The World's Grandest Residential Buildings: Present and Future

Are you living in city where skyscrapers dominate the skyline? Do you want to reside in a place where you can

view the spectacular panorama of the city where you reside? So, if you are not afraid of heights, these residential

buildings are best suited for you. Here's a list of remarkably notable residential buildings in the world. Some of

them are already occupied and some are soon-to-be occupied because they are still under construction.

To date the tallest residential tower in the world is Q1 or Queensland Number One located in Australia. At

322.5 meters tall, it's also the highest building in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere.

21st Century Tower

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At a height of 269 meters or 883 feet tall, the 21st Century Tower, a skyscraper with 55-stories located in Dubai,

is the 3rd tallest residential building in the world. It was the tallest building of its kind upon its completion in 2003

but was overtaken by Eureka Tower and then by Q1 both of Australia. It is occupied by cabin crew members of

Emirates Airline and boasts a gym on the top floor and a pool on the roof. It has 7 elevators equipped with an

intelligent elevator system that automatically directs the closest elevator to the requested floor.

Eureka Tower

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The Eureka Tower of Melbourne in Australia is the 2nd tallest residential building in the world. When measured to

its highest floor, it is the world's tallest residential building but Q1 is officially the world's tallest as its spire adds to

its total height. Eureka Tower is a 300-meter or 984 ft tall with 91 stories and opened in 2006. It is also currently

the building with the most floors available for residential occupancy in the world.

23 Marina

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One of the tallest residential buildings in-the-making- is "23 Marina", a skyscraper presently under construction in

Dubai. The tower is set to have 89 floors and will rise to 395 m or 1,296 feet. Upon its completion this year (2009),

it will be the 2nd tallest all-residential building in the world after the Princess Tower located a mere 300 m or 1,000

feet away. Base on its architectural plan, it will have 57 swimming pools when completed, and each duplex in the

tower will come equipped with its own private elevator. The building was 79% sold before construction started and

the mast was completed in April, 2007.

Pentominium

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Upon completion in 2011of the Pentominium in Dubai UAE, a supertall skyscraper will become the world's tallest

all-residential building taking away the title from the nearby Princess Tower. Also, upon completion, it will be the

second tallest building in the world next to Burj Dubai. When completed, the current design will stand at 618

meters or 2,028 ft, with 120 floors above ground. Pentominium will be the tallest all-residential building upon

completion and it currently has the highest projected height of any all-residential building under construction or

completed.

Each living space will have its own foyer and smart biometric access control. Every apartment will consist of either

a half or a whole floor (more than 600 m²). The design of the building aims is to provide the most luxurious

apartments in the world. The top floors of the Pentominium will contain a Sky Lounge, Sky Pool, Business Centre,

and a private observation deck along with ladies & gentleman's health clubs and a cigar lounge, squash courts, a

banqueting hall, and private theatre.

Princess Tower

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At 414 meters or 1,358 feet high with 107 floors, the Princess Tower, a residential skyscraper that is currently

under construction in Dubai, will soon-to-be the world's tallest all-residential building. Construction of this supertall

is expected to be finished this year (2009). It will be the most expensive apartments in the world with its best may

cost $85,000,000. Its "Entrance Hall" at the ground floor will be gilded with white gold and will be supplemented

with diamonds, opals, rubies, sapphires and crystals.

D1

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D1 or Dubai Number One is an 80-floor residential skyscraper currently under construction in Dubai, UAE. The

tower has a total structural height of 284 m or 930 ft, but the design originally included a spire that would bring

the total height to 350 m or 1,100 ft. Construction of D1 is expected to be completed in 2011. The tower is the

sister of Q1 of Australia - the tallest residential building in the world.

Burj Al Arab

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The 321 m or 1,050 ft tall Burj Al Arab or Tower of the Arabs, a luxury hotel in Dubai, UAE, is the second tallest

building in the world used exclusively as a hotel. However, Ryugyong Hotel in North Korea is taller by 9 meters.

Rose Tower, also in Dubai is at present the world's tallest building used exclusively as a hotel at 380 meters or

1,200 ft tall.

Construction of this hotel began in 1994 and it stands on an artificial island 280 meters or 920 ft out from

Jumeirah beach, and is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. It is an iconic structure, designed

to symbolize Dubai's urban transformation and to mimic the sail of a boat. It cost $650 million and considered as

the world's only "7-star" property. It is the world's tallest structure with a membrane facade and was the first 5-star

hotel to surpass 305 m or 1,000 ft in height. It is one of the most expensive hotels in the world. The cost of staying

in a suite begins at US$1,000 per night; the Royal Suite is the most expensive, at US$28,000 per night.

Ryugyong Hotel

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The Ryugyong Hotel in North Korea is a skyscraper intended for use as a hotel. This impressive building has 105

stories and rise to a height of 330 m or 1,083 ft tall. It contains 360,000 m² or 3.9 million square feet of floor space

and considered as the most prominent and the largest structure in North Korea. It is currently the 24th tallest

building in the world. At one time, it would have been the world's tallest hotel.

The construction on this pyramid-shaped hotel began in 1987 and was scheduled to open in June 1989 but work

stopped in 1992 due to several problems. And after 16 years of inactivity, construction resumed in 2008. The

building is expected to be completed in 2012.

Hope you enjoyed this. Thank you!

For more notable buildings in the world see

Spectacular Buildings From Around the World

World's Most Impressive Buildings