5 Record-Breaking Structures!

 

As an Architect, visiting spectacular structures all over the world, like the building in this Blog’s banner – The Petronas Twin Towers in Malaysia and other great structures that achieved extravagant recognition have always bought great inspiration & amazed me. Structures which are the tallest, largest, longest, etc have managed to make their mark with their splendid architecture. 

Here are 5 amazing record-breaking structures that’ll make you say “That’s AWSOMATIC!” So here are some of their quick facts & milestones achieved. 

1. Burj Khalifa - The tallest building in the world

I had to start off with this building which has been smashing almost every record in the books – and by a considerable margin. No great surprises here, it's non-other than, Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE. The building inspired by the geometries of a regional desert flower and the patterning systems embodied in Islamic architecture which is the tallest building in the world.

 5 AWSOMATIC milestones / Achievements

- Tallest free-standing structure in the world 
- The highest number of stories in the world 
- Tallest service elevator in the world; world’s highest mosque (158th floor) 
- World’s highest swimming pool (76th floor) 
- World’s highest occupied floor. 

Fast Facts

Location	Dubai, UAE
Architect	Adrian Smith, Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill (SOM)
Height	828 m
Floors (above ground level)	162
Cost	$1.6bn
Number of elevators	58
Typology	Mixed-use

2. Louvre - World's Largest Museum

For all you artistic & creative folks, this could be arguably also the most famous museum in the world. the Louvre has had an interesting journey in terms of its history in Paris. It has won the award for the most visited museum in the world for many consecutive years now, attracting close to 10 million visitors annually. The large pyramid serves as the main entrance to the Louvre Museum.

5 AWSOMATIC milestones / Achievements

- Home to the most impressive art collections in history. 

- One of the city's biggest and most popular tourist attractions. 

- The Louvre is the home to the Mona Lisa Painting. 

- It wasn’t until 1793 that Louis XVI had turned the Louvre into a museum. 

- If you were to spend 30 seconds on each piece of art in the Louvre, it would take 100 consecutive days to get through them all.

Fast Facts

Location	Paris, France
Architect	I.M. Pei
Year	1989
Total area	652,300 square feet.
Focal Point	The Louvre Pyramid (Pyramide du Louvre) is a large glass and metal pyramid designed by I. M. Pei.

3. Millau Viaduct - Tallest bridge in the world

No other high bridge in history caught the eye of the media more than the opening of the Millau Viaduct in 2004. A nearly perfect blend of art, architecture, and engineering, the Millau Viaduct will continue to inspire not only the public but future engineers who are continually challenged by the demand to create beauty and grace within the confines of functionality and cost. 

5 AWSOMATIC milestones / Achievements

- One of the greatest engineering achievements of modern times 

- The viaduct bridge spans the valley for 2,460 meters. 

- Cost over 300 million Euros to build. 

- Received the 2006 Outstanding Structure Award

- At the peak of construction, 600 master craftsmen were enlisted to make the viaduct a reality.

Fast Facts

Location	Southern France
Design Team	Engineer Michel Virlogeux and Architect Norman Foster
Design	Multiple-span cable-stayed viaduct motorway bridge
Height	343 m (That's about 19 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower)
Structural height	336.4 meters (1,104 ft)
Material	Concrete, steel

4. Canton Tower - Building with the highest revolving restaurant

For all you adventurous foodies out there, this is one restaurant you'll love! The tower was designed by Information Based Architecture and Arup. The Arup team introduced near mass customization to the joint design, in combination with parametric design methods, and applied a simple structural concept of three elements: columns, rings, and braces, to this more complex geometry. 

5 AWSOMATIC milestones / Achievements

- Building with the highest revolving restaurant 

- The revolving restaurant known as Twist sits on top of the structure 

- The world’s tallest TV tower 

- Second tallest in Asia, and the tallest in the People's Republic of China.

- The Guangzhou government announced it is the most beautiful technologically advanced tower. 

Fast Facts

Location	Guangzhou, China
Architects	IBA, Mark Hernel, Barbara Kuit
Restaurant Height	1,387 ft. (on the 106 floor)
Height	1,969 ft (600m)
Area	114000 sq.m
Typology	Mixed-use: Restaurant, Observation, Telecommunication

5. The Grand Mosque of Djenné - Largest building made of mud

Lastly, from the new coming to the oldest & nearly 20m high and built on a 91m-long platform, it's the world's largest mud-brick building and a regional style characterized by its adobe plastering and wooden scaffolding. The walls of the Great Mosque are made of sun-baked earth bricks (called ferey), and sand and earth-based mortar, and are coated with a plaster which gives the building its smooth, sculpted look.

5 AWSOMATIC milestones / Achievements

- Largest mud-built structure in the world. 

- One of the most unique religious buildings in the world 

- Designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988 

- The greatest achievement of Sudano- Sahelian architecture 

- One of the most famous landmarks in Africa

Fast Facts

Location	Mali, West Africa
Architect	Ismaila Traoré
Size	328 feet long, 131 feet wide
Height	16 meters (52 ft.)
Completed	13th-14th century; rebuilt in 1907
Materials	Adobe
Style	Sudano-Sahelian
Typology	Religious

Wasn't this tour of the world's most famous buildings just AWSOMATIC! These 5 structures have rightfully been described as beautiful, breathtaking, spectacular, and awe-inspiring. Click on the Blue links of the structures to know more & don't forget to,

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