World's Tallest Buildings of 2013 Dominated by Asia

Courtesy of Council of Tall Buildings and Urban Habitats

According to the latest Tall Trends Report, 73 buildings in excess of 200 meters were completed in 2013 worldwide, the second highest total only behind 2011 with 81 completions. The increase of completions from 2012 to 2013 continues a significant upward trend that, since 2000, has seen an astounding 318 percent increase in tall buildings.

Courtesy of Council of Tall Buildings and Urban Habitats

In the report, the Council of Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) note:

"Perhaps 2012, with its small year-on-year drop in completions, was the last year to register the full effect of the 2008 / 2009 global financial crisis, and a small sigh of relief can be let out in the tall-building industry as we begin 2014."

Most noticeable is Asia's dominance of the market with over 74 percent of all completions in 2013 — China, alone, accounted for 37 buildings, summing up to a total of 8,876 meters in height (the UAE is the next closest with a sum of 2,756 meters in height.) Today, Asia is now home to 45 percent of the 100 tallest buildings in the world.

JW Marriott, Dubai #1 Tallest. Image © Saint Gobain Glass India, flickr

Key excerpts from the "Tall Trends of 2013" report:

  • Worldwide, the sum of heights of all 200-meter-plus buildings completed in 2013 was 17,662 meters – also the second highest in history, behind the 2011 record of 21,642 meters.
  • The tallest building to complete in 2013 was the 355-meter JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai Tower 2 in Dubai, UAE.
  • Europe has two of the 10 tallest buildings completed in a given year for the first time since 1953.
  • Panama added two buildings over 200 meters, bringing the small Central American nation’s count up to 19. It had none as recently as 2008.
  • Of the 73 buildings over 200 meters completed in 2013, only one, 1717 Broadway in New York, was in the United States.

The Shard, London #8 Tallest. Image © Tim Rawle, flickr

View the full "Tall Trends of 2013" report, here.


About this author
Cite: Jose Luis Gabriel Cruz. "World's Tallest Buildings of 2013 Dominated by Asia" 16 Jan 2014. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/467718/world-s-tallest-buildings-of-2013-dominated-by-asia> ISSN 0719-8884

You've started following your first account!

Did you know?

You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.