Taipei 101 in Tapei in Taiwan is the best new high-rise building of the recent year. The fifth annual Emporis Skyscraper Award was presented to Taipei 101 during a press conference in Chicago on 25 June 2005.
Emporis Skyscraper Award 2004
Best new Skyscraper for Design and Functionality is Taipei 101
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Winning Design
Taipei 101 is the new undisputed heir to the title of "World's Tallest Building", with an architectural peak higher than the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur and a roof higher than the Sears Tower in Chicago. In the tradition of the magnificent structures which have held this crown, Taipei 101 combines structural expressiveness and architectural grace in an original form. The shape of the tower is inspired by the bamboo plant, whose linking segments give it a natural strength and flexibility, and also by the pagoda, whose elegant silhouette conjures the beauty of traditional Chinese art and architecture.
The building is one of the great marvels of skyscraper engineering, supported by eight "supercolumns" more massive by far than the external supporting members of any other major skyscraper. Located in a seismically active zone, Taipei 101 is further stabilized by an enormous tuned mass damper at the top, which involves a massive steel ball suspended in the middle of a public restaurant/bar with room to swing back and forth in the event of a lateral force from earthquake or wind.
The award presentation for Taipei 101 was held on June 25, 2004. Runners-up for the Emporis Skyscraper Award 2004 were Torre Agbar in Barcelona, designed by Ateliers Jean Nouvel; and World Tower in Sydney, designed by Nation Fender Katsalidis.