Along with a new architectural trend a need emerged to call these special buildings, depending on their height. The highest of them, tower blocks, are also called skyscrapers. In the United States it is assumed that a tower block is a building at least 150 metres high. However, in other parts of the world lower buildings, especially these which significantly tower over the panorama of a city, can also be regarded as skyscrapers.
Skyscrapers emerged over a hundred years ago, owing to the application of a framework steel and concrete construction, the invention of a water pump, as well as by using the first efficiently operating lift, secured against the breaking of a rope, which was constructed by Elisha Graves Otis.
The first skyscrapers were built in the United States (to be precise in Chicago, which is considered the cradle of high-rise buildings) and were head offices of powerful corporations. The highest storeys were most frequently occupied by the richest companies on the market, as well as presidents, which emphasised their dominance and prestige.
The lack of space in city centres and very high land prices in these regions was the initial reason for the emergence of skyscrapers so, as a part of space optimisation, construction upward has started. Over the years high-rise buildings have become the icon of architecture and ornaments of cities. In the course of time these buildings and their prices have become increasingly higher.
Chicago, Frankfurt, New York, London, Singapore have already got their skyscrapers, now the time has come for Polish cities. Gdynia has its Sea Towers, in Wrocław - the Sky Tower, and in Warsaw - Złota 44 have been built.

The new emblem of Gdynia
Sea Towers was designed by Andrzej Kapuścik Architecture Studio from Vienna and Invest Komfort S.A. was the investor. Currently, it is the highest residential building in Poland, measuring 141 metres together with its flagpole. This apartment building consists of two buildings, which are bound together, one of which has 38, and the other 28 storeys. The complex is divided into residential space and space for offices and service providers. It is located in the very centre of Gdynia, near the Seaside Promenade and a few steps from the cultural and entertainment centre of the city. It significantly dominates over existing buildings in Gdynia, which makes it impossible to be overlooked. Residents of the building can admire the panorama of Gdynia, the Peninsula of Hell and the Bay of Gdańsk from the windows of their apartments and from its viewing terrace. Sea Towers consists of 265 apartments, with its total floor area of 21 500 m2, located on the highest storeys of fourteen luxurious penthouses, as well as garage halls situated in the basement. Sea Towers has undoubtedly changed the landscape of Gdynia; it has become its unofficial emblem and a tourist attraction.

The pride of Wrocław
LC Corp Sky Tower Sp. z o.o. is the investor of Sky Tower building and its first project was drawn by WALAS Architecture Studio from Wrocław. Construction works started in March 2008, and the investment is going to be finished in March 2012. The building is planned to consist of five residential towers, and initially the highest of them was supposed to be 258 metres high, including its spire. If this height was achieved, Sky Tower would become the highest building in Poland and one of the highest ones in Europe. At the end of 2009 information appeared that the Sky Tower project will be lowered to 238 metres including its spire, but the height will not be officially known until March 2010, upon the approval of the project by supervisory bodies. Although the Sky Tower building has not been constructed yet, it has already provoked a lot of controversy. There is no doubt, however, that it has become the pride of Wrocław.


A new mark of the capital city
Skyscraper at Złota 44, the project of which was created by Daniel Libeskind, the architect of world renown, will be constructed by ORCO Property Group, the project’s investor. Construction works started in December 2007, but the planned end of the investment has not been known. The building is planned to be located at the heart of Warsaw, near the Palace of Culture and Science. Złota 44 is going to be 192 metres high and will consist of 251 apartments.
The high-rise building was designed to save water and energy. Additionally, the materials used for construction are recycled or come from renewable sources. The building, the elevation of which is going to glow in blue in daytime and to illuminate the city at night, will become one of the marks of the capital city.
Until recently the term „high rise” has been associated with concrete prefabricated panel buildings, which were built on residential estates called bedroom estates, and possessing a house on villa estates located outside the city was the synonym of success. Architecture, as any other field of life, follows fashion and creates new trends. Currently, high-rises are the symbol of creativity, they build a new history of cities and are constructed, among others, for representative purposes. Living in them is the gauge of prestige, uniqueness, and provides an opportunity to look down on the world.
Cities compete with one another for the highest and the most original skyscraper. There are preliminary projects of further high-rise constructions in Gdańsk, Kraków, Szczecin, Wrocław and in Warsaw.