Crazy race for the tallest building

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The Roche Tower in Basel, Switzerland’s tallest building, stands at 2,205 meters. In just a few years, it could be a building ten times higher.

Saudi Arabia is once again setting the course. There is currently a tender process for a structure that will be higher than 2000 meters. Ten architectural firms are competing, each paying $1 million to participate in the tender. Construction will take place in a newly developed 18 square kilometer area north of the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

Pointing Dubai to squares

Saudi Arabia’s state Public Investment Fund (PIF) is throwing money and big projects around right now. The goal: to achieve regional dominance and therefore a prominent position in world affairs.

The United Arab Emirates is currently in front of the sun, with the Emirate of Dubai leading the way. Architecturally too: only one of the ten tallest buildings in the Gulf region is in Riyadh. Currently the tallest building in the world is in Dubai: Burj Khalifa at 828 meters. The “Dubai Creek Tower” project was announced in 2016 and started in 2020 but was interrupted by the pandemic.

opens in 2025 – maybe

According to development company Emaar, the building needs to break the mileage limit for the first time, with construction costs of at least a billion dollars. But this is not exactly known: To make it more difficult for the competitor to plan their own projects, the height will only be announced shortly before completion. Estimates vary between 930 and 1350 meters in altitude. Due to the pandemic, the project was interrupted: only the foundations were laid. But apparently it is being rebuilt now. The year 2025 is given as the new opening date – no guarantee.

Critics say the Tower may never be completed. For example, the Jeddah Tower, located in the city of the same name in Saudi Arabia and expected to reach 1008 meters, was abandoned after only 70 floors were built. However, there were also criticisms of Burj Khalifa at that time.

But the Saudis are serious about building the tallest buildings. The project in Riyadh is not the only Saudi project. The first modules of the city, which is planned to be 170 kilometers long, are at an altitude of 500 meters. Two hotels are planned in the Gulf of Aqaba, each at an altitude of 500 meters.

It’s not just in the Bay that people populate

Vertical racing isn’t just done in the Gulf. As part of the “Tokyo 2045” project, Japan is planning a 1,700-meter-high tower with 420 floors, earthquake-proof and space for 55,000 people. But Egypt is also involved: 50 kilometers east of Cairo, the country’s new “planned capital” is currently being built. “Oblisco Capitale Tower” is planned there, which should be one kilometer high.

By the way, Dubai also has a word: In December 2022, the foundation stone for the construction of Burj Binghatti was laid. At 472 meters high, this will replace the Central Park Tower in New York (USA) making it the world’s tallest purely residential building.

Source :Blick