Buildings and project developments in Singapore are sprouting at a rather incredible rate and they are usually completed on schedule or without lengthy delays.
However, this is not the case in some parts of the world as some buildings are never fully realised due to financial obstacles, political pressures or cultural shifts, according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH).
In its recent report, the council revealed some of the building in the world with the longest construction period from 1985 to date.
With almost three decades since it was first built, the Ryugyong Hotel in North Korea took the top spot. Works on the building started in 1987, and it had to be shelved several times due to economic reasons. According to media reports, the pyramid-shaped hotel was finally ready to open its doors in 2013. However, it was deferred once again and the hotel remains unfinished.
The second building on the list is the Plaza Rakyat (pictured) in Kuala Lumpur which has been left abandoned after its developer faced financial difficulties during the 1997 Asian financial crisis.
According to media reports, there have been several attempts to revive the project, and recently, the Kuala Lumpur City Hall is said to have taken vacant possession of the site.
Source: CTBUH
Other tall buildings with the longest time to complete include the Xiamen International Center in China and the AIC Empire Tower in the Philippines, according to the report.
CTBUH reports there are currently 50 buildings, which are 150 metre or taller, on hold globally.
Muneerah Bee, Senior Journalist at PropertyGuru, wrote this story. To contact her about this or other stories email muneerah@propertyguru.com.sg
