The International Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat publishes on its fascinating website a list of 'crteria for tall buildings'. It begins by saying that a 'tall building ... is a building that exhibits some elements of tallness' (sic). It then goes on to suggest some more precise definitions, such as 'height relative to context and proportion' - buildings which are not particularly tall but, because they are slender, look tall. The CTUBH site defines 'supertall buildings' as those that reach more than 300 metres, or 984 feet. Of the two examples featured, the O-14 building in Dubai is a bizarrely attractive if rather squat looking construction. The ICC building in Hong Kong is more impressive and, again, strangely attractive. Full marks to the design teams in both cases. But what idiot decided that 'a tall building ... is a building that exhibits some elements of tallness'? No, really! I'm going to take a wild stab at this, but would a 'small building' be one that 'exhibits elements of smallness'?
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