In 1987, the North Korean regime began work on what was supposed to become the world's tallest hotel -- the 330 m (1,083 ft) Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang; but it was not to be. When work was halted in 1992, it already ranked as the ninth tallest skyscraper in the world by roof height, almost exactly the same roof height as the Empire State Building. Though the superstructure was complete, lack of funding and faulty construction methods forced the abandonment of Ryugyong. For 16 years the mountainous shell of the hollow structure loomed over the North Korean capital, looking more like a jagged, decaying megalodon tooth than a hotel. Construction was resumed in April 2008 for a planned 2012 completion, and recent photos show newly installed windows on the concrete face. Windows and fittings, however, can't hide the fact that while the original plans called for a structural steel frame, that proposal was apparently rejected for its expense; according to Wikipedia, the skyscraper was built entirely out of cheaply made reinforced concrete.
In 2004, construction began on the Burj Dubai, the tallest man-made structure ever built. Its superstructure was completed in January of 2009, and it is over twice as tall as the roof height of the Empire State Building. But the recent worldwide economic collapse has smashed Dubai's bubble. In January 2009 prices in the tower fell by 50%, from a high last June of around $4000 per sq ft, a drop that is typical of other properties in the emirate. Debtors are apparently leaving Dubai in droves, abandoning their luxury automobiles at the airport. Could Dubai become the world's tallest ghost town? Will the Burj Dubai become the new Ryugyong Hotel? Click the video below to watch a CBS News report on the Dubai real estate situation:
Click here to see Skyscraperpage.com's diagram of the what world's tallest buildings will be next year: Burj Dubai is #1, of course, whether it's occupied or not; Taipei 101 -- currently the world's tallest skyscraper -- is #3; Chicago's Sears Tower (the tallest American skyscraper and former world record holder from 1974-1998) comes in at #9; The Empire State is way over on the right at #19.
Incidentally, it was announced on Thursday that the name of the Sears Tower will change to Willis Tower this June, after London-based Willis Group Holdings. A sign of the times, I suppose; the Chrysler Building, that most elegant of Manhattan's Art Deco skyscrapers, was bought last year by the Abu Dhabi Investment Council.
No comments:
Post a Comment