Four skyscrapers from around the world have been shortlisted by The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) for their annual "Best Tall Building Awards."
The buildings were picked from nominees representing 33 countries in the regions of Americas; Asia and Australia; Europe; the Middle East and Africa. Australia has experienced success at the awards in the past, namely Sydney’s One Central Park by One Central Park by Ateliers Jean Nouvel and PTW Architects which received the 2014 “Best Tall Building Worldwide” honours.
The (CTBUH) will crown one of the below buildings, which includes projects from SOM and Foster + Partners, as “the world's best” at a ceremony this November.
THE TOP FOUR
One World Trade Centre by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Location: New York City, USA
Height: 546.2 metres
Photography by James Ewing
Jury statement: “One World Trade Center is a bold new icon for New York City built on the World Trade Center site, whose design acknowledges the adjacent memorial, and whose symbolic importance to the city and the country cannot be overstated. Its form calls to mind several classical New York skyscrapers for which the city is best recognized. The building had high design expectations which the jury felt were met and exceeded.”
CapitaGreen by Toyo Ito & Associates Architects
Location: Singapore
Height: 242 metres
Image: Capita Land and Limited
Jury statement: “CapitaGreen is outstanding in that green living vegetation covers 55 percent of the perimeter of its façade, giving the landmark its iconic appearance. The jury noted that the building presented a new way forward for high-rise vegetated façades by placing them within the double skin, offering the potential for solar shade and even agricultural output, as well as environmental and psychological benefits.”
Bosco Verticale by Boeri Studio
Location: Milan, Italy
Height: 110 metres
Photography by Paolo Rosselli
Jury statement: “Bosco Verticale is unprecedented in its deployment of greenery at such scale and height. The building’s intensive “living façade,” incorporating numerous trees and 90+ species of vegetation, is an active interface to the surrounding environment. The scheme is exceptional in that the plants act as an extension of the tower’s exterior envelope. The jury called this exploration of the viability of greenery at such heights groundbreaking.”
Burj Mohammed Bin Rashid Tower by Foster + Partners
Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Height: 381.2 metres
Image: Foster + Partners
Jury statement: “Burj Mohammed Bin Rashid Tower blends into its cultural and geographic context both through its design and its use. The jury appreciated that the tower’s undulating cladding creates a mirage effect that alludes to its desert ambience. A marketplace based on the traditional souk, with offerings ranging from modern luxury goods to regional artisanal crafts, helps integrate the tower to its surroundings.”
Images and Jury Statements courtesy of CTBUH.
