Greetings everybody! Mr_Cheach here with another article! This blog is about Skyscrapers. I adore skyscrapers, they fascinate me in every sense. I love every skyscraper from Art Deco to the modern. I appreciate different styles and also how a skyscraper can echo a culture. So today, I am going to list my personal favourite skyscrapers in the world. There are 50 skyscrapers listed, each one is beautiful and add to my personal style in Minecraft. I measure my favouritism by; the Design, the Influence on the City/Nation/World etc, the History, and what the building means to me. These factors will decide where the building is on the list. I would however like to think that my list is reasonable and fair. Yet, the list is still my personal opinion, thus some people are going to disagree with me!

Relevance to Minecraft:
I believe that Skyscrapers have contributed to Minecraft in a great way. In almost every modern city project, there is some sort of skyscraper based on a style of an existing tower. Skyscrapers have become a vital part of Minecraft creative culture.

What the list excludes:
I have tried to include a large range of skyscrapers in this list, from most parts of the world. This list does have a lot of variety, however the list does not include the following:
- Monuments, such as the Statue of Liberty or the Eiffel Tower.
- Structures, such as the CN Tower or Tokyo Sky Tree.
- Under Construction Buildings, such as the Freedom Tower, or Walkie Talkie in London.
- Destroyed buildings such as the world trade center that was in NYC.

Let us waste no more time and get on with the list! Enjoy!


#50 - Holloway Circus Tower - Birmingham, UK
Building Comment: The tallest building in Britain's second largest City. A beautiful design and excellent use of colour.

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#49 - Trump International Hotel and Tower - Chicago, USA
Building Comment: A stunning piece of engineering. As of 24 November 2012 it is the twelfth-tallest building in the world.

