Five out of the ten tallest skyscrapers in Europe are currently located in Moscow, including the tallest building in Europe, called Mercury City, according to an Emporis announcement, adding that Moscow has the most skyscrapers in Europe. Altogether, Moscow counts 87 buildings which are at least 100 meters high or have more than 40 floors, and more than two thirds of them are not older than nine years. As a result, Emporis has ranked Moscow as the new European capital of skyscrapers.

Once completed, Mercury City in Moscow will stand 339 meters. Image copyright Liedel Investments Limited.

The announcement notes that even the London-based skyscraper The Shard, inaugurated in July and celebrated as Europe’s tallest building with a height of 310 meters, has now been overshadowed by Mercury City. Once completed, Mercury City will be nearly 29 meters taller than the Shard.

According to Emporis, there are many reasons for Moscow’s construction boom.

“Many Russian and foreign investors focus on prestigious building projects, such as are being built in the new urban district Moscow City, where Mercury City is located, too,” notes Matthew Keutenius, data analyst at Emporis. “Furthermore, there are fewer building regulations in Moscow than in other European metropolises.”

Compared to international high rise architecture, though, European skyscrapers are still rather small. Even though the three tallest European buildings all hit the 300 meters mark, the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest skyscraper with a height of 828 meters, is two-and-a-half times taller than Mercury City will be after completion. The Torre de Cristal, which holds the tenth place, only reaches one third of Burj Khalifa’s height.