The level of construction allows us to assess the level of development of the state as a whole. This applies first and foremost to super-tall buildings, where advanced ideas, materials and technologies converge, and the word 'height' can be used here as a physical as well as a qualitative indicator.
The global 'vertical race' stimulates the construction of dizzying skyscrapers and the development of industry in a short space of time. Such objects are markers of the times, and it is quite obvious that the current trend will continue in the future. Skyscrapers have significant cultural significance, shaping the architectural image of cities and serving as landmarks for locals and tourists. This blog highlights some of the iconic skyscrapers that will be built over the next five years.
Jeddah Tower (Saudi Arabia).
The 1,008 metre Jeddah Tower can be described as one of the most fascinating active projects of our time. The Saudi Arabian skyscraper is designed to dethrone the previous tallest building - the Burj Khalifa (828 m) in Dubai - and cross the symbolic threshold of 1 kilometre. Jeddah Tower will also transform the new Jeddah Economic City district in the north of the country's second city. The project was designed by renowned American architect Adrian Smith, creator of the Burj Khalifa. The triangular dynamic design, resembling a giant space rocket with a Y-shaped base, gave the skyscraper excellent characteristics.
For wind and seismic stability, a core of enormous dimensions was fabricated, and a sufficient number of wind tunnel tests were carried out on the mock-up. The tower's stability is ensured by the massive use of high-strength structural elements, while the low-conductivity façade glass minimises energy consumption by reducing thermal loads. Construction of the giant, which began in 2013, was suspended after five years due to intractable problems with contractors and a major anti-corruption government reform. The process was restarted in 2023. According to the project, the tower will house apartments and a Four Seasons hotel, Class A office space, luxury condominiums, shops and restaurants. It will also include the world's tallest observatory, an observation deck overlooking the Red Sea, 59 high-speed lifts and underground parking for several thousand cars. Scheduled for completion in 2028, Jeddah Tower will undoubtedly provide a major boost to the development of Jeddah's new district.
Lakhta Centre-2 (Russia)
The construction of Lakhta Centre-2 will continue Gazprom's policy of expanding the business cluster on the shores of the Gulf of Finland in the north-western part of St Petersburg. It is worth recalling that the tower of the first centre is the tallest building in Europe at 462 metres. Therefore, Lakhta-2, which will rise 703 metres above the city, will take over the baton of supremacy on the continent. Land clearing for construction will begin in the spring of 2024, while the second public and business centre is scheduled to be completed in 2030. Despite the fact that the existing Lakhta Centre complex has an impressive area (570 thousand square metres), the owner intends to relocate its structures in the northern capital, subsidiaries from Moscow and other cities to the new offices.
Of course, not everyone likes the next grandiose project: some historians and architectural critics are openly against it. Some historians and architectural critics are openly against it, pointing out that such super-tall buildings, which could destroy the harmonious development and style of St. Petersburg, are typical for America and Asia, but not for Europe. Nevertheless, the new object has its supporters, who are sure that it will attract new investments and create the sea front of the city. According to the author of the project, Scottish architect Tony Kettle, the skyscraper "symbolises an inseparable link with the history and traditions of St Petersburg, innovation and aspiration for the future". It is currently known that the 150-storey spiral Lakhta-2 will have a viewing platform at a height of 600 metres. Like the first one, it will be built using the most advanced technologies and materials. Moreover, Gazprom's offices will occupy only a part of the new complex, while the rest of the space will be open to the public.
JP Morgan Chase Building (USA)
The JPMorgan Chase Building is set to grace the eastern part of Manhattan Island in New York later this year. The new super-tall skyscraper will replace the Union Carbide building, the headquarters of the JPMorgan Chase Corporation, which will be demolished in 2021. The idea for the 423-metre-tall building was conceived by architects Foster+Partners, who designed a modern 70-storey office centre with zero operational emissions and exceptional indoor air quality. The architecture of JPMorgan, which will be one of the largest facilities in the metropolis, resembles a series of nine 'books' - rectangular protrusions of long column bays mounted on a single base. Each 'book' has a different height: the eastern and western bays end at intervals, forming symmetrical stepped roof projections.
Due to the underground utilities running underneath the building, special high-carbon concrete was developed to increase the strength of the foundation and power frame. The JPMorgan Chase under construction includes: workspace for 15,000 employees, a food hall, a fitness centre and a penthouse conference room. The owner sees his new office at 270 Park Avenue as a model for the 21st century workplace, and is aiming for Platinum certification in the USGBC's LEED programme for energy efficiency and sustainability.
Tower C (China)
China rightly leads the world in the number of skyscrapers, but from 2021 the country will ban the construction of buildings taller than 500 metres. The developer of the Tower C business centre in Shenzhen, a city of 18 million that already has several hundred giant skyscrapers, is the renowned Zaha Hadid Architects. The project comprises two towers that form the letter C rotated by 90 degrees, with a stepped podium at the base. The hotel and office centre will provide workspace for 300,000 employees. The tower also includes galleries for exhibitions and conferences, a hotel, shops and restaurants. This concept has been given the grand name 'vertical city'.
Special attention has been paid to energy-saving technologies in the construction of Tower C, mainly through the use of water collectors and photovoltaic panels. In addition, the heating system is fully automated and translucent façade panels regulate the temperature in the rooms and provide natural ventilation. The ecological approach includes aquaponic gardens for biological filtration of pollutants from the environment, as well as a water collection and recycling system. The 78-storey Tower C, due for completion in 2027, is designed to modernise the area and enhance Shenzhen's reputation as one of the world's most dynamic global centres.
Aura Limassol (Cyprus)
On the site of the former ERA Olympia shopping centre, 50 metres from the Limassol seafront, a 44-storey residential complex called 'Aura Limassol' will be built. When completed, it will be the tallest building on the island. It should be noted that the approval for the construction of Aura caused a heated debate in the municipality. The 185.5-metre skyscraper project was designed by the British architectural firm Fosters + Partners, whose main objective was to create a modern, environmentally friendly tower that would be harmoniously integrated into the urban fabric.
The skyscraper will contain 136 luxury apartments with two to four bedrooms. There will be commercial space on the ground floor and a landscaped park around the building. Owners will have access to underground parking, individual storage, 24-hour security and concierge services. The convenient location of the property will allow a number of shops, restaurants, the beach and the zoo to be reached in a short time.
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