There is nothing more poetic and terrible than the skyscrapers' battle with the heavens that cover them.

-Federico Garcia Lora

 

The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) recently announced the buildings they will honor as the Best Tall Buildings of 2012 and boy are they beauties! From the "Marilyn Monroe" building, one of a pair of curvy skyscrapers that make up the Absolute Towers in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, to Abu Dahbi's Al Bahar Towers with its dynamic shading system that opens and closes as the sun moves across the sky, the winning buildings represent a commitment to sustainability and innovative design. The judges wanted to honor buildings that "enhance the cities and the lives of their inhabitants." 

 

Do you think that skyscrapers can enhance the lives of city dwellers? Coming up this Friday, we'll talk more about the 2012 award-winning buildings and the role of skyscrapers in the urban landscape.

 

Love skyscrapers? Check out this interview with Kate Ascher, author of the book The Heights: Anatomy of a Skyscraper, and a slideshow of images from the book.