Planning has been approved for the Chicago Spire, which, if it comes to fruition, will be America’s tallest building, at 610m. It is one of a new breed of soaring skyscrapers which are to dominate cities across the globe
2.Soon to be the tallest building in the world, the Burj Dubai already towers above camels as they are exercised in the morning sun. The exact height of the finished structure is being kept under wraps, but it is expected to exceed 800m
3.Taiwan’s Taipei 101 is currently top of the towers. Standing at 508m it controversially swung into first place when the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat ruled it would consider spires, but not televisions masts or aerials, when taking measurements
4.The Petronas Towers briefly held the top spot on their completion in 1998. The steel and glass fa?ades rise 452m above the Kuala Lumpur skyline and were inspired by Islamic art
6.Chinese creations will soon dominate the list of the world’s tallest buildings. The country’s rampant economy is exemplified by the Jin Mao Tower, which rises 421m through the Shanghai smog