[+] The World’s 10 Best Skyscrapers

A city is a sum of its parts, and its tallest towers are more often than not the highlights, literally. For the 22nd time, an international panel of experts has picked its top 10 from a worldwide pool of more than 600 eligible skyscrapers, which were completed in the previous calendar year and are at least 100m tall, for the Emporis Skyscraper Awards. It is the world’s most renowned prize for high-rise architecture and has been awarded on an international basis. The primary criteria in awarding the prize are excellence in aesthetic and functional design. 10. CIBC Square South Tower Architect: WilkinsonEyre, Adamson Associates Developer: Ivanhoé Cambridge and Hines Location: Toronto, Canada Storeys: 49 This tower is one of two in a mixed-use project in the heart of Toronto’s financial district. The second tower of 50 storeys will be completed in 2024. The south tower’s exterior is covered with diamond-shaped cuts of blue glass that reflect sunlight in different colours that change across the course of the day. 9. One Park Drive Location: London, UK Developer: Canary Wharf Group Architect: Herzog &amp; de Meuron, Adamson Associates Storeys: 58 The residential tower in the Canary Wharf district is one of only a few residential towers in this business district. Its distinctive cylindrical shape sets it apart from the office buildings and was the first residential skyscraper in the UK designed by Swiss architects Herzog &amp; de Meuron. 8. Sven Location: Long Island, US Developer: The Durst Organization Architect: Handel Architects Storeys: 71 The tower’s characteristic shape arises from the concave facade and it is currently the second tallest completed tower in Queens. Sven is the first building in New York where residents can illuminate the tops of the tower via an app. 7. Premier Tower Location: Melbourne, Australia Developer: Fragrance Group Architect: Elenberg Fraser Storeys: 78 Premier Tower’s curves, reminiscent of a human body, is in homage to one of Beyoncé’s music videos, Ghost . Apartment residents have access to an exclusive club and luxury amenities such as a garden lounge, outdoor fitness park or a games area. The tower is on an island site opposite Melbourne’s Southern Cross station. 6. Warsaw Unit Location: Warsaw, Poland Developer: Ghelamco Poland Architect: Projekt Polsko Belgijska Pracownia Architektury Storeys: 45 Warsaw Unit has a kinetic facade called Dragon Skin that reacts to gusts of wind and forms naturally created images on the building. It has a high level of health safety, including against infectious diseases with state-of-the-art technologies such as UV lamps to disinfect the spaces and a mobile app offering access monitoring to ensure a safe working environment. The building has a BREEAM certificate at the outstanding level, the highest possible rating for ecological and socio-cultural aspects of building sustainability. 5. Bundang Doosan Tower Location: Doosan, South Korea Developer: Doosan Group Architect: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, Gansam Architects and Partners Storeys: 27 Bundang Doosan Tower consists of two towers connected by a skybridge 100m above street level. The glass facade brings natural light inside the building, while solar gain is limited by vertical and horizontal exterior shading devices. The fourth floor of the South Wing boasts a history museum detailing Doosan’s past. 4. Antares Tower Location: Barcelona, Spain Developer: Actual Capital Architect: Studio Odile DECQ architectes urbanistes Storeys: 28 The tallest luxury residential building in Barcelona, it offers views of the Mediterranean, the Montserrat Mountains and Barcelona itself. The Antares tower features curved balconies in a red hue on the upper floors which give the building a unique presence on the city’s skyline. 3. NV Tower Location: Sofia, Bulgaria Developer: Bulgarian Eco Projects AD Architect: A&amp;A Architects Storeys: 20 The mixed-use tower has extensive landscaping on roofs and facades and every floor has access to the landscaped terraces. The NV Tower has a LEED-Gold (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification with waste heat from all server rooms used to heat the office areas. Ventilation chambers with rotary recuperators are provided autonomously for each floor for ventilation and fresh air to reduce energy costs, and a recycling system collects and uses 100 per cent of rainwater. 2. 111 West 57th Street Location: New York City, US Developer: JDS Development Group and Property Markets Group Architect: SHoP Architects Storeys: 84 Currently the third-tallest building in New York City and in the top 30 of tallest buildings in the world, this slender tower is known as the Stairway to Heaven thanks to the shape of the tower’s pinnacle. The skyscraper has a width-to-height ratio of about 1:24 and its bronze and terracotta facade references New York City’s art deco history. 1. Valley Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands Developer: RJB Group Architect: MVRDV Storeys: 26 Valley is a multi-functional complex with three towers comprising residences, offices, shops and a museum. Under the Valley lies the Grotto, a large interior space of offices and shops. The construction of the Valley began at the end of 2017 and has a publicly accessible sky-bar over two floors which offers panoramic views over the city. You are currently experiencing The Urban Developer Plus (TUD+), our premium membership for property professionals. Click here to learn more.

[+] The World’s 10 Best Skyscrapers

10. CIBC Square South Tower

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