An inclined tower is a tower that was intentionally built at an incline. Towers are built with an incline in order to support the weight of another structure, such as the Montreal Tower. Some towers are built with an incline due to the steep terrain upon which they stand, or simply for aesthetics.
Despite the outward appearance of an inclined tower as "leaning-over", they are as structurally sound as any non-inclined tower. The mass of the tower's upper section is always equal or less than the mass of the tower's lower section, ensuring the building remains balanced around its centre of mass.[ citation needed ]
Inclined towers are specifically distinguished from "inclined buildings" in that they are not built to be habitable, but to serve other functions. The principal function is the use of their height to enable various functions to be achieved, including: visibility of other features attached to the tower such as clock towers; as part of a larger structure or device to increase the visibility of the surroundings for defensive purposes as in a fortified building such as a castle; as a structure for observation for leisure purposes; or as a structure for telecommunication purposes. Towers can be stand alone structures or be supported by adjacent buildings or can be a feature on top of a large structure or building.
As of September 2019, this list includes all intentionally inclined towers which reach a height of 60 metres (197 ft) or more, as assessed by their pinnacle. Inclined buildings and inclined structures that are not designed for public or regular operational access are excluded from this list.
Rank | Name | Image | Location | Country | Height m (ft) | Floors | Year | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Tour de Montreal | Montreal, Quebec | Canada | 165 m (541 ft) | 20 | 1987 | Tallest inclined tower in the world since 1987. Features an inclination of 45°. | [1] | |
2 | Signature Bridge | Delhi | India | 154 m (505 ft) | 1 | 2018 | An inclined cantilever spar cable-stayed bridge tower featuring an observation deck. | [2] | |
3 | Most SNP | Bratislava | Slovakia | 95 m (312 ft) | 1 | 1972 | An inclined cable-stayed bridge tower featuring an observation deck and restaurant. | [3] |
A tower is a tall structure, taller than it is wide, often by a significant factor. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires and are therefore, along with tall buildings, self-supporting structures.
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Capital Gate, also known as the Leaning Tower of Abu Dhabi, is a skyscraper in Abu Dhabi that is over 160 meters (520 ft) tall, 35 stories high, with over 16,000 square meters (170,000 sq ft) of usable office space. Capital Gate is one of the tallest buildings in the city and was designed to incline 18° west, more than four times the lean of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The building is owned and was developed by the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company. The tower is the focal point of Capital Centre.
An inclined building is a building that was intentionally built at an incline. Buildings are built with an incline primarily for aesthetics, offering a unique feature to a city's skyline, as well as framing other buildings and structures between them when built in pairs.