Sydney's awesome One Central Park is a mixed-use dual high-rise building co-designed by Foster and Partners, Ateliers Jean Nouvel, and PTW Architects. Noted for its facade of foliage, the building is also celebrated for the panel of hovering mirrors that reflect glimmers of natural light onto the lower levels. At night, LEDs transform the heliostat into a shimmering light installation.

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The Interlace, Singapore -

Designed by Ole Scheeren/OMA, The Interlace is one of the largest and most ambitious residential developments in Singapore. The complex features 31 apartment blocks housing more than 1,000 residential units.

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Bosco Verticale, Italy -

Bosco Verticale, which translates into English as "Vertical Forest," is a pair of high-rise residential apartments in Milan that contain more than 900 trees. The "treescrapers" are the work of Boeri Studio, with substantial input from horticulturalists and botanists.

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Turning Torso, Sweden -

The design of the super cool-looking Turning Torso in Malmö is based on Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava's very own sculpture, 'Twisting Torso.' The neo-futurist residential tower, seen here deflecting a lightning strike, is regarded as the first twisted skyscraper in the world.

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The Wave, Denmark -

Designed by Henning Larsen Architects, the Wave, also known as Bølgen, is a luxury residential building complex in the city of Vejle in Jutland.

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111 West 57th Street, USA -

New York is home to the thinnest skyscraper in the world: 111 West 57th Street. One of the most exclusive residential addresses in the city, the tower was designed by Warren and Wetmore and SHoP Architects.

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L'arbre Blanc, France -

L'arbre Blanc ("White Tree") in Montpellier, southern France, was co-designed by Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto and French architects Nicolas Laisné and Manal Rachdi. The building is inspired by the Mediterranean tradition of outdoor living.

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Torres de São Gabriel e São Rafael, Portugal -

Lisbon's Parque das Nações, situated east of the Portuguese capital, features two residential towers, Torres de São Gabriel e São Rafael. The inspiration behind the emblematic buildings, designed by José Quintela, is the caravel, a 15th-century vessel used by Portuguese mariners during the era of sea exploration.

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Landmark Pinnacle, England -

At 233 m (764 ft), London's Landmark Pinnacle is the tallest residential building in Europe. It was designed by Squire and Partners.

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Joh 3, Germany -

Designed by J Mayer H Architects, Joh 3 reinterprets the classic Berliner Wohnhaus residential building concept. The multi-unit housing complex is located in the city's downtown district.

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Cayan Tower, United Arab Emirates -

Cayan Tower, also known as Infinity Tower, is one of Dubai's most iconic residential buildings. Designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill SOM architectural group, the 306-meter-tall (1,004 ft) tower features 492 condo units.

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Habitat 67, Canada -

A Montreal urban landmark, Habitat 67 was designed by Israeli-Canadian architect Moshe Safdie. It's named in part after EXPO 67, held in the city during that year.

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NEMA, USA -

At 273 m (896 ft), NEMA is the tallest residential tower in Chicago. Designed by master architect Rafael Viñoly, it's one of the most striking buildings in the city and encloses 800 apartments.

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Tao Zhu Yin Yuan, Taipei -

Directly inspired by the double helix structure of DNA, Taipei's Tao Zhu Yin Yuan residential tower, also known as Agora Garden, was designed by the Belgian architect Vincent Callebaut.

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Markthal, Netherlands -

Rotterdam's Markthal combines 228 apartments with retail space and a large, colorful market hall on the ground floor. The horseshoe-shaped complex was designed by architectural firm MVRDV.

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Fake Hills, China -

Fake Hills, located on the coastal city of Beihai in China, is a residential apartment complex with an undulating, rollercoaster-like roof. The complex is the vision of Beijing-based architectural studio MAD.

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25 Verde, Italy -

Cor-Ten steel shaped like tree trunks help support the 63 residential units known as 25 Verde, located in Turin. Architect Luciano Pia planted 150 trees on the facade to complete the green living concept.

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8 House, Denmark -

Located in the suburb of Ørestad in Copenhagen, 8 House, a mixed-use development designed by Bjarke Ingels Group, is so named for its resemblance to the figure eight.

