Moscow is quickly becoming the European capital of skyscrapers.
The Russian city now boasts five of the 10 biggest buildings on the continent, including the tallest in Europe – Mercury City Tower. Surpassing London’s The Shard by approximately 55 feet, the latest addition to an $8.5 billion international business centre development tops out at 1,112 feet. However, Mercury City Tower will not enjoy its title for long; it will soon be overtaken by Federation Tower, another Moscow skyscraper that will soar to 1,660 feet upon completion next year.
Moscow not only boasts the tallest towers; it’s also the European city with the most skyscrapers. According to Emporis, a leading database for building information worldwide, the Russian capital is home to 87 buildings that are at least 328 feet high or have more than 40 storeys. More than two-thirds of these towers were built in the last decade.
There are a number of reasons behind the recent building boom in Moscow. Chief among them is the fact that there are fewer building regulations in Moscow than in other European cities, cites Emporis.