R307 – Reaching for the Moon

Since history, mankind has been conquering vertically towards the skies, building structures higher and higher than before. The supertall skyscraper that currently holds the top placing for all 3 categories is Burj Dubai, which is almost completed. This construction project is seen to be an incredible feat as its total height surpasses the previous tallest structure by an ambitious jump of 200 metres. During its construction which began from 2004, it has beaten several records along the way.



This tallest man-made structure on Earth stands at 818 metres. If you take the three tallest buildings in Singapore (UOB, OUB, Republic) and stack them vertically on top of each other, you will get roughly this height. This is how tall Burj Dubai really is.

In order to develop a service & tourism-oriented industry, Dubai has proposed many upcoming building projects. Burj Dubai is just the beginning among the series of taller and more spectacular buildings that will soon be springing up in the future.


Another rising skyscraper, scheduled to complete by 2010, is Abraj Al Bait Towers in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The Arabs seem to be coming fierce in this global height competition eh? Unlike the other stick-looking pointy skyscrapers, this one has a huge base surrounding the main peak and looks really grand and majestic. Due to its width, it probably doesn’t look that tall, but it’s indeed that tall enough to beat Taipei 101 to become the 2nd tallest building in the near future.



The architecture of Abraj Al Bait resembles a mosque, both exterior and interior. This time it’s undoubtedly worthy of the pseudo-title “tallest structure in the world that can reach the stars and the moon” which appears in a riddle. Located at 530 metres high, the 80m x 80m clock will be the highest and largest in the world. This building will have sufficient rooms to house millions of Muslim pilgrims who travel to Mecca yearly.



At Moscow, a skyscraper named Federation Tower is currently under construction. Again its unique architecture makes it recognizable among others. Being made up of two towers, east and west, with a thin tall spire connecting in between, the Federation Tower will soon overtake SWFC when it is completed.



In Hong Kong, this International Commerce Center is an upcoming skyscraper that will soon be the tallest in the country, whose roof is only slightly shorter than that of SWFC. Sadly, compared to the other top skyscrapers, its appearance doesn’t look outstanding enough, resembling a typical oblong blocky building.

Of course the race to the skies does not end here! Many audacious plans have been proposed to stretch the limit of engineering. Look out for the next entry which will introduce some really crazy seemingly-impossible ultratall-skyscrapers!