Skyscrapers

In a world dominated by rectangular glass towers, this supertall skyscraper takes a different approach. It features a twisting form wrapped in thousands of terracotta fins that help cool the building in Dubai's scorching heat.

Designed to resemble a rocket on a launchpad readying for takeoff, this extraordinary tower reportedly draws inspiration from a billionaire's trip to a NASA facility in the late 1960s. It reaches a height of 820 ft.

An ambitious new supertall skyscraper is planned for New York City. Designed by SOM, the building will be defined by an eye-catching external steel lattice that forms part of its structural system.

This remarkable skyscraper draws inspiration from the most unexpected of sources: sea sponges. The ambitious building will rise to a supertall height and be topped by a publicly accessible tree-filled park.

You could be forgiven for assuming that this pyramidal skyscraper project was a still from a sci-fi TV show, or perhaps another render that's never going to go ahead. But it is indeed real, and it's begun the early stages of construction.

The ambitious Pinnacle SkyTower has reached a major milestone. The supertall skyscraper has topped out at 106 floors and now holds the record for the most floors of any residential building in North America.

The new world's tallest hybrid timber tower is nearing completion. Named Atlassian Central, this ambitious "plyscraper" features an innovative design that incorporates concrete and steel to reach unprecedented heights.

Almost 25 years after the September 11 attacks, the World Trade Center site's rebuild is nearing completion. The new 2 World Trade Center skyscraper is due to begin construction soon and will serve as headquarters for American Express.

How do you stand out in a skyscraper-packed city like Dubai? Well, you can either build really big – or you can build eye-catching. MVRDV opted for the latter with its Inaura tower, which will be defined by a luminous, jewel-like orb.

Luxury automakers are getting real serious about architecture. Following its Miami skyscraper and Dubai tower, Mercedes-Benz has now really put its foot on the gas to collaborate on building no less than 12 new skyscrapers in Dubai.

Construction on the new world's tallest skyscraper is rapidly approaching a major milestone. Saudi Arabia's JEC Tower is racing towards 100 floors, making it another step closer to achieving its projected 2028 completion date.

This year has produced more than its fair share of fantastic buildings. From a house that was 3D printed using soil, to an upcoming megatall skyscraper, here's our selection of the best architecture from the past 12 months.