It’s not just the Middle Eastern oil lands that like to brag about tall new skyscrapers; now Spain and Britain are in a competition for Europe’s tallest.
That title presently belongs to ‘The Shard,’ London’s and Europe’s tallest at just under 309 meters. But a new project planned for a northern district in Madrid will include six huge buildings, one of which is slated to top the Shard.
The €6 billion project, located at Castellana, a major road crossing, is intended to create a new business district as well as residential areas. It’s been in the works for about 20 years, but developers say it’s close to construction. Over 80% of the land will be set aside for public amenities at the feet of the skyscrapers.
But that may not end the competition. At least two of London’s new skyscraper projects are also chasing The Shard, and may go higher. Called One Undershaft, it will sit next to, and nearly dwarf the bullet-shaped building by Norman Foster, called the Gherkin, that was one of London’s first modern skyscrapers. It’s planned to have a free viewing gallery at the top, and London’s highest restaurant.
