The sky is not the limit in a record-breaking year for Chinese buildings
The Guangzhou TV and Sightseeing Tower Image: IBA-BV.com |
Of the 97 buildings constructed last year that exceeded 200m, the official height at which a building can be classified a skyscraper, China built 58 - more than eleven times more than the next most prolific builder, the Phillipines, which boasted only five completed in 2014.
This also meant increase of 61% from China's 2013 construction levels, topping 2011's previous record of 81 skyscrapers built. Unsurprisingly, China retained its seven-year running title for the most skyscrapers built of any country.
Tianjin boasted six 200m plus towers, with a tie for second place between Chongqing, Wuhan and Wuxi with three each.
Although One World Trade Centre in New York took the top spot with a height of 541m, Wuxi built three of the world's top ten tallest buildings, all of which were over 300m tall. Not one to be outdone for long, China looks set finish its Shanghai Tower this year, which will dwarf the current champion at some 632m tall.
The data, which originates from the Council for Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, predicts that China is on track to erect more than 100 such structures in 2015. Asia was home to 76% of all skyscrapers built in 2014 thanks to the efforts of China, Japan and the Phillipines.