10. International Commerce Centre, Hong Kong
Shining like a beacon on Hong Kong’s skyline (Photo: Isaac Torrontera via Flickr / CC By 2.0)
Completed in 2010, the 10th tallest building in the world and the tallest in Hong Kong is most notable for boasting the world’s highest hotel. Its branch of the Ritz-Carlton stretches from floor 102 to 108, and happens to contain within it, both the world’s highest swimming pool and bar.
The 101st floor is the domain of a number of high end restaurants, while the 100th offers an observation deck, which ordinary members of the public can head to in order to enjoy the spectacular views. The rest of the building (apart from the lobby) is dedicated to office space.
A strange quirk of the building is how, despite it’s overwhelming modernity, it’s still proven enthral to local superstition: there is a fear of the number four in Hong Kong, meaning any floor ending in four has been omitted in official descriptions, meaning it is marketed as a 118-storey building, despite having substantially fewer levels than that.