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Torres Blancas, Spain -

Designed in 1961 by Spanish architect Francisco Javier Sáenz de Oiza, Torres Blancas is one of the most emblematic residential buildings in Madrid.

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Monster Building, Hong Kong -

The original 1960's concrete jungle, Hong Kong's Monster Building is a group of five connected buildings in Quarry Bay. An astonishing 10,000 people live in its cramped composite quarters.

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Terrassenhaus Buchengasse, Austria -

Vienna's Terrassenhaus Buchengasse peach-colored boxed apartment complex is the work of Austrian architect Rüdiger Lainer.

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Reversible Destiny Lofts, Japan -

A quirky Tokyo landmark, Reversible Destiny Lofts is a collective housing project consisting of nine units that utilize three shapes—the cube, the sphere, and the tube. The building is designed by Japanese architect Shusaku Arakawa of the Architectural Body Research Foundation.

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Sky Habitat, Singapore -

Rather than being a straight skyscraper, Sky Habitat is a three-dimensional matrix of homes. Safdie Architects is responsible for the radical design.

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56 Leonard, USA -

Looming over New York City's Tribeca neighborhood, 56 Leonard is described by its designer, the Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron, as "houses stacked in the sky."

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Florin Court, England -

British television viewers will recognize this building as the London home of Agatha Christie's fictional detective Hercule Poirot, portrayed by David Suchet. Florin Court was built in 1936 by Guy Morgan and Partners and stands as a fine example of Art Deco/Streamline Moderne architecture.

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The Dakota, USA -

Completed in 1884, the Dakota is one of New York City's most venerable residential apartment buildings. Sadly, it's the location where former Beatle John Lennon was shot and fatally wounded in 1980.

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Waldspirale, Germany -

Waldspirale translates into English as "Forest Spiral," a reference to the building's curvaceous design and green roof. Located in Darmstadt, Waldspirale contains 105 apartments. The project was planned and implemented by architect Heinz M. Springmann, but the design is unmistakably the work of Friedensreich Hundertwasser.

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1000 Trees, China -

Designed by British architect Thomas Heatherwick's studio, 1000 Trees is a mixed-use building set on Shanghai's Wusong Jiang river. It's noted for the over 1,000 trees and 250,000 plants embellishing the exterior.

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St George Wharf Tower, England -

London's St George Wharf Tower is a residential skyscraper in Vauxhall, London. Conceived by Broadway Malyan, the tower's floor-plan design is based on the shape of a Catherine wheel.

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The Cube houses, Netherlands -

The Cube houses (Kubuswoningen) is a collection of innovative residences in Rotterdam, conceived by the Dutch architect Piet Blom. The design is based on the concept of "living as an urban roof."

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100 11th Avenue, USA -

French architect Jean Nouvel is responsible for 100 11th Avenue, an apartment block in Chelsea, New York City. Every glass panel of the curtain wall is tilted at a different angle.

Sources: (Archute) (Architectural Digest) (History) (Evening Standard)

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Shutterstock

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One Central Park, Australia -

Shutterstock

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The Interlace, Singapore -

Shutterstock

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Bosco Verticale, Italy -

Shutterstock

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Turning Torso, Sweden -

Getty Images

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The Wave, Denmark -

Designed by Henning Larsen Architects, the Wave, also known as Bølgen, is a luxury residential building complex in the city of Vejle in Jutland.

Shutterstock

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111 West 57th Street, USA -

Shutterstock

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L'arbre Blanc, France -

Getty Images

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Torres de São Gabriel e São Rafael, Portugal -

Getty Images

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Landmark Pinnacle, England -

At 233 m (764 ft), London's Landmark Pinnacle is the tallest residential building in Europe. It was designed by Squire and Partners.

Shutterstock

9 / 32 Fotos

Joh 3, Germany -

Designed by J Mayer H Architects, Joh 3 reinterprets the classic Berliner Wohnhaus residential building concept. The multi-unit housing complex is located in the city's downtown district.

Getty Images

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Cayan Tower, United Arab Emirates -

Shutterstock

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Habitat 67, Canada -

A Montreal urban landmark, Habitat 67 was designed by Israeli-Canadian architect Moshe Safdie. It's named in part after EXPO 67, held in the city during that year.