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[size=10pt][b]#48 - Flame Tower[s] - Baku, Azerbaijan [/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: A very unorthodox design which expresses Baku's traditional symbol - fire. Also a sign of Baku's determination to turn itself into a new aspiring modern City.[/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#47 - Taipei 101 - Taipei, Taiwan [/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: Was the tallest building in the world from 2004 - 2010. Fantastic engineering and has 101 floors, thus 'Taipei 101'.[/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#46 - Heron Tower - London, UK[/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: Currently the 3rd tallest building in London. Also, The lobby features a 70,000-litre aquarium containing over 1,200 fish.[/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#45 - Petronas Towers - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia [/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: The tallest twin towers in the world, and was tallest buildings in the world from 1998 to 2004.[/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#44 - Millennium Tower - San Francisco, USA [/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: The tower has a beautiful grey-blue tint, and has a very modern style. Completed in 2009, the project cost US$350 million.[/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#43 - U.S. Bank Tower - Los Angeles, USA[/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: The building is 310.3 m (1,018 ft) tall, and is the tallest building in California, and the 10th tallest building in the United States. It truly dominates the Los Angeles skyline.[/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#42 - Torre de Cristal - Madrid, Spain[/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: Completed in 2008 and with a final height of 249.5 metres, it ranks as the second tallest building in Spain. It is part of the famous '4 Towers' district in Madrid.[/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#41 - Unicredit Tower - Milan, Italy[/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: The skyscraper has a height of 231 metres (758 ft), and is the tallest building in Italy. It is part of Milan's new ambition to become the modern architectural hub of Italy.[/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#40 - One Canada Square - London, UK[/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: The 2nd tallest building in the United Kingdom, and was the tallest building in the country from 1991 to 2010, standing at 235 metres (770 ft). It was the first skyscraper built in the now high-rise filled Canary Wharf Financial District. [/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#39 - Rialto Towers - Melbourne, Australia[/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: It is the second-tallest reinforced concrete building and the tallest office building in the Southern Hemisphere, when measured to its roof, however several other skyscrapers in Australia are taller if their spires are included. Nevertheless, a beautiful design.[/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#38 - Abraj al Bait Towers - Mecca, Saudi Arabia[/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: Currently the 2nd tallest building in the world, and also has the largest clock face in the world. Built in the holy city of Mecca. [/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#37 - Titanium La Portada - Santiago, Chile[/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: A beautiful unique design, and towers over Chile's capital. When completed in January 2010, it was the tallest building in Chile.[/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#36 - Grande Arche de la Défense - Paris, France[/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: The tower is parallel to the famous Arche di Triomphe via the Avenue Charles de Gaulle.[/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#35 - Messeturm - Frankfurt, Germany[/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: It was the tallest building in Europe from its completion in 1991. The tower also has its own Postcode. [/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#34 - The Bow - Calgary, Canada[/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: A beautiful more Modern-European design, the Bow really stands out, and is also currently the tallest office tower in Calgary, and tallest in Canada outside Toronto.[/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#33 - Guangzhou International Finance Center - Guangzhou, China[/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: Winner of RIBA 2012 Lubetkin Prize, the skyscraper has an outstanding design and has caught the eyes of architect enthusiasts around the world.[/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#32 - 40 Wall Street - New York City, USA[/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: Was the tallest building in the world from April 1930 to 27 May 1930, only to be surpassed by the Chrysler Building.Interestingly, on the evening of May 20, 1946, a United States Army Air Forces C-45 Beechcraft airplane crashed into the north side of the building.[/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#31 - Kingkey 100 - Shenzhen, China[/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: A beautiful modern design, which dominates the Shezhen skyline due to the building being by far the tallest in the City, as well as currently being the 9th tallest building in the world.[/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#30 - Beetham Tower (Hilton Hotel) - Manchester, UK[/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: The tallest skyscraper in Britain, outside of London, it stands at 157 m (515 ft). A stunning design and a mix of colour and pattern is used to pull off an overall charming beauty. It is also one of the world's slimmest skyscraper having a width to height ratio of 1:10.[/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#29 - Q1 - Gold Coast City, Australia[/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: Once completed in 2005, it was the worlds tallest residential building. It is officially the tallest building in Australia including antenna height. A true icon.[/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#28 - Almas Tower - Dubai, UAE[/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: The building has a stunning design and is one of the tallest towers in Dubai. It is built on an artificial island, and was ranked 8th in the Emporis Skyscraper Award 2010.[/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#27 - Warsaw Palace of Science & Culture - Warsaw, Poland[/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: This beautiful example of Stalinist architecture is the tallest building in Poland. Clock faces were added to the top of the building ahead of the millennium celebrations in 2000. This briefly made the building the tallest clock tower in the world.[/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#26 - Commerzbank Tower - Frankfurt, Germany[/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: Upon completion in 1997, the Commerzbank Tower became the tallest building in the European Union, until surpassed by the Shard in London. It is however still the tallest building in Germany.[/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#25 - Bahrain World Trade Center - Manama, Bahrain[/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: A beautiful design and a recognized landmark of Manama and even Bahrain as a nation. It was the first skyscraper in the world to integrate wind turbines into its design.[/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#24 - Strata Tower - London, UK[/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: An unusual designed skyscraper in 'Elephant & Castle' in South London, the tower has 3 wind turbines incorporated into the design. The building is home to more than 1000 residents.[/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#23 - Aldar HQ Building - Abu Dhabi, UAE[/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: This skyscraper has an absolutely stunning design, its main feature being its circular shape. The distinctive shape of the building won it the o Best Futuristic Designo by The Building Exchange (BEX) Conference held in Spain.[/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#22 - Al Hamra Tower - Kuwait City, Kuwait[/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: A fantastic design that towers above Kuwait City, the tower is the tallest building in Kuwait on completion in 2011 at 412.6 m (1,354 ft). [/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#21 - Aqua - Chicago, USA[/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: Aqua is one of Chicago's more modern Skyscrapers (post millennium), It's design entails the movement of the water from Lake Michigan. Aqua was also named the Emporis Skyscraper Award 2009 skyscraper of the year.[/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#20 - Scandic Victoria Tower - Stockholm, Sweden[/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: This building is the tallest skyscraper in Stockholm, Sweden's capital. The buildings design is outstanding, with a triangular colour variation pattern. An artistic masterpiece. [/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#19 - Transamerica Pyramid - San Francisco, USA[/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: The tallest building in San Francisco, and also the most iconic. The building is also earthquake proof - to a certain degree of course. During the holiday season of Thanksgiving, and Independence Day, a bright, white light is seen on top of the pyramid.[/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#18 - City of Capitals Tower[s] - Moscow, Russia[/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: The complex of two towers situated in Moscow's new financial district, the skyscrapers look amazing with a 'boxy' design. Metaphorically, the towers stand for the Russian Cities, Moscow and St.Petersburg.[/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#17 - The Willis Tower - Chicago, USA[/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: An unusual design, but pulled off beautifully, the Willis Tower, formally known as the Sears Tower was the tallest building in the world upon its completion 1973. The Tower retained its title as tallest building for nearly 25 years.[/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#16 - Kingdom Center - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia[/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: This stunning sleek design is the 2nd tallest building in Saudi Arabia, and the 3rd tallest building with a hole in it in the world.[/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#15 - China Central Television HQ - Beijing, China[/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: A very unorthodox design, and a new icon of China's capital city; the CCTV HQ is a beauty. The building is is a 234 m (768 ft), meaning its not one of China's tallest, but definitely one of its most iconic.[/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#14 - Torre Caja - Madrid, Spain[/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: Designed by Norman Foster, it is the tallest building in Spain, and most architecturally daring. Although the being the tallest building in Spain, it is only 89 cm higher than its neighbouring tower; Torre de Cristal.[/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#13 - Burj al Arab - Dubai, UAE[/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: The buildings amazing unique design is to resemble the sail of a ship. Also referred to the worlds only '7 star hotel'. The Royal Suite, billed at US$18,716 per night, is listed at number 12 on World's 15 most expensive hotel suites compiled by CNN Go in 2012.[/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#12 - International Commerce Centre - Hong Kong, China[/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: This buildings simple yet striking design engineered with height makes it the world's fifth tallest building by height, world's third tallest building by floors, as well as the tallest building in Hong Kong.[/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#11 - Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower - Tokyo, Japan[/b][/size]
[size=10pt]Building Comment: The buildings aesthetics is stunning. A complicated yet cleverly presented design. The tower is the second-tallest educational building in the world and is the 17th-tallest building in Tokyo. It was awarded the 2008 Skyscraper of the Year by Emporis.[/size]

