Worlds best engineering feats. Some of the truly spectacular and outstanding architectural marvels. Be enthralled!


Chinese Central Television building



Currently under construction in Beijing, this structure is to be the new headquarters of China Central Television (CCTV) and is one of the first of a series of buildings to be built in the city’s CBD. It is expected to be completed in time for the 2008 Summer Olympics. The building was designed by Rem Koolhaas and Ole Scheeren. It will stand at 234 metres tall and will have 54 floors.



Taipei 101



Taipei 101 is a 101 floor landmark located in Taipei, Taiwan. At 1670 ft. high, it has an aesthetically pleasing design and certainly brightens up the Taipei skyline. It is officially the world’s tallest building in the following categories - highest structurally, highest roof and highest occupied floor. (The Sears Tower in Chicago, USA is the tallest building in terms of overall height) The building was designed by C.Y.Lee & partners and constructed by KTRT Joint Venture from 1999-2004. It holds the honours of the highest building till the completion of the Burj Dubai tower as international architectural standards define a building as a structure that can be occupied.




Beijing International Airport



China is emerging as a new front-runner in the world with its rapid growth. It houses some of the world’s best designed buildings. The Beijing Int. Airport is just one such splendid example. It was designed by Foster & Partners, and is set to open by the end of 2007. To help passengers distinguish between different sections of the vast space, skylights cast different shades of yellow and red light across walls — a subtle but innovative navigational aid. The airport was designed with sustainability in mind. It has an environment control system that helps reduce carbon emissions, and it cleverly utilises the skylights on a south-east axis to keep the building cool.





Burj Al-Arab



At 1053 ft, the Burj Al-Arab is the tallest building to be used exclusively as a hotel. This iconic landmark resembles the billowing sail of a boat and is a symbol of Dubai’s urban landscape. For more information on specific design features of this building, visit Wikipedia.




Burj Dubai



The Burj Dubai, upon completion will be the world’s tallest man made structure by any measure. In September this year, it surpassed the CN Tower in Canada to become the world’s tallest free-standing structure. For more information, visit the official Burj Dubai website. Click here to view previous design concepts.




Dongtan Eco City, China



Designed by Arup, this city is planned to be eco-friendlyzero-greenhouse-emission transit and complete self-sufficiency in water and energy, together with the use of zero energy building (i.e. net energy consumption is zero over a period of time) principles. Despite receiving mixed reactions from people, it has a very positive outlook and provides fresh solutions for environmental sustainability.



Freedom Tower



The Freedom tower is the most symbolic of the new buildings planned for the World Trade Center site. “Incorporating the highest standards of design, safety, engineering and building technology, Freedom Tower will re-establish New York City as the epicentre of high-rise skyscraper design and serve as a symbol of the revitalisation of lower Manhattan. At 1,776ft, Freedom Tower will be over 400ft taller than the twin towers and over 100ft taller than Taipei 101 in Taiwan, currently the world’s tallest building.” (Source: Design Build Network)




National Grand Theatre, Beijing



Also known as The Egg, this is an opera house in Beijing, China. Located alongside the Great Hall of the People and the Forbidden City, it poses a stark contrast to traditional Chinese architecture. It was listed among the top ten architectural miracles by the U.S.-based Journal Business Week for its energy-saving and environmentally friendly design.




Shanghai World Finance Center



The building’s height and the gaping hole near the top makes it instantly recognisable. On September 14, 2007 the skyscraper was topped out at 492 metres (1,614 ft) and became the tallest structure on the Chinese mainland, as well as the world’s second tallest skyscraper (not counting buildings that have not topped out). Visit the official website for more information.




Linked Hybrid, Beijing



Linked Hybrid, which will house 2,500 people in 700 apartments covering 1.6 million square feet, is a model for large-scale sustainable residential architecture. The site will feature one of the world’s largest geothermal cooling and heating systems, which will stabilize the temperature within the complex of eight buildings, all linked at the 20th floor by a “ring” of service establishments, like cafés and dry cleaners. A set of dual pipes pumps water from 100 meters below ground, circulating the liquid between the buildings’ concrete floors.