After five years of skyscraper inactivity I was starting to give up hope for Riyadh but finally! Let me introduce to ya all the Kingdom Trade Center Office Tower.

Photo courtesy to WZMH Architects.

At this stage a proposal but not any proposal, it’s a proposal of a second tallest in Kuwait City and quite spectacular to! Somehow does it remind me of CN tower made into student apartments.

Fast Facts:

Kingdom Trade Center Office Tower
Status: Proposed
Expected Completion: ?
Height: 280m(919 ft)
Floors: 70
Architects/More info: WZMH Architects

Hong Kong, China:

No. I can’t show you any pictures and yes it’s only proposed but still I would say it’s most likely to get built. What I’m talking about is The Gateway III. Judging by the name and a proposed height of 450 m or 1476 ft this skyscraper really seem like a massive project don’t you think? The Gateway…taste the words! These are the facts for now:

Fast Facts:
The Gateway III
Status: Proposal
Height: 450 m(1476 ft)
Architects: Wong & Ouyang (HK) Ltd.

Check out (possible) more info here: Wong & Ouyang (HK) Ltd.

Bonus pick:

Other famous gateway, the St Louis arch.
Photo Courtesy to Kim Tucker and the Drop Zone

With two million pilgrims visiting each year, Mecca is to the Middle-East what Fort Lauderdale or Daytona are to the US, the only difference is the object of worship. No matter it beeing cheap Bud or the Holy Allah, worshiping demand height and in a skyscraper culture like the one in Mecca(just check out the minarets for God’s sake!)no one is likely to get disappointed!

89 m, 290 ft of concrete minarets please. Coming up!

Best of all? Mecca is Booming! Two million visitors in a city of 1.5 million asks for quite a few hotel rooms you see and hotels are mainly what’s beeing constructed. Over thirty skyscrapers is currently under construction and new proposals are given everyday, there’s no end!

end.

What the fu*k! No news is certainly good news, Palacio de la Bahía has been cancelled. Not even the offical construction ceremony held last July could change that. Finito! For those of you who like to mourn a little bit here it is in all it’s glory one more time.

What could have been Panama City’s second tallest skyscraper…
Photo courtesy(?) to Jesús Díaz & Asociados.

Fast Facts:

Palacio de la Bahía
Status: Cancelled
Expected Completion: 2009
Height: 350 m(1184 ft)
Floors: 97
Architects/More info: Jesús Díaz & Asociados

So much for that “Palacio”…

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia:

In a city which is sposed to almost double it’s population in less then 15 years one might imagine a skyline packed with cranes and skyscrapers. That’s not the case. Pakistan’s Capital city Riyadh are only home to four skyscrapers abow 100 m, 300 ft and that in a city with a five million population but on the otherhand, the skyscraper it is home to are quite spectacular, what about this one, the cities tallest.

The Kingdom Centre, 302 m, 992 ft.

Looking at the surrounds make the Saudi’s obsession for trees and bushes and stuff pretty obvious(Riyadh=tree, greenery in Arabic.)to bad they haven’t made reality of it other then in the name though.

To me, towers like the Kingdom Tower is well enough and second tallest skyscraper, the Al Faisaliyah Center make noone disipointed n terms of wacky design.

Ball’s are popular in the middle-east. The spaceship-like lowrise building in the back
is the architecturaly renowned Ministry of Interior.

To my surprise the Al Faisaliyah Center is only 267 m(876 ft) and together with The Kingdom Centre unthreatened in the top today.

Said news for Vostok, good news for us! Vostok tower will only hold the Europe’s tallest title for a month or so, The Mercury, 380 m, 1245 ft is UC! But regardless, this is the Vostok thread and given the share massiveness of this tower their is no need to neglect it. You others can check out The Mercury over Here.

Photo Courtesy to Mirax.

As a part of the giant Federation complex, part of the new business zone “Moscow-City”, the Vostock skyscraper is the tallest with the east tower reaching 354 m, 1161 ft followed by the west tower at 242 meters, 795 ft height. Global Hyatt Corporation will accoupy mor then half of the building but their is still room for a sky-bar and the bridges connecting the towers will be jammed with restaurants and coffea shops.

