World's Top 5 Monolithic Skyscrapers

The buildings subsume their programmatic and structural expression in the service of a singular gesture, and in doing so, are placed into the realm of the abstract. These monolithic entities are characterized by platonic solidity, sculptural simplicity, and dramatic form.

This unusually shaped building promises to reinvent the building type through its dramatic form and sophisticated integration of building systems. Located in the heart of London's financial district, the building joins a small cluster of tall buildings.

The tower is circular in plan, widening as it rises, and then tapering towards its domed apex. In geometric terms the building is a rotational form, the result of spinning a curved line about a single axis. The resultant shape is a bulbous projectile - like structure that defies most skyscraper conventions and conjures up phallic associations.

In his book Delirious New York, Rem Koolhass speculates that the conceptual origins of the skyscrapers are to be found in what he calls "architectural subconscious." He muses that the ideal skyscraper is the result of the desire to be simultaneously a sphere and a needle.

30 St. Mary Axe utilizes natural ventilation for much of the year, reducing energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. The operable curtain wall allows the occupants to enjoy natural light and fresh air, as well as an increased connection to the out-doors. Fresh air is drawn through the building envelope, and is ventilated by natural convection through light walls that spiral up the building perimeter.

Foster's design for 30 St.Mary Axe evokes some of the same properties appearing bulbous and axial at the same time. Al Faisaliah Complex: Foster and Partners, Riyadh, 2000

A distinctly tapered iconic form, the Al Faisaliah Complex in Riyadh is one of Saudi Arabia's first skyscrapers.

The mixed use development combines various program types to form a kind of city-within-a-city; the complex combines office functions, a five star hotel, a banqueting and conference center, luxury apartment, and a three story retail mall.