If you asked someone 100 years ago what they thought the future would look like, they might’ve said jetpacks, flying cars, buildings that touch the sky and maybe even pillows that manage to stay cold all the time. Well, we’re here to report that human innovation has brought many of these things to reality, one of them being the perplexing and unfathomable invention that is the skyscraper. The cooling pillow thing is pretty cool too, though.
The exact definition of a skyscraper is debated, but generally it is meant to refer to a building at least 100 meters (330 ft) or 150 meters (490 ft) in height. The first skyscraper was designed by architect William LeBaron Jenney in 1884. When architects like him realized bricks were only practical for constructing buildings five to six stories tall, they knew it was time to get creative if they wanted to reach new heights.
It is said that the first skyscraper was The Home Life Insurance Building, which was completed in 1885, and was the first building whose entire weight was supported with an iron frame. Not long after, the Eiffel Tower was built and set the precedent for how to brace metal frames against the wind. From there, the concept of skyscrapers became a highly popularized building option.
At this point in our timeline, we can easily say skyscrapers populate abundant cities across the world. In fact, one of the most defining characteristics of any major city are its high rises and skyscrapers, making these buildings coveted landmarks sought out by ambitious travelers.
Some of the most notable skyscrapers include the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center in New York, as well as international gems such as the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, The Shard in London or the Canton Tower in Guangzhou. Many travelers can surely attest that the views from the peaks of these buildings are breathtaking, and can truly make one feel like they’re on top of the world.
A nod of praise towards these monumental structures forged by relentless manpower is in order. For some, certain skyscrapers may be symbolic of their home city, while for others, they may serve as hallmarks of glory that occupy one’s bucket list of places to visit. Or, perhaps, they can serve as a constant reminder to strive above and beyond circumstances that appear insurmountable on the surface. It was once thought impossible for a durable building to reach such great heights, but now they’re as ubiquitous as the phones in our hands.
On that note, let’s take a look at some phenomenal tattoos of the world’s most prominent skyscrapers. When it comes to how high you can level up your tattoo game, the sky’s the limit.