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[size=10pt][b]#10 - HSB Turning Torso - Malmo, Sweden[/b][/size]

[size=small]Building Comment: HSB Turning Torso is the tallest skyscraper in Sweden and the Nordic countries (Scandanavia and Estonia). Due to the buildings magnificent design, it has won many international architectural awards. [/size]

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[size=small][b]#9 - The Shard - London, UK[/b][/size]
[size=small]Building Comment: The European Union's tallest building at a height of 309.6 m (1,016 ft). Designed by Renzo Piano; The Shard has a beautifully stunning appearance which has the shape of an irregular pyramid. A brand new, but established London landmark.[/size]

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[size=small][b]#8 - Bank of China Building - Hong Kong, China[/b][/size]
[size=small]Building Comment: The tower was the tallest building in Hong Kong and Asia upon completion in 1989 to 1992, and it was the first building outside the USA to break the 305 m (1,000 ft) mark. Its amazing and attractive design makes it debatably the most beautiful skyscraper in Hong Kong. [/size]

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[size=small][b]#7 - The Chrysler Building - New York City, USA[/b][/size]
[size=small]Building Comment: An amazing piece of Art Deco Architecture; the building was instantly a landmark to New York City, the USA, and the Art Deco world. The tower was the tallest in the world from May 27, 1930 to April 30, 1931. However, the Chrysler Building is still the world's tallest steel-supported brick building.[/size]

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[size=small][b]#6 - Bitexco Financial Tower - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam[/b][/size]
[size=small]Building Comment: A stunning piece of modern architecture, and mostly unknown - the tower is the second tallest building in Vietnam. In December, 2011, Leslie E. Robertson Associates (the projects structural engineers) received an Excellence in Structural Engineering Award for this project from NCSEA.[/size]

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[size=small][b]#5 - Burj Khalifa - Dubai, UAE[/b][/size]
[size=small]Building Comment: The Building is the tallest man-made structure in the world, at 829.8 m (2,722 ft) - which in itself is a fantastic accomplishment. A Hymenocallis flower with six spokes is supposed to be the influence for the design. The tower has won numerous awards since it's completion and crowning of earth's tallest building. [/size]

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[size=small][b]#4 - The Woolworth Building - New York City, USA[/b][/size]
[size=small]Building Comment: Being one of America's oldest Skyscrapers, and being situated in the land that invented the skyscraper, it was hard not to include the 'mama' of skyscrapers. Based on the Gothic style of European Cathedrals, the building has an outstanding appearance. It held the title as world tallest building from 1913 to 1930. 1913! That's 100 years ago! Just shows the engineering skill that went into the building![/size]

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[size=small][b]#3 - Shanghai World Finance Center - Shanghai, China[/b][/size]
[size=small]Building Comment: One of the most amazing and sleek designs in Skyscraper history, the SWFC is a true masterpiece and landmark. It is the 4th tallest building in the world, and the tallest building in China. The Tower's simplicity, style and engineering efforts puts the skyscraper rightfully number 3 on the list. [/size]

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[left][size=small]#2 - The Gherkin - London, UK[/size][/left]
[size=small]Building Comment: A stunningly beautiful design which has become one of London's modern landmarks. and stands on the site of the former Baltic Exchange, which was extensively damaged in 1992 by the explosion of a bomb placed by the Provisional IRA. The Gherkin changed London, as it influenced many brave new designs and structures that would dominate the worlds financial leading City (alongside NYC), into a new Skyscraper boom in Britain's Capital. The building has has won numerous awards, including the Emporis skyscraper of the year award, and many other national, European, and international awards. A solid design for the modern Skyscraper - A solid 2nd place.[/size]

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[size=small][b]#1 - The Empire State Building - New York City, USA[/b][/size]
[size=small]Building Comment: It had to be the Empire State Building. Upon completion in 1931 it was the tallest building in the world, it lost its title to neighbouring World Trade Center in 1972. It's name originated from New York States nickname; The Empire State. The building became a metaphorical lighthouse to the world - directing millions of immigrants to the land of opportunity. When a child or person thinks of the word "skyscraper" - they will normally think of the Empire State Building. The structure was an influence for buildings and architecture across the globe. Built during a time of economic hardship, the building became a cultural icon for the City, and even the People of America. It is commonly referred to one of the 7 wonders of the modern world. The Empire State Building easily takes the top spot. [/size]