Rumour says a third tower, “Tower C” 448 m, 1471 ft will join the others and it’s actually in the plan but no activity has been spotted at the plot this far.

Fast Facts:

Vostok
Status: Under construction
Expected Completion: 2008(UC since 2003)
Height: 354 m(1161 ft)
Floors: 93
Architects: Nps+Partner GbR, Schweger + Partner

Al Hamra Tower is now UC! And 250 m or 900 ft taller then Kuwait City’s current tallest it will stand pride like a spaghetti hanging from a poor man’s hand. Amazing.

Who said this one is ugly?! heh? 412 bloody m, 1352 fts!
Photo courtesy to SOM

To me, the design of this tower is amazing, like a turning-torso mutated into a tulip, halfway. Absolutely stunning!
It’s function is not sure yet so check back for updates.

Fast facts:

Al Hamra Tower
Status: Under Construction
Expected Completion: Next year baby, next year…
Height: 412 m(1352 ft)
Floors: 77
Architects: SOM(Skidmore Owings & Merrill LLP)

Under construction! And not only is International Commerce Center new tallest for Hong Kong it’s to become the tallest elevated hotel in the world and as if this wasn’t enough the Hotel is a seven star! Other goodies as beeing stated on Hotel Operator Ritz-Carlton’s homepage is the interior as ” a showcase of contemporary design” and rooms “including 360 degree panoramic views of Victoria Harbour.” Vacation anyone?

Located in Kowloon with the Current tallest the Two International Finance Centre crying on the other side of Victoria harbour.
Photo courtesy to Kohn Pedersen & Fox Associates PC.

By completion in 2010 the skyscraper is to become third tallest skyscraper in the world after Shanghai World Financial Center and the Burj Dubai giving Asia the whole top three. Hopefull Chicago spire can balance things up. Here is a close up however:

Beautiful cladding I think.
Photo courtesy to Kohn Pedersen & Fox Associates PC.

Fast Facts:
International Commerce Center
Status: Under Construction
Expected Completion: 2010
Height: 484 m(1588 ft)
Floors: 118
Architects: Kohn Pedersen & Fox Associates PC

…And here it is, the promised update! The promised update of what could become the tallest bloody skyscraper of the world! The Mubarak tower!

250 friggin floors my friends! Only in Kuwait my friends, only in Kuwait….
Photo Courtesy to: Eric R Kuhne & Associates.

Looking at the design it’s no surprise the architect, Eric R Kuhne and his Civic art group is based in London. The Mubarak tower could just as well be a Canary wharf development except for this one beeing a couple of thousand feets taller of course. The status is proposed but given it’s vicinity to challanging Dubai I give it a good chance of actually getting built! Care for guessing the height:

1001 m, 3284 ft! And as you can see there are big plans for Kuwait overall, dunno about the placement
of the runways is such a good idea though
Photo courtesy to whom ever thinks she needs it.

Fast Facts:

Mubarak Tower
Status: Proposed
Expected Completion: Not known
Height: 1001 m(3284 ft)
Floors: 250
Architects: Eric R Kuhne & Associates

Tokyo, Japan:

In a city where the subway map look like this…

you should be able to ask for more then this:

Tokyo’s tallest, the city hall of Tokyo, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
(And a World record attempt in the most “Tokyo’s” in one sentence:-)

Only in a city like Tokyo could the tallest spose to look like a giant computer chip but regardless of this good intention 243 m, 800 ft, ain’t good enough for a city it’s size. This is why I’m asking you to check out this picture cause sooner then you think you might not have any choice but looking at it(assuming you live in Tokyo that is, or go there for a visit for that matter)

Friggin amazing Foster + Partners!

Thanks again Foster’s!

And again! But don’t you stop making that amazing beer of your just for this.

What we are looking at is the bloody f*cking marvelous Millenium Tower. A vision for a supertall skyscraper located offshore in the Tokyo bay. With 840 m, 2755 ft this tower once and for all would bring back the honor and glory to the Tokyo skyscraper list. Question is though if it would help lower the crazy housing costs in the Tokyo area. Hm. However, I keep you updated!

Fast Facts:

Millennium Tower
Status: Vision
Expected Completion: 2009(doubt it)
Height: 840 m(2756 ft)
Floors: 180
Architects: Foster + Partners