Analysis of 24 of the most significant buildings and infrastructures over the past 50 years reveals the top 10 most popular landmarks to add to your must-see bucket list

The study by the organisation "Tomorrow Building World Congress" also highlights the purpose of these buildings and infrastructures categorising them under areas such as economic, social compromise, eco, architecture, and more in order to know the beneficial impact they have in society

From soaring heights to cutting-edge technology, the Burj Khalifa, DXB International Airport and Toronto's CN Tower have captivated global attention to become the top 3 most popular buildings and infrastructures everyone should know, in the latest study commissioned by the organisation behind Tomorrow Building World Congress:

The analysis of the top 10 most popular buildings and infrastructure over the past fifty years delved into Instagram data and Google search volumes.

The methodology involved scoring each structure a rating between 1 - 10 across these data points, with an average score determining the final ranking.by looking at monthly Google searches and their Instagram popularity.

Furthermore, the study also showcases the societal purpose of each building classifying them within the following categories: economic, social compromise, tourism, work/entrepreneurial, ecologic, architectural and mobility. 

These buildings and infrastructures not only represent the advancement and architecture of their respective regions but also the cultural, economic, social and technological achievements within their society.

They form the foundation and basis of the development of smart cities, with their functionality and purpose being key to modern urban success.

The top ten positions feature the following infrastructures:

Burj Khalifa, Dubai (UAE)

Inaugurated in 2010, the Burj Khalifa stands as the world’s tallest building at 828 meters. It has become the central hub of Dubai’s urban and economic development, symbolizing the city’s rapid growth and modernization. It also serves as a symbol of the United Arab Emirates’ progress, reflected in the construction of skyscrapers in other cities across the nation. The Burj Khalifa is also a major tourist attraction, with over 8 million mentions on Instagram and approximately 2 million Google searches. These figures place the building at the top of the ranking with a score of 7.79 points.

DXB Airport, Dubai (UAE)

With approximately 87 million passengers in 2023, DXB is the busiest international airport in the world. It played a crucial role in establishing Dubai as a global hub for tourism and commerce. Inaugurated in 2010, its expansion has significantly fueled the city’s growth, helping transform Dubai into a modern megacity. With 15.7 million mentions on Instagram, it is the most mentioned infrastructure on the platform. It holds second place in the ranking with a score of 5.65.

CN Tower, Toronto (Canada)

This radio broadcasting tower was built by the Canadian National Railway in 1976 to address signal obstruction caused by the increasing number of tall buildings in the city during the construction boom. To resolve this issue, a tower taller than the surrounding buildings needed to be constructed. The result was the CN Tower, featuring a 100-meter tall broadcasting aerial, which held the title of the world’s tallest tower for 35 years. Today, the CN Tower is a major tourist attraction, drawing over 1.5 million visitors annually and garnering more than 1.6 million mentions on Instagram.

NAC (Egypt)

NAC is the New Administrative Capital of Egypt, initiated in 2016 in the middle of the desert with the goal of relieving the overpopulated and heavily polluted megacity of Cairo, one of the most polluted cities in the world. Located 45 km from Cairo and 60 km from the Suez Canal, NAC aims to become a modern smart city. It will feature a new presidential palace, a parliament, an opera house, wide avenues, parks and green spaces, business districts, and residential neighborhoods. The project involves relocating Egypt’s administrative capital to relieve congestion in Cairo and promoting development in a new, purpose-built area. This project appears in the ranking due to its high number of Google searches, exceeding 800,000.

MTR (Mass Transit Railway) (Hong Kong)

This is Hong Kong’s subway system established in 1975 to address the city’s growing public transportation demands. It forms an efficient transport network by connecting suburban areas with the city center, promoting suburban growth and development. The impact of this infrastructure includes the implementation of the “rail + property” model, which has been successfully exported to other cities around the world. This model involves developing commercial areas near stations to generate revenue, which helps fund the maintenance of the transport network. The MTR ranks fifth on the list, with over 600,000 Google searches.

Gardens by the Bay (Singapore)

In January 2007, construction began on Gardens by the Bay in Marina Bay, and five years later, it became Singapore’s largest park. It is globally renowned for its glass-domed, climate-controlled greenhouses that house plants and flowers from all five continents. The park is also famous for its 50-meter-tall “supertrees”, which serve as vertical gardens and are equipped with solar panels that harness energy for nighttime illumination. Famous for its striking aesthetics, frequently shared across social media, Gardens by the Bay hosts festivals, concerts, sports, and community events. It attracts 13.7 million visitors annually and has over 1.3 million mentions on Instagram, earning it a score of 2.74.

Battersea Power Station, London (United Kingdom)

Battersea Power Station was a power station that supplied electricity to London from the 1930s until its decommissioning in the 1980s. After being abandoned for three decades, a regeneration project began in 2012 to transform the area into a residential and commercial district, spurring urban development in the south of London. The iconic building preserves many of its original elements, and visitors can even access one of its chimneys for panoramic views of the city. This infrastructure garners nearly 700,000 Google searches and achieves a score of 2.71 in the ranking.

The Lotus Temple, New Delhi (India)

The Baháʼí House of Worship, built in 1986, is shaped like a lotus flower, with 27 independent petals covered in marble. Surrounding the lotus structure are walkways with curved balustrades, bridges, and stairs that encircle nine ponds, symbolizing the floating leaves of the lotus. These ponds aid in ventilating the building, helping to keep the interior cool even when outside temperatures exceed 45 degrees Celsius. The Lotus Temple is the principal temple of the Baháʼí Faith. It ranks eighth with a score of 2.41, driven by over 500,000 internet searches.

The Shard, London (United Kingdom)

Standing at 309 meters, it is the tallest building in Western Europe and it has transformed London’s skyline and revitalized areas such as London Bridge, significantly contributing to the urban renewal of the city’s southern region. Designed as a mixed-use building, it includes offices, restaurants, a luxury hotel, and exclusive residences. In addition, as a tourist attraction, it features “The View from The Shard,” offering 360º panoramic views of the city. In its first year, it welcomed one million tourists and garnered 900,000 mentions on Instagram.

Eurotunnel, English Channel (France/United Kingdom)

Inaugurated in 1994, the Eurotunnel connected the United Kingdom with the European continent, facilitating trade and the movement of people. It integrated Europe’s railway networks and significantly influenced the economic and urban development of the region. The Eurotunnel created a more integrated network of connections, helping to form a mega-region between London and Paris. It is the third longest tunnel in the world and features the longest underwater section, with an average depth of 50 meters. The Eurotunnel ranks last with a score of 2.12, driven by 450,000 internet searches.