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Innovation

Quest for Height

12.03.07 | 2 Comments

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Someone sent me a link to this picture, presumably scanned from a book (sorry, I don’t have the source reference, if you know it, please post a comment referencing it so proper attribution may be assigned.) It’s a small version, to see it in its glorious detail, click the image and a new window will open with the large detailed image.

Image depicting over 70 of the world's ancient, tallest buildings


I love images like this that convey interesting information in multiple dimensions concurrently – ultimately, like the works of architecture depicted, they are art. One of the fascinating things to note is that the Great Pyramid (460 f/140 m) was completed in approximately 2650 BCE and held the record as the world’s tallest structure for nearly 3,800 years until eclipsed by a series of cathedrals in Europe starting in 1311 with Lincoln Cathedral’s Spire in England at (525 f/160 m.)

Modern buildings and depictions thereof are less interesting, though recently the Burj Dubai (under construction) looks to be another large step forward breaking through the ~500 m barrier aiming for a > 800 m completion height. Note the size of the Great Pyramid relative to the newest structures in the image below.

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Chart showing modern tall buildings relative to the longest lived tall structure, the Great Pyramid at Giza

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