In the Chinese city of Chongqing, the construction of the unique architectural complex The Crystal has been completed — the largest and tallest horizontal skyscraper in the world. The giant structure is located 250 meters above the ground and connects four towers.
The steel frame of the giant skyscraper weighs about as much as the Eiffel Tower.
In the city of Chongqing, China, one of the most ambitious architectural projects of modern times has been realized — the giant horizontal skyscraper The Crystal, located 250 meters above the ground.
As reported by Oddity Central, the unusual structure stretches 300 meters and combines four vertical towers. Because of this, The Crystal is considered the largest and tallest horizontal skyscraper in the world.
The building was constructed in one of the most densely populated areas of Chongqing — at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers.
Although the concept of "sky bridges" between skyscrapers has been used before, such as in Singapore's Marina Bay Sands or Beijing's Link Hybrid complex, The Crystal significantly surpasses previous projects in scale.
The project was implemented by the Asian development company CapitaLand. The approximate construction cost was around 1.1 billion dollars.
For the exterior cladding of the structure, about 3,000 glass panels and around 5,000 aluminum elements were used.
The horizontal skyscraper itself contains seven large sections. Some of the structures were assembled on the ground, after which they were lifted to a height of 250 meters for final installation using hydraulic systems.
The steel frame of The Crystal weighs about 12,000 tons — almost as much as the Eiffel Tower.
In addition to its architectural uniqueness, The Crystal also serves as a residential and entertainment space. Inside, there are restaurants, bars, a private club, rooftop gardens, and two infinity pools.
One of the main tourist attractions has become the Exploration Deck observation platform with a glass floor covering 1,500 square meters, offering a panoramic view of the city.
The Crystal has become one of the most unusual engineering projects in recent years and another symbol of China's architectural ambitions. Experts believe that such megaprojects are gradually changing the perception of modern skyscrapers and the cities of the future.
