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                                                       Some Famous Buildings Around the World           

All over the world there are some constructions - or buildings- that became famous along the time.
In Egypt we can still see one of the tallest ancient buildings. It's the Great Pyramid of Gisa, that was finished in 2580 BC and remained as the tallest building in the world for more than 4,000 years.
In London we have the Licoln Cathedral, completed in 1307 AD. Its spire measured 161 meters high,but as many churches at that time, it wasn't very strong and was destroyed in a storm.
Only in the 19th Century engineers learned how to build stronger buildings with the development of steel structures by an American engineer in Chicago. The most famous example of this technique is the Eiffel Tower in Paris, built in 1890.
The Empire State Building is the most famous skyscraper in New York,USA. It was built in just 410 days and was finished in 1931. It's 381 metres high with more than 60 floors. 
The construction worked like a modern and very efficient factory with materials delivered "just-in-time" (It seems this isn't a moderm idea at all, is it?). To save time, restaurants were opened in the building for the workers with very good and cheap food.
As more floors were built more restaurants were opened. This way workers could have lunch without leaving the building, what was more comfortable for everyone. And faster too.
Since than nobody in any place of the world has built something so big in so little time.


             The Empire State Building

There were the Twin Towers in the World Trade Center, finished in 1972. They were 471 meters high but,as everybody knows, they were destroyed in September 2001 by a terrorist attack.
In Chicago we have The Sears Tower completed in 1974 that remained as the tallest building in the world for 24 years, with its 442 meter high.

 The Burj Khalifa  was built in Dubai in the Arabic Emirates.Officialy opened on 4th January 2010,it is now the tallest building in the world. It is a huge 160 floors, 828 metres high building for business,hotel and living.At inauguration time  most of the rooms were sold or rented. 

The third tallest building is now the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malasia.
In 1991 there was an international contest to find the best design for the buildings. The competititon was won by the American architect Cesar Pelli, whose project was selected for being representative of Malaysian traditions. It is 452 meter high. The tallest building in the world  in march 2006.

However, there are projects for buildings 1,000 meter high - that's it! one kilometer (can you imagine that?).
Many people say they would never live or work one kilometer above the ground, but we think that it's just a matter of time for one of these "monsters" be built and used normaly by a lot of people. If you know São Paulo, you have probably heard about Martinelli Building, the first skyscraper in town. If you compare its less than 30 floors, with modern buildings you may think it's small, but in the 1930's it was difficult to convince people that it was safe to work there. The history repeats itself from time to time, doesn't it?
What about you? Would you live or work one kilometer above the ground?

 

Great Pyramid              Petronas Towers

There's another building not yet so famous, but nowadays the second tallest completed building in the world.Located in Xiniy district in Taipei, in Taiwan, the Taipei 101 skyscraper received the award of the tallest completed buildin in 2004. It was called one of the New Seven Wonders of the World by Newsweek magazine and Seven Wonders of Engineering by Discovery Channel.The building contains 101 floors above ground and 5 floors underground. 
Its postmdern style combines Asian and international modern and traditional elements. It is designed to withstand typhons and earthquakes. A multi-level shopping mall adjoining the tower houses hundreds of fashionable stores, restaurants and clubs.The tower appears frequently in films, television shows, printed publications,  games, and other elements of popular culture.
You can have more information about it in the link below. There are other even taller buildings under construction now.


This is the Taipei 101 building .

   Burj KhalifaThe tallest building in the world.(January/2010)

    Some words to help:
BC - Before Christ (Antes de Cristo)
AD - Anno Domini ( Depois de Cristo)  Veja a pag. Abbreviations
spire (pronuncia-se "ispaiér) - agulha da torre da igreja, a parte mais fina no topo da torre.
storm - tempestade.
steel - aço              

  The highest buildings in the world until January/2009   (still true in june 2019)

Building

Place

Height

Completed in

Burj Khalifa Dubai 828m 2009

Taipei 101

Taiwan

509.2 m

2004

Petronas Towers

Kuala Lumpur

452 m

1998

Sears Tower

Chicago,USA

442 m

1974

Empire State Building

New York,USA

381 m

1931

Lincoln Cathedral

England

161 m

1307

Great Pyramid of Gisa

Egypt

148 m

2580 BC

 
 Answer the questions with "True" or "False" according to the text.

1- Steel was used in constructions since the 17th Century.

2- The Great Pyramid of Gisa is the highest building in the world.

3- The most famous skyscraper in New York is the Empire State Building.

4- The Sears Tower in Chicago is from the 70's.

5- The highest building in the world today is in Taiwan.