The World's Tallest Cities (New York City remains No. 1, but China is catching up.)

Forbes.com ^ | Feb 5, 2009 | Joshua Zumbrun

[decimon]

The soaring global economy of the last 20 years pushed the world's leading financial centers to enduring heights. Not their stock markets, which have collapsed, but their skylines.

All but two of the world's 20 tallest buildings (the 1,451-foot Sears Tower and the 1,250-foot Empire State Building) were built during this long bull market, according to Emporis, a global building-information company. Today the world's tallest cities reflect that growth.

[decimon]

I think the age of centralization and super-tall buildings may be over. Not because of 9/11 but just cuz.

[GOPGuide]

Mine is bigger than China’s is.

[bert]

Actually the age of super talls may be in the mid stages. There are two in Riyadh, one in Kuala lampur, one in Taipai, and the tallest in the world in Dubai.

[Mr_Moonlight]

All but two of the world's 20 tallest buildings (the 1,451-foot Sears Tower and the 1,250-foot Empire State Building)

Josh left out one (or two, as it were) "All but ..." tallest buildings in the world which were completed and opened during the economic recession of 1974 ....

NEVER FORGET !

[decimon]

Mine is bigger than China’s is.

As long as the elevator goes to the top.

[mamelukesabre]

She cant get to the bottom of mine.

[decimon]

Actually the age of super talls may be in the mid stages. There are two in Riyadh, one in Kuala lampur, one in Taipai, and the tallest in the world in Dubai.

Maybe they make sense but I think there be more pride than practicality there.

[TheWasteLand]

Nonsense comrade. Dear leader says tall buildings are the way of the future.

[decimon]

Looks like a Klingon cathouse.

[fieldmarshaldj]

A Klingon cathouse would be safer. That unfinished hotel in Pyongyang is uninhabitable and structurally dangerous. It will likely have to be demolished before long.

[Daffynition]

For history buffs, old New York: NEW YORK IN BLACK AND WHITE

[1010RD]

Isn’t international commercial real estate the next bubble to pop?

[rmlew]

A Klingon cathouse would be safer. That unfinished hotel in Pyongyang is uninhabitable and structurally dangerous. It will likely have to be demolished before long.

Sounds like a perfect representation of North Korea.

[rmlew]

Nice Link. New York's skyline is not just the tallest, but the best looking. The stuff built after 1940 is crap. International style, glass buildings etc are just ugly. I accepted the World Trade Center as a given, but never loved it. I postively hate the Freedom Tower.
Find a better looking skyscraper than the Chrysler Building.

[Mr_Moonlight]

Find a better looking skyscraper than the Chrysler Building.

Darn right! Chrysler is one beautiful piece of architecture. Empire is another one, although somewhat 'boxy' ... WTC Towers were tall and high, but really looked no more than very tall 'tenements in the sky' ... *very boxy* ... still, the WTC twins were quite impressive on the lower Manhattan skyline.

Chrysler Building

Empire State Building

[nutmeg]

Check out this great site: NEW YORK IN BLACK AND WHITE

Thank you for the link, Daffynition!

[Daffynition]

Many people agree with you. I think One Liberty Place, in Philly, was built in the Chrysler Building style.

View from one of the north-facing triangular windows

The Chrysler Building is also well renowned and recognized for its terraced crown. Composed of seven radiating terraced arches, Van Alen's design of the crown is a cruciform groin vault constructed into seven concentric members with transitioning set-backs, mounted up one behind each other. The stainless-steel cladding is ribbed and riveted in a radiating pattern with many triangular vaulted windows, transitioning into smaller segments of the seven narrow set-backs of the facade of the terraced crown. The entire crown is clad with silvery "Enduro KA-2" metal, an austenitic stainless steel developed in Germany by Krupp and marketed under the trade name "Nirosta" (a German acronym for nichtrostender Stahl, meaning "rust-proof steel").

You are right ... the glass towers have nothing on The Chrysler ... Photograph of the Chrysler Building taken in June 2007, juxtaposes late 1920's Art Deco with a contemporary design.

You gotta love the architectural elements...

1920's Chrysler Radiator Cap Used On The Chrysler Building [Imperial models]