After the postmodern architectural movement in 1960, the scenario of urban development started to change. In the late 1990s the style of postmodern architectural development finally began to proliferate and became dominant. Since then it has divided into a multitude of new propensities including high-tech architecture, neo-futurism and deconstructivism. In turn, that resulted in the construction of astounding structures that we also call by the name of modern wonders of the world.
Most of them often carry beautiful statements of a nation’s wealth, pride, and power. But these architectural marvels don’t come cheap. From planning to completed construction, the costs of those buildings regularly reach the billions. That said, here are the seven most expensive buildings in the world.
Wynn Resort
Location: Las Vegas, US
Cost: US$2.70 billion
Costing nearly $3 billion, Wynn is one of the lushest resorts in Las Vegas. It is named after the casino developer Steve Wynn and is the flagship property of Wynn Resorts. It covers 215 acres of land and is the sixth-largest hotel and casino in the world. Over the years, the resort has garnered some of the most prestigious awards including the AAA five diamond, Mobil five-star, Forbes five-star, and Michelin five-star ratings. It was also the first casino to feature a car dealership and also first to combine the room key and the casino-frequent player into a single card. The resort is also set to expand by 35 acres in 2020.
One World Trade Centre
Location: New York, US
Cost: US$3.80 billion
To replace and commemorate the twin towers of the original World Trade Center, which fell during the 9/11 attack, The One Trade Centre was completed in 2013. Also known as Freedom Tower, this 541m tall building is the 7th tallest building in the world. Other than remembering the original Twin Towers, it also serves as an industrial hub. Connecting to eleven NYC subways, the building also houses 71 floors of office space. This astounding piece was designed by architect David Childs, and also features a 9/11 commemorative museum.
Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
Location: Las Vegas, US
Cost: US$3.90 billion
The cosmopolitan of las vegas, popularly known as the Cosmo first opened its door in 2010. This 3000 room luxurious hotel is a common sight in the Las Vegas Strip. The Cosmo features two towers, both of which are 184m tall as well as a 110,000 sq. ft. casino, retail space, a convention center, and much more. Built by Germany-based banking company Deutsche Bank, this hotel and casino cost a staggering US$3.9 billion, makes it one of the most expensive buildings in the world. Later it was sold to NY based Blackstone Group Corporation for US$1.73 billion.
Emirates Palace
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Cost: US$3.90 billion
Emirates Palace was designed by the architect John Elliot, famous for designing luxury hotels and resorts. Located in the heart of Abu Dhabi, this hotel is owned by the government and serves as the official guest house of the country’s government officials. The palace features 114 domes which are 80 meters high and spans a total of 850,000 square meters. Showcasing the Arabian culture and luxurious hospitality, the hotel has 394 residences, including 92 suites and 22 residential suites. The majority of the suites are furnished in gold and marble. It is also facilitated with 2 spas, over 40 meeting rooms, a 1.3km long beach, a marina, 2 helicopter landing pads, a ballroom that accommodates up to 2500 people, various luxury shops, and international restaurants.
Resorts World Sentosa
Location: Singapore
Cost: US$4.93 billion
Located on the southern coast of Singapore, Resorts World Sentosa is an integrated resort. The $4.93 billion resort was developed by Malaysian conglomerate Genting Singapore. It was the third most expensive building ever constructed in 2010. The signature attractions include Universal Studios Singapore, Adventure Cove Waterpark, S.E.A. Aquarium and many more. The resort is divided into three separate zones: West, Central, and East Zones. All the six hotels of the resort offer a total of 1,840 rooms for accommodation. Every one of the six hotels are designed with different themes and can serve visitors of all groups.
Marina Bay Sands
Location: Marina Bay, Singapore
Cost: US$5.50 billion
Marina Bay Sands is the most extravagant resort as well as the most expensive standalone casino in the world. At a cost of $5.5 billion, this is the second most expensive building ever built. Just like the previous entry in the list, Marina Bay Sands is also an integrated resort. Fronting the Marina Bay in Singapore, it consists of three individual 55 storied buildings connected by a 340 meter long (1,120 ft) SkyPark and a 150 m (490 ft) infinity swimming pool. This 20-hectare grand resort was designed by an Israeli-Canadian architect Moshe Safdie. Marina Bay includes a 2,561 room hotel and is facilitated with a lavish convention-exhibition center, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands mall, a museum, two large theatres, “celebrity chef” restaurants, two floating Crystal Pavilions, art-science exhibits, the world’s largest atrium casino and many more.
Abraj Al Bait
Location: Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Cost: US$15 billion
Constructed by Saudi Arabia’s largest construction company Saudi Binladin Group, Abraj Al Bait is a government-owned complex consisting of seven skyscrapers. The tallest building among the bunch is 601 meters tall and is the third-tallest building and fifth-tallest freestanding structure in the world. It also houses the world’s largest clock face (43 meters in diameter). According to the Saudi Ministry of Religious Endowments, the entire project cost $15 billion, making it the world’s most expensive building ever. With a floor area of 1,500,000 square meters and a 100,000 person capacity, the complex has two large prayer rooms (one for men, one for women) capable of holding more than 10,000 people. The tallest one also contains a five-star hotel to help provide accommodations for the millions of pilgrims that travel to Mecca annually to participate in Hajj.
When it comes to the most expensive buildings in the world, no other buildings are close to these. Some of these projects are so ambitious that they are still continuing to expand their fields to this day. But it is just a matter of time before projects even more ambitious than these will emerge in the future.
