Makes me feel really small

Readers of cyberpunk, especially the works of that genre's master, William Gibson, will be familiar with the term 'arcology'. It's a big, really big building that houses thousands of people, places of business, stores, cinemas and parks - you can

Readers of cyberpunk, especially the works of that genre's master, William Gibson, will be familiar with the term 'arcology'. It's a big, really big building that houses thousands of people, places of business, stores, cinemas and parks - you can grow up in one and never, ever leave. Invariably, they are shining examples of idyllic utopian living or dark and scary places where the sheer weight of humanity living within their walls has lead to murderous anarchy.

And Shanghai in China could well be getting one - the world's first. The Bionic Tower (funky name, but can it run in slow motion) will be 3,700 feet tall, with foundations 3,000 feet wide. It'll house 100,000 people in 300 levels spread over 12 sealed compartments. Elevators will go from the tower's base to its tip in less than a minute. The project is expected to cost 10 billion pounds.

Each of the 12 major levels will be more or less its own city, with streets and parks, amenities and living quarters. China is experiencing incredible population growth, and the Spanish architects who designed the Bionic Tower expect vertical expansion to be the solution to China's people problems.
World's Tallest Buildings dot com