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5 of the World’s Most Spectacular Megaprojects

We seem to be entering a new age of megaprojects as countries around the world mobilise the private sector to invest heavily in multi-billion or sometimes multi-trillion dollar infrastructure initiatives.

We seem to be entering a new age of megaprojects as countries around the world mobilise the private sector to invest heavily in multi-billion or sometimes multi-trillion dollar infrastructure initiatives.

Megaprojects (sometimes also spelled “mega projects”) are very large investment projects and  require care in development process to reduce any possible optimism bias and strategic misrepresentation.

The most expensive large-scale megaprojects in the world range from  bridges, tunnels, highways, railways, airports, , power plants, dams  and   to entire city districts.

Megaprojects seem to be practically recession-proof and have continued despite the 2008 global economic slowdown likely spurred megaproject construction, since the governments of some countries among them China, India, and the United States saw investment in infrastructure as a way to stimulate growth.  Moreover, many large corporations are locked into megaprojects, because only enormous  undertakings seem capable of nudging their bottom lines.

Here, we take a look at 5  of the biggest, most important and spectacular megaprojects  around the world.

Waterworld Hotel Concept, Songjiang, China By Atkin's Architecture Group
Waterworld Hotel Concept, Songjiang, China By Atkin's Architecture Group
Waterworld Hotel, Songjiang, China
Waterworld Hotel, Songjiang, China
Waterworld Hotel, Songjiang, China
Waterworld Hotel, Songjiang, China
Waterworld Hotel Concept, Songjiang, China By Atkin's Architecture Group
Waterworld Hotel Concept, Songjiang, China By Atkin's Architecture Group

Songjiang Hotel, China

“We Drew Our Inspiration from the Quarry Setting” Says Atkins Design Studio

The five-star hotel is designed by UK architecture office Atkins for Shimao Group and will offer around 400 rooms, with underwater restaurants, clubs, shopping facilities, a 10-meter deep aquarium and various sport activities such as climbing and bungee jumping.

The waterfall is  a key feature of this hotel built into a 328-foot-tall quarry outside of Shanghai. The  19-story hotel will have the waterfall cascading down the middle and two hotel floors that are entirely underwater.

The building will get its energy from geothermal sources and will feature a green roof.

With its 650 architects spread around the world in 60 offices, Atkins Design Studio  is an  enormous organisation, with some  pretty amazing Megaprojects under its belt.

The Three Gorges Dam Project
The Project
The Three Gorges Dam Project
The Three Gorges Dam Project
The Three Gorges Dam Project
The Three Gorges Dam Project
The Three Gorges Dam Project
The Three Gorges Dam Project

Three Gorges Dam

Man has long used technology to harness nature and dam building has always been one of the most controversial methods.

Building a dam causes dramatic effects on the environment, yet can benefit man in innumerable ways.

Three Gorges Dam located in  Sandouping, Yiling, Hubeiis is the largest power station in the world and took  14 years to complete at a cost of  USD $37 billion ( ¥180 billion). The original estimated cost  was  USD $6 billion ( ¥20 billion).  It can produce as much as 15 nuclear power plants and is expected to  create 10% of China's entire energy supply.

The Three Gorges Dam has moved 39 trillion kilograms of water 175 metres above sea level  which  scientists has altered the planet enough to change the speed at which the rotates.

The dam was first suggested by Sun Yat-sen, the first of the Republic of China in 1919 and people have been working on it, researching how it would work and where exactly it would go for nearly 100 years.

London Crossrail

London Crossrail

Crossrail is Europe's largest infrastructure project and is set to  boost London's rail capacity by 10%. The project will deliver approximately 11.9km of twin bore tunnels.

The  $23 billion development 73-mile rail project will connect London from East to West, improving access to Airport, central London as well as city's surrounding towns and suburbs.

Eight boring machines have been cutting their way through earth to create 26 miles (42km) of tunnels.

Construction of Crossrail began at Canary Wharf in London Docklands on 15 May 2009, with tunnelling work starting in May 2012.

The Crossrail project is about 65% complete and engineers will now continue upgrading existing stations and building new stations in central London and London Docklands.

Working in partnership with China Southwest Architectural Design and Research Institute and the China Railway Design Institute, ADPI also won the competition to design and develop Terminal 3 at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport in 2011. Phase 1 of the project will increase the airport's capacity to 45 million passengers per year by 2020.
Working in partnership with China Southwest Architectural Design and Research Institute and the China Railway Design Institute, ADPI also won the competition to design and develop Terminal 3 at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport in 2011. Phase 1 of the project will increase the airport's capacity to 45 million passengers per year by 2020.
Working in partnership with China Southwest Architectural Design and Research Institute and the China Railway Design Institute, ADPI also won the competition to design and develop Terminal 3 at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport in 2011. Phase 1 of the project will increase the airport's capacity to 45 million passengers per year by 2020.
Beijing's new international airport
Working in partnership with China Southwest Architectural Design and Research Institute and the China Railway Design Institute, ADPI also won the competition to design and develop Terminal 3 at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport in 2011. Phase 1 of the project will increase the airport's capacity to 45 million passengers per year by 2020.
Beijing's new international airport

Beijing International Airport Terminal 1 to be World's Biggest

Beijing's new international airport

January 2013 saw work approved for a new airport in Beijing. With large sweeping, non-conforming arches that span inwards with curves to the interior, there is a definite stamp of Zaha Hadid Architects with their design language.

Playing host to eight runways and with the capabilities to cater for 130 million passengers every year, Beijing's new international airport will be among the world's largest and busiest once  complete  in 2017.

International Space Station (ISS)
International Space Station (ISS)

One Giant Leap for Mankind

International Space station

The International Space Station (ISS) is the largest artificial body in orbit and can often be seen with the naked eye from Earth.

It may be one of the most ambitious scientific ventures ever and also the  largest masterpiece of the human engineering in orbit around Earth at present.  The station consists mainly of habitable and science modules, external trusses and solar panels to provide power.

The ISS provides a platform to conduct scientific research including  astrobiology, astronomy, human research including space medicine and life sciences, physical sciences,  materials science, space weather and weather on Earth.

What exciting projects did we miss on our list? Let us know in the comments section below.

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