Most Ambitious Skyscraper Proposals Worldwide

Remember when “skyscraper” simply referred to a very tall building, evoking feelings of awe? While some of today’s proposed skyscrapers impress solely due to their height, others possess a visionary quality that makes them seem like they belong in a sci-fi movie.

From a massive tower in Saudi Arabia already under construction, to a Japanese giant potentially combating climate change, your perception of skyscrapers will certainly change after reviewing this list (in part utilizing data from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat).

1. Jeddah Tower, Saudi Arabia

The Jeddah Tower in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is well under construction and poised to open in 2021. This residential skyscraper, located in Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea port city, will stand as the tallest building in the world, measuring 3,281 feet (one kilometer) and boasting 167 floors—surpassing Dubai’s Burj Khalifa by four floors.

2. Sky Mile Tower, Japan

Things start to get extraordinary with the Sky Mile Tower, which, if constructed, will extend over a mile into the sky, reaching a height of 1,700 meters by the mid-2040s. However, its significance extends beyond height; this proposed skyscraper would serve as a dam to counteract rising waters in Tokyo Bay, aiding in the fight against climate change. Interestingly, the construction would take place on “reclaimed” land, designed to provide drinking water through desalination facilities.

3. Wuhan Greenland Center, China

The Greenland Center in Wuhan marks a significant step in China’s architectural endeavors, with a scheduled completion in 2019. Unlike popular knowledge confined to major cities, it illustrates that emerging cities in China, often larger than megalopolises in Europe and North America, will have some of the most remarkable structures of the 21st century.

4. Al Noor Tower, Morocco

One of the world’s fascinating proposed skyscrapers will rise in Casablanca, Morocco—Al Noor Tower, measuring 1,772 feet tall. While currently lacking a precise completion timeline, it will become the tallest building on the African continent upon finalization. Its imposing structure will surely enhance the view from the Hassan II Mosque, currently the most renowned edifice in Casablanca.

5. X-Seed 4000, Japan

Japan hosts yet another extraordinary skyscraper on this list, the X-Seed 4000. Planned to reach an astonishing height of four kilometers and designed to resemble Mt. Fuji, this project is unlikely to be realized, but its existence serves as a showcase of Japan’s innovative architectural vision, having been created to generate publicity for the Taisei Corporation.

6. The Dutch Mountain, Netherlands

Not only Japan entertains concepts of artificial mountains; the Netherlands showcases its own with the Dutch Mountain. Although half the height of X-Seed 4000, its design is particularly impressive in a nation unlike any other, lacking natural mountains. This initial publicity endeavor serves as a testament to creative human innovation, despite the uncertain future for such grand designs.

7. Thai Boon Rong Commercial Towers, Cambodia

While the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur remain iconic, the Thai Boon Rong Commercial Towers in Phnom Penh are set to become the tallest twin towers in the world upon completion, rising 1,800 feet. Reflecting Cambodia’s rapid development, scheduled to open in 2021, these towers will not only transform the skyline but also reshape international perceptions of the nation.