Dubai Marina, where skyscraper homes are a common sight. Photo: Unsplash
Dubai Marina, where skyscraper homes are a common sight. Photo: Unsplash
Dubai Marina, where skyscraper homes are a common sight. Photo: Unsplash
Dubai Marina, where skyscraper homes are a common sight. Photo: Unsplash

Five of the tallest residential towers in the world


Maan Jalal
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Emirati property development company Binghatti and luxury brand Jacob & Co have proposed plans to build the world’s tallest residential structure in Dubai.

The skyscraper project named the Burj Binghatti Jacob & Co Residences comprises more than 100 storeys and is planned to be constructed in Business Bay. A date for completion has yet to be announced.

Although people do live inside Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest skyscraper, it does not qualify as a residential building as less than 85 per cent of its area is used for homes. While the city's Marina 101, standing at 425 metres and 101 floors, is the fourth tallest in the world, it remains unfinished.

Until it opens, here are the world's five highest residential properties.

1. Central Park Tower

Central Park Tower looms large above New York City's skyline. Getty Images
Central Park Tower looms large above New York City's skyline. Getty Images

Architect: Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture

Location: New York City

Rising from New York’s Midtown Manhattan neighbourhood, on a stretch dubbed Billionaires' Row, Central Park Tower is the world’s tallest residential skyscraper.

The building is 472 meters tall with 98 above-ground storeys and three basement floors. Known as one of the “pencil towers” due to its characteristic high and slender ratio, the skyscraper is made of glass cladding, arranged into fluted panels that are insulated and laminated, creating a serpentine pattern on the exterior of the tower.

2. 111 West 57th Street

Also known as Steinway Tower, 111 West 57th Street is also in New York City. Getty Images
Also known as Steinway Tower, 111 West 57th Street is also in New York City. Getty Images

Architect: SHoP Architects

Location: New York City

Also known as Steinway Tower, 111 West 57th Street is in Midtown Manhattan.

It is the fourth-tallest building in the United States as well as the thinnest skyscraper in the world. Due to its extreme slenderness, with a width-to-height ratio of about 1:24m, the top stories of the tower sway several feet during high winds.

111 West 57th Street is 435 meters high and has 84 storeys above ground level or 85 including the roof slab. The tower has a glass facade with upright support piers made of terracotta.

3. 432 Park Avenue

Supertall condo tower, 432 Park Avenue, stands in Midtown Manhattan. Getty Images
Supertall condo tower, 432 Park Avenue, stands in Midtown Manhattan. Getty Images

Architect: SLCE Architects

Location: New York City

Residential skyscraper 432 Park Avenue is also in Midtown Manhattan. It overlooks Central Park and is 425.5meters high with 84 numbered stories and a mezzanine above ground.

The tower's exterior features a unique lattice design forming a regular grid of three-metre apertures created by concrete made from white cement. Behind the lattice, the tower is divided into 12-storey blocks separated by open double-story mechanical spaces, which reduce the tower’s wind load.

4. Princess Tower

Princess Tower in Dubai Marina. AFP
Princess Tower in Dubai Marina. AFP

Architect: Adnan Saffarini Office

Location: Dubai

Princess Tower is a 107-storey, 413.4-metre-tall skyscraper and is the third tallest building in Dubai, after Burj Khalifa and Marina 101, which is a residential building yet to be completed.

Upon its completion, Princess Tower was the tallest residential building in the world from 2012 to 2015, until 432 Park Avenue was built in New York City.

The tower, which comprises 763 units, 957 underground parking bays spread over six floors, has an exterior covered with aluminium curtain wall cladding, with a concrete core and concrete peripheral columns with spandrel beams. Princess Tower is an example of modern architecture, designed with clean sleek contemporary lines and a large dome reminiscent of the art deco style.

5. 23 Marina

23 Marina on the left, seen in front of Marina 101. Chris Whiteoak / The National
23 Marina on the left, seen in front of Marina 101. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Architect: 23 Marina

Location: Dubai

Standing at 392.8 m and 88 storeys, 23 Marina is a luxury residential tower in Dubai Marina. In total, it has 57 swimming pools, and the building's duplex apartments have private elevators — the building has 62 in total.

The exterior features blue and white cladding, and uses aluminium and tinted blue glass.

Construction started in October 2006 and was completed in May 2012.

Twisting towers around the world - in pictures

  • From the elegant, unique and angular twisted towers are a dynamic structure to any cityscape.
    From the elegant, unique and angular twisted towers are a dynamic structure to any cityscape.
  • Cayan Tower, in Dubai, was the tallest building in the world with a twist of 90 degrees, when it was completed in 2013. Pawan Singh / The National
    Cayan Tower, in Dubai, was the tallest building in the world with a twist of 90 degrees, when it was completed in 2013. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Shanghai Tower by China's Huangpu River is the world's third-tallest building. Photo: Alamy
    Shanghai Tower by China's Huangpu River is the world's third-tallest building. Photo: Alamy
  • At 190 metres, the Turning Torso in Malmo, Sweden, is the tallest building in Scandinavia. Getty Images
    At 190 metres, the Turning Torso in Malmo, Sweden, is the tallest building in Scandinavia. Getty Images
  • United Tower in the Kingdom of Bahrain sits atop an artificial island. Photo: Alamy
    United Tower in the Kingdom of Bahrain sits atop an artificial island. Photo: Alamy
  • Al Tijaria Tower in Kuwait rotates by 80 degrees as it climbs from the ground level to the top floor. Photo: Alamy
    Al Tijaria Tower in Kuwait rotates by 80 degrees as it climbs from the ground level to the top floor. Photo: Alamy
  • The Absolute World Towers, in Canada, are also known locally as the 'Marilyn Monroe Towers'. Photo: Wikipedia
    The Absolute World Towers, in Canada, are also known locally as the 'Marilyn Monroe Towers'. Photo: Wikipedia
  • Milan's Generali Tower, also known as the 'The Twisted One' or 'Hadid Tower', was designed by Zaha Hadid. Photo: Alamy
    Milan's Generali Tower, also known as the 'The Twisted One' or 'Hadid Tower', was designed by Zaha Hadid. Photo: Alamy
  • The 55-storey Evolution Tower in Moscow has a swirling structure. Photo: Wikipedia
    The 55-storey Evolution Tower in Moscow has a swirling structure. Photo: Wikipedia
  • Japan's Mode Gakuen Spiral Towers feature a double-glassed air flow window system and a natural ventilation system. Getty Images
    Japan's Mode Gakuen Spiral Towers feature a double-glassed air flow window system and a natural ventilation system. Getty Images
  • The architects behind China's Dance of Light tower say it is among the most twisted in the world. Photo: Aedas
    The architects behind China's Dance of Light tower say it is among the most twisted in the world. Photo: Aedas
  • The F&F Tower, in Panama City's financial district, stands at 243 meters. Photo: Wikipedia
    The F&F Tower, in Panama City's financial district, stands at 243 meters. Photo: Wikipedia
Updated: November 10, 2022, 1:09 PM