The current tallest building globally, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, may soon be overshadowed by a 30-year-old concept known as the X-Seed 4000. This visionary design, dating back to 1995, proposes a skyscraper reaching a staggering 4km height, nearly half the elevation of Mount Everest.
The Japanese construction giant, Taisei Corporation, envisioned the X-Seed 4000 to float on Tokyo Bay, offering residences across 800 floors for up to a million people. The project required a massive 3,000,000 tons of steel to support its grand scale, with considerations for internal air pressure to mitigate altitude-related health issues.
Although the floating metropolis design, reminiscent of Mount Fuji, aimed for self-sustainability with various amenities, including residential, commercial, and research spaces, it remained a futuristic dream. Despite rumors of revival in 2007, the project was never actualized, serving primarily as a showcase of engineering ingenuity.
Experts suggest that while engineering-wise, constructing such a colossal building is feasible, the estimated $1 trillion cost and regulatory hurdles present significant challenges. Concerns over safety, environmental impact, and logistical complexities further cast doubts on the practicality of the X-Seed 4000, leaving it as a fascinating yet unrealized architectural concept.
