Lotte World Tower
On 4 April 2017, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) officially acknowledged the newly-completed Lotte World Tower as the fifth tallest building in the world.
Located in Seoul, South Korea, the sleek, tapered supertall tower measures 554.5 m (1,819 ft), pushing Kuala Lumpur’s Petronas Twin Towers (at 452 m) out of the Top 10 list for the first time since they were completed in 1998.
Built with the 10-storey Lotte World Mall at its base, which opened in 2014, the tower is a slender cone with gently-curved convex sides. The architects Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates used pale-coloured glass for the exterior, drawing inspiration from Korean ceramics, porcelain and calligraphy.
Originally granted permission to start construction in November 2010, work actually began in March 2011.
The 123-storey tower contains a variety of functions, including retail, offices, luxury hotel, concert hall with 2,000 seating capacity, aquarium, and cinema. It also boasts the world’s highest glass-bottomed observation deck, which visitors can walk across at 500 m (1,640 ft) above ground.
The roof structure is 120 m-high and is constructed using 12 m-high steel counterparts, each weighing 20 tons. It is resistant to earthquakes of up to 9 on the Richter scale, and wind speeds of up to 80 m/s.
Other notable features include the world’s highest swimming pool in a building, on the 85th floor, and the world’s fastest elevator, capable of taking people to the top in just 60 seconds.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Reform of the fire engineering profession
Fire Engineers Advisory Panel: Authoritative Statement, reactions and next steps.
Restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster
A complex project of cultural significance from full decant to EMI, opportunities and a potential a way forward.
Apprenticeships and the responsibility we share
Perspectives from the CIOB President as National Apprentice Week comes to a close.
The first line of defence against rain, wind and snow.
Building Safety recap January, 2026
What we missed at the end of last year, and at the start of this...
National Apprenticeship Week 2026, 9-15 Feb
Shining a light on the positive impacts for businesses, their apprentices and the wider economy alike.
Applications and benefits of acoustic flooring
From commercial to retail.
From solid to sprung and ribbed to raised.
Strengthening industry collaboration in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Institute of Construction and The Chartered Institute of Building sign Memorandum of Understanding.
A detailed description from the experts at Cornish Lime.
IHBC planning for growth with corporate plan development
Grow with the Institute by volunteering and CP25 consultation.
Connecting ambition and action for designers and specifiers.
Electrical skills gap deepens as apprenticeship starts fall despite surging demand says ECA.
Built environment bodies deepen joint action on EDI
B.E.Inclusive initiative agree next phase of joint equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) action plan.
Recognising culture as key to sustainable economic growth
Creative UK Provocation paper: Culture as Growth Infrastructure.
Futurebuild and UK Construction Week London Unite
Creating the UK’s Built Environment Super Event and over 25 other key partnerships.
Welsh and Scottish 2026 elections
Manifestos for the built environment for upcoming same May day elections.
Advancing BIM education with a competency framework
“We don’t need people who can just draw in 3D. We need people who can think in data.”