Since the world's first modern skyscraper was built in Chicago in 1885; Buildings over 40 floors high have become the norm for busy city centres. It is now almost a symbol of urban progress and architectural success. Since 2000, global skyscraper construction has increased by 402%.
While the United Nations estimates that the world population will reach approximately 10 billion by 2050; skyscrapers will continue to serve growing real estate needs. But what if there were new ways to make skyscrapers better suited to the evolving and expanding needs of crowded modern cities?
Completed in 2020, after six years of construction, Raffles City Chongging in Southwest China seeks to do just that in a city of over 30 million inhabitants.
Horizontal Skyscraper Shapes New Heights and Widths
The world's first horizontal skyscraper rises to 350 meters on a peninsula where the Yangtze and Jialing rivers meet. Surrounding a 270-degree view of both rivers, the 817,000 square meter structure consists of eight interconnected towers, all of which have a slight curve.
Similar to Singapore's iconic Marina Bay Sands; It has four towers called Crystal, connected by a 250-metre-long bridge. In the evening, Crystal becomes a beam of light, emphasizing the horizontal shape.
colossal complex; It hosts public and private spaces such as offices, residences, restaurants and a huge shopping mall, and of course sky gardens and infinity pools overlooking the Yangtze and Jialing rivers.
Unusual Skyscraper Designs to Take Over Big Cities
Today, 47 of the world's tallest skyscrapers are still located in China, the world's most populous country. However, as the population increases in other parts of the world; Unconventional approaches to creating most urban landscapes continue to emerge.
Really; Horizontal skyscrapers and inverted pyramid buildings that descend to the earth instead of rising from the ground exemplify another design solution for large city centers. Although some architects have done conceptualization research in Mexico; There are no completed examples of horizontal skyscrapers. However, along with innovative approaches such as horizontal skyscrapers, it can create a range of solutions for creating smart cities that can adequately meet the needs of millions of residents.
