It is known among tall-building architects that there are many tricks to increase the height of skyscrapers. But inflated skyscraper height came to the attention of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) last year after a case study suggested that the Kingdom Tower was designed with large decorative "vanity space" on top, inside of its spire, to enhance its height. Kingdom Tower, designed by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill, is set to be the tallest tower in the world when built.
As a result, CTBUH performed a study which illustrates that large portions of some skyscrapers are actually useless space used to artificially enhance their height, Architizer reports. CTBUH created an infographic showcasing the vanity space phenomenon. Vanity space is defined as the distance between a skyscraper's highest occupiable floor and its architectural top.
Burj Khalifa, currently the tallest building on the globe, at 2,716 feet, has an 800-foot-tall unoccupied spire that accounts for nearly a third of its overall height. Ukraina Hotel in Moscow gets the award for having the largest percentage of vanity space: 42% of its 675 feet is unoccupied space.
See the infographic below, and you can read the full report here.
Courtesy of CBTUH
Related Stories
Architects | Mar 18, 2015
Architecture Billings Index rises in February
The ABI score was 50.4 last month, up slightly from a mark of 49.9 in January. This score reflects a minor increase in design services, according to AIA.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 18, 2015
Prefabricated skycubes proposed with 'elastic' living apartments inside
The interiors for each unit are designed using an elastic living concept, where different spaces are created by sliding on tracks.
Architects | Mar 18, 2015
Boston selects finalists in resilient design competition
The competition asks for creative approaches for planning for a not-so-distant future Boston where higher sea levels and more frequent flooding will be real and critical issues to contend with.
Cultural Facilities | Mar 17, 2015
The High Line’s co-designer wins contract for The Underline in Miami
James Corner Field Operations will design the master plan for this 10-mile restoration project.
Sponsored | | Mar 17, 2015
Are face-to-face meetings still important?
One CEO looks pass convenience and advocates for old school, in-person meetings.
High-rise Construction | Mar 16, 2015
NBBJ creates 'shadowless' skyscraper concept for proposed UK development
A team of architects from the London branch of NBBJ used computer algorithms to generate a dual-tower design that maximizes sunlight reflections to eliminate the buildings' shadows.
Healthcare Facilities | Mar 16, 2015
Healthcare planning in a post-ACA world: 3 strategies for success
Healthcare providers are seeking direction on how to plan for a value-based world while still very much operating in a volume-based market. CBRE Healthcare's Curtis Skolnick offers helpful strategies.
Resort Design | Mar 16, 2015
Giancarlo Zema Design Group unveils plans for semi-submerged resort in Qatar
The resort will have four semi-submerged hotels that look similar to super-yachts, each including 75 luxury suites with private terraces.
Mixed-Use | Mar 13, 2015
Dubai announces mega waterfront development Aladdin City
Planned on 4,000 acres in the Dubai Creek area, the towers will be covered in gold lattice and connected via air-conditioned bridges.
Contractors | Mar 13, 2015
Construction materials prices rise for first time in six months
The largest monthly gain in petroleum prices in over three years caused construction materials prices to expand 0.4% in February, ending a six-month streak when prices failed to rise, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.