The most beautiful skyscrapers in the world, for breathtaking views

From Dubai to Shanghai, skyscrapers are redefining the skyline of the world's metropolises. Architectural feats and symbols of economic power, these titans of steel and glass defy the laws of gravity.

Since the advent of the Home Insurance Building in Chicago in 1885, the first skyscraper in history, vertical architecture has continued to push back the limits of what is possible. Beyond their primary function, these giants compete in boldness and aestheticism. Here are some of the most beautiful skyscrapers that almost touch the sky of ultra-modern cities.

Burj Khalifa, the desert arrow

. At night, its glittering façade is a beacon in this metropolis emerging from the desert.

Shanghai Tower, glass dragon

With its unique helical shape, the Shanghai Tower evokes a dragon ready to fly away, underlining the tower’s innovative aspect, while anchoring it in Chinese cultural symbolism. This 632-metre tower is not only aesthetically appealing, it also embodies the avant-garde of futuristic urban design. With its double glass façade, its integrated wind turbines, its nine interior gardens and rainwater recovery system, it is a model of sustainable development. This 128-floor building also houses the world’s highest panoramic observatory, close the stars.

One World Trade Center, New York phoenix

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Taipei 101, between tradition and modernity

At 508 metres, Taipei 101 was long the World’s tallest skyscraper, before being dethroned by the Burj Khalifa in 2009. Designed by C.Y. Lee & Partners, this building was inspired by the shape of a bamboo tree, why symbolises growth in Chinese culture. It jade-green colour and its motifs evoking traditional pagodas make it a perfect example of Asian neo-futurist architecture. Taipei 101 is also renowned for its harmonic damper, a 660-ton steel ball that stabilises the structure in the event of typhoons or earthquakes.

The Shard, Crystal palace

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Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur's twins

, the Petronas Twin Towers draw their allure from Malay cultural heritage and Islamic art motifs. Their slender, minaret-inspired silhouette is enhanced by a stainless steel and glass facade that sparkles in the sunlight, creating an effect of “multi-faceted diamonds,” according to their architect César Pelli. The famous skybridge, a transparent walkway linking the two towers on the 41st floor, has become a major tourist attraction, and remains an absolute challenge to vertigo.