Some of the tallest buildings in the world are left abandoned, either due to economic crisis or stalled development. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular skyscrapers that were left abandoned.
From a luxury skyscraper in Venezuela to a 49-storey building in Thailand, there are many abandoned buildings that could have marked architectural achievement for many. They are found all over the world and are sadly standing empty at this moment. Here are some of the great skyscrapers that we would want to see completed and enjoyed once again.
Sathorn Unique Building – Thailand
This building is a 49-storey masterpiece and is currently unoccupied, due to the financial crisis that hit the country in 1997. It would have been a residential complex overlooking Thailand’s Chao Phraya River.
Sterick Building – Memphis
This majestic building has been empty since 1986. It was used in Hollywood movies and made for a great set, but unfortunately the building is no longer in use. It once had its own bank and pharmacy, and had offices for stockbrokers. Some of its floors were made from limestone and granite.
It was suggested that this building be revamped, but there is not a real demand for office space in the area, making the revamping a slight challenge.
Szkieletor – Poland
Due to economic difficulties, the construction of this building was stopped after just four years. It is 92 metres high and was nicknamed ‘The Skeleton’. The building went through a number of owners but is today left stranded, only advertising billboards.
The building was aimed at having a second building, acting as its ‘twin’ to allow for entry to the skyscraper area from Krakow. This never came to be.
Plaza Tower – Louisiana
This skyscraper is 162 metres high and has been left vacant since 2002. This was due to environmental issues like asbestos, and it’s still one of the tallest buildings in New Orleans. A new owner purchased the building in 2005 and planned to completely revamp the skyscraper with a budget of $120 million. But these plans were thrown sideways when hurricane Katrina hit.
Torre de David – Venezuela
Known as the world’s tallest slum, this building is not actually vacant. But it has no electricity and no running water, and was built to be a beautiful 45-storey building. Today it houses more than 2,000 squatters and the construction that started in 1990 is unlikely to ever be finished. This is partly due to the massive housing shortage in 2007.
Ryugyong Hotel – North Korea
This skyscraper has been under construction for almost three decades now and it’s aimed at being an extravagant high-rise building. The building stands 330 metres tall and has glass plating, but since it houses squatters it’s difficult to lay down a completion date for construction. The construction was started in 1987 by the North Koreans but the building’s opening was delayed in 1989. In 2008 a telecommunications company paid an amount of $180 million to complete the building’s glass façade.
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