RR 13: The Race for Height - Skyscrapers & Globalization

According to Ching in the final pages of his textbook, "the tension between the global and the national is the fundamental paradox of our age" [797]. I found this commentary to be fascinating and immediately applicable for the discussion of the skyscraper height race that both Ching and Roth delve into in the final pages of their texts. Globalization and a market driven, corporate minded world economy has directly impacted the world of architecture as each corporation and nation compete against each other for the largest and tallest skyscraper as a symbol of their power and wealth. Some of the tallest in the current race include:

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• The Commerzbank in Frankfurt, Germany is the tallest building in Europe at 850 feet. Notably, this building is also green-certified, including sky gardens and sheathed in aluminum. 

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• Outside of Europe, Shanghai has competed for the place of principal interchange between the East and West, and this has culminated in a height race among skyscrapers within the city. The 88-story Jin Mao Tower (above) was the first of these, developed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrell at 1380 feet.

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• The Shanghai World Financial Center (above), virtually next door to the Jin Mao Tower, was developed by Kohn Pederson Fox with 101 floors or 1614 feet.

http://tiscsvr.tbroc.gov.tw/photo/120/001/120-001832.jpg

• Taipei 101 (above), in Taipei was designed by Taiwanese architect C.Y. Lee, at 101 stories or 1670 feet, including its spire.

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•   Two International Finance Center (above) was completed the same year as Taipei 101 in Hong Kong, also by Cesar Pelli at 1,362 feet. 

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• The current tallest building in the world is the Burj Dubai (above), in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merril that reached an astounding 2723 feet. 

Of course the height wars are not over, and with increased technology from the information age and CAD, new proposals are submitted. A third skyscraper for Shanghai is scheduled to be completed 2014 that is also over 2000 feet, designed by Gensler (image below).

http://www.archpaper.com/news/articles.asp?id=3087

As the large global architecture firms compete for commissions for the greatest vertical structures, I find that this race for height is personally disheartening in its waste of materials and complete disregard for larger, non-ego driven global needs like sustainability, environmental concerns, and poverty. A tall skyscraper, while increasing name brand recognition during the moment of greatest height achieved fame, does not directly increase the overall profit gains for the company in the long run. A skyscraper in itself does not generate more income.

However, in a discussion of where the design world might be headed, I do think that these geographical landmarks are indicators that a Western centralized global economy is on the decline, while a more Eastern economy is increasing in dominance and leading the conversation of a globalized economy. I think that we will see more of an Eastern influence in the everyday design culture here in the West as time progresses. For me, this is a reminder to look beyond my current surroundings and instead to the international stage for new ideas and direction.