The emergent economies of the world are urbanising and developing at a rate unprecedented in human history and as such, they have sought new monuments to solidify their place in this brave new world. It has been clear that in the last thirty years, there has been “the increasing trend towards extreme spires and other extensions of tall buildings that do not enclose usable space” (CTBUH, 2013). The recently completed Burj Kalifa standing with a total height of 828 metres has a vanity height of 244 metres, 29% of the building is in fact unusable space devoted solely to achieving the height (CTBUH, 2013).
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