Six Iconic Architectural Projects Stalled by Financial Crises, Legal Battles, and Political Upheavals
A recent court ruling that puts a stop to the expansion of the White House ballroom brings attention to other stalled construction endeavors. The Chicago Spire, envisioned by Santiago Calatrava, was left unfinished in 2008 and is now set to be replaced by SOM skyscrapers expected to be completed by 2027. In Pyongyang, the Ryugyong Hotel has remained uncompleted for 34 years, having reached its full height in 1992. Caracas's Torre David was abandoned in 1994 and subsequently occupied by squatters. After a seven-year hiatus, construction on Jeddah Tower will resume in 2025, with 63 floors already built. Meanwhile, Dubai Creek Tower, initially planned as a 1,300-meter observation structure by Calatrava, is being reconstructed on a smaller scale. Lastly, Bangkok's Sathorn Unique Tower has been 80% finished since 1997 due to the Asian financial crisis.
Key facts
- The White House ballroom expansion was halted by a judge last week, potentially becoming a famous construction hole.
- Chicago Spire was abandoned after financial issues in 2008, with Santiago Calatrava placing an $11.34 million lien for unpaid work.
- Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang began construction in 1987, reached full height in 1992, and remains incomplete after 34 years.
- Torre David in Caracas was halted in 1994, occupied by 5,000 squatters, and damaged by a 2018 earthquake.
- Jeddah Tower construction began in 2013, paused in 2018 with 63 floors complete, and restarted in 2025.
- Dubai Creek Tower construction began in 2016, was paused during the pandemic, and is now being rebuilt at reduced height.
- Sathorn Unique Tower in Bangkok has been 80% complete since 1997 when the Asian financial crisis halted 300 city projects.
- Related Midwest took over the Chicago Spire site in 2014 and is building SOM-designed skyscrapers instead of Calatrava's design.
Entities
Artists
- Santiago Calatrava
- Adrian Smith
- Gordon Gill
- Enrique Gómez
- Rangsan Torsuwan
Institutions
- Related Midwest
- SOM
- Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture
- Enrique Gómez and Associates
- Kingdom Holding Company
- Dezeen
- Venice Architecture Biennale
Locations
- White House
- Chicago
- USA
- Pyongyang
- North Korea
- Caracas
- Venezuela
- Jeddah
- Saudi Arabia
- Dubai
- United Arab Emirates
- Bangkok
- Thailand
Sources
- Dezeen —