Towers

Auckland, New Zealand
February 2021

"By letting it go it all gets done.
The world is won by those who let it go.
But when you try and try, the world is beyond the winning."
 -Lao Tzu.

It can be difficult to keep up with the race to be the world's tallest structure or building.

Before the list can be ordered, the definition of what constitutes a structure or building have to be clarified. This is not so easy and involves specifying whether:

(1) A structure or building under construction or previously destroyed should be included in the list.
(2) A structure or building partly in water should have the underwater component included in its height.
(3) A non-habitable structure or building that depends on guy lines for stability should be included in the list.

If we are lenient with all of these criteria, the top five under construction or destroyed, land- or water-based, free- or supported-standing structures in the world include (1):

(1) Jeddah Tower, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (remains still under construction, planned to be at least 1,000 m) - The Jeddah Tower will be the world's first structure or building to surpass 1 kilometer in height (the final height is being kept secret). However, it is only about one-third completed and currently on hold as a result of labour issues.

(2) Burj Khalifa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (828 m) - Completed in 2010, Burj Khalifa is the current undisputed tallest structure or building in the world. The design is derived from Islamic architecture, with a series of 27 setbacks (step-like recessions in the wall) arranged in a spiral pattern that minimize vibration and wind (and also provide lovely outdoor terraces). Burj Khalifa broke all height records when it was built.

(3) Warsaw Radio Mast, Gąbin, Poland (destroyed, but was 646 m) - This telecommunications tower was the world's tallest structure from 1974 to 1991, which was the year it collapsed. A gust of wind toppled the unsupported tower while one of its guy wires was being swapped.

(4) Petronius Platform, Gulf of Mexico (mostly underwater, 640 m) - This oil platform was the world's tallest structure from 2000 to 2010, when it was surpassed by Burj Khalifa. It has a compliant tower design, so it can sway in excess of 2% of its height (land-based buildings are kept under 0.5%).

(5) Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo, Japan (634 m) - A broadcasting and observation tower completed in 2010, and the world's second-highest current, land-based structure (after Burj Khalifa).
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Burj Khalifa is currently the tallest structure or building in the world (by any measure).

Petronius Platform's "height" is mostly underwater.

If we ignore all of the above criteria to make a list of what most people would call "proper" buildings, the top five current, land-based, free-standing buildings in the world are (2):
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(1) Burj Khalifa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (828 m) - The undisputed champion by a considerable margin. However, it should be noted that much of Burj Khalifa's height is vanity height as most of its 244-meter spire is not usable for space. Without the spire, Burj Khalifa's highest usable floor is only 585 meters.

(2) Shanghai Tower, Shanghai, China (632 m) - Completed in 2013, Shanghai Tower boasts the world's highest observation deck (tied with Ping An Finance Center). The tower takes takes the form of nine cylindrical buildings stacked atop each other, enveloped by an outer layer that twists as it rises. Between the layers are nine indoor zones containing atria with gardens, cafes, and restaurants.

(3) Abraj Al-Bait, Mecca, Saudi Arabia (601 m) - Completed in 2012, the central tower of this complex, the Makkah Royal Clock Tower, has the world's largest clock face. The complex is built beside the Great Mosque of Mecca.

(4) Ping An Finance Center, China (599 m) - Completed in 2017, Ping An Finance Center shares the record for highest observation deck in the world (tied with Shanghai Tower). Originally, a 60-meter antenna was to be added to make it the tallest tower in China, but this was scrapped as it would have obstructed flight paths.
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(5) Lotte World Tower, Seoul, South Korea (556 m) - Competed in 2016, Lotte World Tower is a landmark of Seoul and was designed to be tough; it can endure winds up to 80 meters per second, and even withstand an earthquake up to 9.0 on the Richter scale.
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Shanghai Tower exhibits a unique twisting design.

Abraj Al-Bait consists of a complex of buildings, the tallest of which is the Makkah Royal Clock Tower.

Line-up of the tallest current, land-based, free-standing buildings in the world.

​Notably, the only structure or building present in both lists is the Burj Khalifa, the current undisputed tallest structure or building in the world no matter which criteria are applied. The only structure with the potential to surpass the Burj Khalifa is the Jeddah Tower, which is nowhere near completion and remains on hold.

However, despite its lofty status as world's tallest structure or building for the last 10 years, the Burj Khalifa is probably not the most famous structure or building in the world. There is another.

The Empire State Building

Few buildings ever constructed are as famous as the Empire State Building in New York City, United States (3). Completed in 1931, the Empire State Building remained the world's tallest building for nearly 40 years, until it was surpassed in 1970 by the World Trade Center. Its design was changed 15 times before architects landed on its Art Deco style, an architectural style that emerged in pre-World War I France and at the time represented luxury, exuberance, and progress.

​​The Empire State Building is an American cultural icon. It has been named as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers, and featured in over 250 television shows and movies. Bizarrely, the first and arguably most memorable of these movies featured a giant gorilla.

King Kong was released in 1933 and featured an enormous gorilla, Kong. Much of the film depicts Kong battling dinosaurs on his fictional home, Skull Island. However, he is eventually captured and brought to Ney York City, where he is presented as "King Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World." Kong escapes escapes his chains and climbs the Empire State Building in a final, pitched battle against four airplanes. He loses the battle and is killed, falling to his death.
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King Kong atop the Empire State Building.

King Kong instantly turned the Empire State Building into a cinematic icon​. Many other movies continued to feature the building over ensuing decades, including popular films such as An Affair to Remember (1957), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), and Independence Day (1996).

The "Most Beautiful Suicide"

Although Kong's fall brought fame to the Empire State Building, there was another fall far more poignant, that of the suicide of Evelyn McHale (4). Evelyn was a 23-year old bookkeeper, engaged to her fiance Barry Rhodes at the time. On the day before her death, she gave no indication to him that she was contemplating suicide, none at all.

On May 1, 1947, Evelyn leapt to her death from the 86th floor observation deck. She was only 3 meters away from a security guard when she jumped. Despite falling from a great height, her body remained oddly intact following the suicide. The makeup on her face was unmarred, and there was a dream-like, almost reverential expression on her face. 

​In Evelyn's pocket there was a suicide note, which read:

​"I don't want anyone in or out of my family to see any part of me. Could you destroy my body by cremation? I beg of you and my family - don't have any service for me or remembrance for me. My fiance asked me to marry him in June. I don't think I would make a good wife for anybody. He is much better off without me. Tell my father, I have too many of my mother's tendencies."

In accordance with her wishes, Evelyn was  cremated, with no memorial, service, or grave. Her fiance, Barry, never married, and he died in 2007.
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Evelyn McHale, the "most beautiful suicide."

​Early in life, we all unknowingly build towers around ourselves. They are initially used for protection. Most people then use them to compete for status, whilst others use them for fame, and a few even create monsters out of them.

​Only a handful manage to let go. But, not all survive the fall.

​Solace.

References
(1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_structures.
(2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings.
(3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_State_Building.
(4) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evelyn_McHale.