The world's best new skyscrapers
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An international panel of experts has assessed more than 300 skyscrapers to determine the best new buildings making their marks on cities' skylines. Here are the top 10 which have scored Emporis Skyscraper Awards
10. Nanfung Commercial, Hospitality and Exhibition Complex, Guangzhou, ChinaBoth buildings in this complex offer exhibition space on their lower floors. One of the buildings is topped by offices, the other by a 5-star hotel containing, among other facilities, the city’s largest ballroom with an area of nearly 5000 square metres. The fact that both complex buildings are separated 160 metres from each other by another building had to be kept in mind during the design. The buildings’ sliding floor plates serve as a unique design feature linking both buildings over the distance
9. AZ Tower, Brno, Czech RepublicArchitects were going for a ‘deconstructed’ look with this new residential and commercial building. Thirty-metre-deep power piles cool the building in summer and heat it in winter with the help of a heat pump. It's the only building in the Czech Republic using this energy-efficiant way of regulating the temperature. The Emporis Skyscraper Award has been given since 2000. The jury is formed of architecture experts from all over the world, who judge nominated buildings according to aesthetic and functional design criteria.
8. Ardmore Residence, Singapore “From far away, Ardmore Residence appears to adopt divergent contours when viewed from different perspectives. Moving closely around the building, the various openings in the concrete panels of the facade affect a sense of organic mutation and transition,” Emporis says
7. Mercury City, Moscow, Russia Architect Frank Williams claims this is the first environmentally friendly building in Moscow. It is designed to use less water and electricity by collecting melting water and providing 75 percent workspace with daylight. 10 percent of the construction material came from a 300 kilometer radius of the construction site. The tallest building in Europe, it features two high-speed elevators travelling at a maximum speed of 7 metres per second.
6. Flame Towers, Baku, Azerbaijan These towers are completely covered with LED screens displaying the movement of fire and creating the effect of giant torches. The design was inspired by Azerbaijan’s history as a land of fire due to its rich deposits of natural gas
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5. One Central Park (East Tower), Sydney, Australia Thanks to the vertical gardens on each floor, the building gives residents the impression of living in a tree house. At night, the tower serves as a canvas for Yann Kersalé’s LED art installation.
4. Cayan Tower, Dubai, UAE This building's twisted shape reduces wind forces on the tower. Each floor is rotated by 1.2 degrees to achieve the full 90-degree spiral, creating the shape of a helix. Used mainly as residential property, it is the world's tallest tower featuring a 90-degree twist.
3. Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Resort, Huzhou, China Also known as the Moon Hotel, this ambitious building is designed to resemble the bright moon rising above Tai Lake. The unique ring shape allows all rooms to have balconies and views, and daylight from all directions. It cost a whopping US$1.5 billion to build.
2. DC Tower 1, Vienna, Austria The facade on this 60-storey building is mostly made of glass, which means daylight can easily be used to replace artificial light. The building runs on green electricity and offers water-saving showers and bathrooms.
1. The Shard, London, England At 306 metres high, The Shard has certainly made its mark on the London skyline. The tower's design features angled glass facade panels which create changing reflected light patterns, but watch out if you’re a guest in the hotel – the angled glass can act as a mirror at night, giving guests a view of their neighbours!
