers offers more than views from considerable heights. Many feature public areas, restaurants, or exhibitions that provide insight into urban development and the technical requirements of such projects. The towers exist in different urban contexts and show how architecture adapts to local conditions.

This collection brings together some of the most technically ambitious structures ever built, from record-breaking skyscrapers and suspension bridges to high-speed roller coasters that push the boundaries of what steel and concrete can achieve. These sites span continents and represent decades of engineering progress, offering visitors a chance to experience human innovation at heights and speeds that were once impossible. Whether you're standing on the observation deck of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, walking across the glass floor panels of the CN Tower in Toronto, or racing through the launch sequence of Kingda Ka in New Jersey, each structure tells a story of technical ambition and problem-solving. The collection includes landmarks like the 324-meter Eiffel Tower in Paris, completed for the 1889 World Exhibition, and modern marvels such as Tokyo Skytree, which rises 634 meters above the city. You'll find the Millau Viaduct spanning the Tarn River valley in France at a height of 336 meters (1,100 feet), the tilted medieval bell tower in Pisa leaning at a 3.97-degree angle, and Russia's SkyBridge suspended between mountain peaks at 2,320 meters (7,600 feet) elevation. These places attract millions of visitors each year, offering not just views and thrills but a firsthand understanding of what modern engineering can accomplish when designers set out to build something exceptional.

This collection brings together high rises and structures from different continents that redefine conventional building standards through their exceptional architecture. From the spiral rotation of Turning Torso in Malmö to the distinctive form of the CCTV Headquarters in Beijing, these buildings showcase innovative approaches to construction and design. The selection includes Burj Khalifa in Dubai, currently the world's tallest building at 2,717 feet (828 meters), as well as Marina Bay Sands in Singapore with its distinctive rooftop terrace. The collection also presents cultural facilities such as the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao by Frank Gehry with its sculptural titanium facades and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. Additional examples are the Absolute World Towers in Mississauga, known as the Marilyn Monroe Towers for their twisted structure, as well as Shanghai Tower, which rises 2,073 feet (632 meters). The Guangzhou Opera House and the Helix Bridge in Singapore demonstrate the diversity of contemporary architectural solutions. Each of these structures combines technical innovation with architectural vision and shapes its city's skyline. From historic skyscrapers like the Empire State Building to modern developments like Bosco Verticale in Milan with its planted facades, this selection offers insights into the evolution of high rise construction worldwide.

Shanghai combines modern architecture with historic structures. The Bund displays colonial buildings while Pudong's skyscrapers shape the skyline. The city presents traditional gardens, temples, art galleries, and historic districts. The contrasts between old and new appear in streets, markets, and parks.

Contemporary skyscrapers push the boundaries of vertical architecture with structures that challenge gravity through rotations, twists, and spirals. These buildings reflect advances in structural engineering and allow for residential, commercial, and cultural structures with facades that sometimes rotate 90 degrees from base to top. The Cayan Tower in Dubai stands out with its 1,014-foot height and a full rotation across 73 floors, while the Shanghai Tower reaches 2,073 feet thanks to a twisted shape that reduces wind pressure. These structures can be found worldwide. The Absolute World Towers in Mississauga, Canada, feature wavy designs that earned them the nickname Marilyn Monroe Towers. In Prague, the Dancing House impresses with its curved glass walls contrasting with surrounding historic architecture. The Soumaya Museum in Mexico City displays an asymmetric form covered with thousands of hexagonal aluminum panels. The Lakhta Tower in Saint Petersburg and Capital Gate in Abu Dhabi complete this international selection, illustrating how contemporary architects transform city skylines through engineering feats that combine aesthetics with structural performance.