europe / originals

images of tall buildings in 1905

this collection includes buildings of least 40 meters tall that were completed before 1945. Buildings that are shorter than 40 meters but possess skyscraperesque features are included in this list, though they are not ranked

giraffes
during this period, a significant number of 'giraffe' buildings were constructed. A giraffe is defined as a low-rise building with a tower integrated into its design. To qualify for inclusion in this collection, the tower section must have habitable floors occupying more than fifty percent of its total height

color codes
later reconstructed later demolished

1. Victoria Tower
London • GB • 99 m • 1860

Rose cottage via Wikimedia Commons

2. Rathaus
Augsburg • DE • 57 m • 1624

Wikimedia Commons

3. Midland Grand Hotel
London • GB • 57 m • 1873

4. Balmoral Hotel
Edinburgh • GB • 56 m • 1902

Stephencdickson via Wikimedia Commons

5. Mathematische Turm
Kremsmünster • AT • 49 m • 1758

6. Queen Anne's Mansions
London • GB • 49 m • 1890 - 1971

RIBApix

7. The Langham
London • GB • 44 m • 1865

The Langham via Wikimedia Commons

8. City Chambers
Edinburgh • GB • 42 m • 1760

9. Witte Huis
Rotterdam • NL • 42 m • 1898

Gebouw Astoria
Amsterdam • NL • 37 m • 1905

Jvhertum, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Lietuvos geležinkeliai
Vilnius • LT • 36 m • 1903

Market Street storehouse
Dublin • IE • 36 m • 1904

Afremov House
Moscow • RU • 35 m • 1905

Bogunilia via Wikimedia Commons

Trinity Compound on Ilyinka
Moscow • RU • 30 m • 1876

Bogunilia via Wikimedia Commons

48 Rue de Valois
Paris • FR • 26 m • 1781

Oriel Chambers
Liverpool • GB • 21 m • 1864

Ditherington Flax Mill
Shrewsbury • GB • 17 m • 1797