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
ECA Industry Awards 2024 shortlist revealed
22 leading businesses from across the electrotechnical and engineering services sector.
Government unveils Skills England strategy
Skills England to transform opportunities and drive growth.
New Government Hub for York Given Planning Green Light
For up to 2,600 civil servants, due for completion by 2028.
Construction Skills Certification Scheme cards
July update on Professionally Qualified and Academically Qualified Person Cards.
BSRIA Briefing 2024, November 22
Sustainable Futures: Redefining Retrofit for Net Zero Living.
The CLC on driving competency in the retrofit sector
Previously published roadmap on skills for net zero.
The first labour government King's speech in fifteen years
Construction industry reactions, support and some concern.
CIOB Retrofit of Buildings Technical Information Sheet
What retrofit is, the approach to be taken and processes to be followed.
Adapting Historic Buildings for Energy and Carbon Efficiency
Historic England advice note 18, free download published.
10 retrofit projects revisited 10 years after completion.
Information orders, building liability orders and SPVs
Key BSA terms and how they impact special purpose vehicles.
Listed despite problems with its design.
Zen and the art of cycling exploration.
Design Council Homes Taskforce launched
To support government 1.5 million homes target within UK climate commitments.