The architect behind Shanghai’s newest and tallest tower has said that a building’s height isn’t what’s important – it’s the human element that counts, telegraph.co.uk reports.

Jun Xia of Gensler, the firm which came up with the skyscraper design for Shanghai Tower, magnanimously said that “there will always be another taller building”.

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Though the structure will stand at 632 metres tall, second only to Dubai’s Burf Khalifa, Jun told the newspaper that the point was not about achieving physical height.

“It’s about how high you can reach in terms of creating a meaningful, sustainable and human tall building. If we achieved our goal, time will tell.”

Twisted steel and glass building

The tower, which will become the world’s second-tallest building – however briefly – comprises 121 storeys and features a Mitsubishi ‘express elevator’ which will travel at 40mph, facilitating observation deck sightseeing in record time.

The twisted steel and glass building has been designed to reduce typhoon wind load by almost a quarter, according to dezeen.com and consists of nine separate zones which include retail, office, hotels and cultural facilities.

It has undoubtedly transformed the site, which is on a bend on the Huangpu river; 20 years ago, the area was a rice field. Jun is clearly smitten by his creation, adding:

“It’s a dream. Some days you look at it and you still don’t believe your eyes. It’s incredible. It’s a miracle.”

Author: Elizabeth Smythe    Date Written: 02 August 2013