Residential towers

Officials have given the thumbs up for a new tallest skyscraper in the United States – and it's not headed for New York City or Chicago, but to a tornado-prone area with a relatively small population: Oklahoma City.

Described as "buildings within a building" by BIG, the recently completed Epiq takes the form of a series of stacked blocks. The tower's unusual design is well-suited to the local climate and maximizes outdoor space and views.

The Upper House is defined by an eye-catching timber facade that twists as it rises. The building riffs on indigenous Australian culture and also boasts significant sustainability features, as well as thousands of plants.

The Bjarke Ingels Group's Kaktus Towers in Copenhagen redefines urban living with a cactus-inspired facade and innovative hexagonal core. The project boasts almost 500 micro-apartments and fosters a sense of community among residents.

Following the sneak preview of its upcoming residential tower last month, Mercedes-Benz has now fully unveiled the ambitious project, officially revealing what the supertall skyscraper will actually look like.

Oklahoma's Boardwalk at Bricktown was recently revealed as the upcoming second-tallest skyscraper in the USA. Designer AO is now aiming for even greater heights though, and has created an ambitious redesign to make it the country's new tallest tower.

Chybik + Kristof has revealed plans for a remarkable high-rise building slated for Tirana, Albania. The mixed-use tower will be defined by an eye-catching red concrete form that will incorporate significant greenery.

Work has begun on a new high-rise by MVRDV. Named La Serre, it will be defined by a steel grid facade that will host hundreds of trees and plants, allowing every resident to enjoy a greenery filled balcony or terrace area.

MVRDV and Space Encounters have revealed plans for a new high-rise development that will offer an impressive degree of sustainability. It will be mostly constructed from timber and is expected to harvest more solar energy than it requires.

SHoP Architects has completed the first supertall skyscraper in Brooklyn, NYC. The residential tower rises to a height of 1,066 ft and is defined by a blackened stainless steel, copper and bronze facade that integrates an existing bank on the site.

A major skyscraper has received the thumbs-up for construction in Manhattan, New York City. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, the eye-catching 5 World Trade Center will be the only residential skyscraper to be built on the World Trade Center site.

MVRDV has shown a keen interest in exploring geological forms lately and this is reflected in the firm's latest project, a rock-like tower in San Francisco with a "canyon" area that serves as a public shortcut into the heart of the neighborhood.