Shutterstock

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NEMA, USA -

At 273 m (896 ft), NEMA is the tallest residential tower in Chicago. Designed by master architect Rafael Viñoly, it's one of the most striking buildings in the city and encloses 800 apartments.

Getty Images

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Tao Zhu Yin Yuan, Taipei -

Directly inspired by the double helix structure of DNA, Taipei's Tao Zhu Yin Yuan residential tower, also known as Agora Garden, was designed by the Belgian architect Vincent Callebaut.

Shutterstock

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Markthal, Netherlands -

Rotterdam's Markthal combines 228 apartments with retail space and a large, colorful market hall on the ground floor. The horseshoe-shaped complex was designed by architectural firm MVRDV.

Shutterstock

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Fake Hills, China -

Shutterstock

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25 Verde, Italy -

Shutterstock

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8 House, Denmark -

Located in the suburb of Ørestad in Copenhagen, 8 House, a mixed-use development designed by Bjarke Ingels Group, is so named for its resemblance to the figure eight.

Shutterstock

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Torres Blancas, Spain -

Designed in 1961 by Spanish architect Francisco Javier Sáenz de Oiza, Torres Blancas is one of the most emblematic residential buildings in Madrid.

Shutterstock

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Monster Building, Hong Kong -

The original 1960's concrete jungle, Hong Kong's Monster Building is a group of five connected buildings in Quarry Bay. An astonishing 10,000 people live in its cramped composite quarters.

Shutterstock

20 / 32 Fotos

Terrassenhaus Buchengasse, Austria -

Vienna's Terrassenhaus Buchengasse peach-colored boxed apartment complex is the work of Austrian architect Rüdiger Lainer.

Getty Images

21 / 32 Fotos

Reversible Destiny Lofts, Japan -

Getty Images

22 / 32 Fotos

Sky Habitat, Singapore -

Rather than being a straight skyscraper, Sky Habitat is a three-dimensional matrix of homes. Safdie Architects is responsible for the radical design.

Shutterstock

23 / 32 Fotos

56 Leonard, USA -

Looming over New York City's Tribeca neighborhood, 56 Leonard is described by its designer, the Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron, as "houses stacked in the sky."

Shutterstock

24 / 32 Fotos

Florin Court, England -

Getty Images

25 / 32 Fotos

The Dakota, USA -

Completed in 1884, the Dakota is one of New York City's most venerable residential apartment buildings. Sadly, it's the location where former Beatle John Lennon was shot and fatally wounded in 1980.

Shutterstock

26 / 32 Fotos

Waldspirale, Germany -

Getty Images

27 / 32 Fotos

1000 Trees, China -

Getty Images

28 / 32 Fotos

St George Wharf Tower, England -

London's St George Wharf Tower is a residential skyscraper in Vauxhall, London. Conceived by Broadway Malyan, the tower's floor-plan design is based on the shape of a Catherine wheel.

Getty Images

29 / 32 Fotos

The Cube houses, Netherlands -

The Cube houses (Kubuswoningen) is a collection of innovative residences in Rotterdam, conceived by the Dutch architect Piet Blom. The design is based on the concept of "living as an urban roof."

Getty Images

30 / 32 Fotos

100 11th Avenue, USA -

French architect Jean Nouvel is responsible for 100 11th Avenue, an apartment block in Chelsea, New York City. Every glass panel of the curtain wall is tilted at a different angle.

Sources: (Archute) (Architectural Digest) (History) (Evening Standard)

Getty Images

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Celebrating World Architechture Day

Property designed to be seriously lived in

15/08/24 | StarsInsider

LIFESTYLE Buildings

Great architecture enhances our daily lives in ways that we wouldn't necessarily predict or expect. This is especially so when talking about residential property. Architecture involves a significant amount of creativity during the design process, and there is no doubt that good exterior design is important for any building earmarked for habitation. While creating an appealing interior is equally decisive when drawing up blueprints, a stunning facade is what first draws the eye to a potential residence. And a property is always given extra kudos if a reputable name is attached to it, which is often the case with a modern high-rise tower or apartment complex. So, are you seeking a place to live with form, function, and funky good looks?

Click through for some eye-catching inspiration.