Best Towers of 2012 Recognized

Recognizing winners for each of four regions (the Americas, Asia and Australia, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa), and an inaugural "innovation award," the Chicago-based non-profit announced this year's recipients last week.

The curvaceous Absolute Towers by MAD Architects, located outside of Toronto, were named the best tall buildings in the Americas; 1 Bligh Street in Sydney, by ingenhoven architects and Architectus, won for Asia and Australia; Palazzo Lombardia in Milan, by Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, was selected for the European region; and Doha Tower/BurjQatar in Doha, by Ateliers Jean Nouvel, won for the Middle East and Africa.

The Al Bahar Towers in Abu Dhabi, designed by Aedas Architects Ltd, was named the most innovative tall building in the world for, "its dynamic façade, which opens and closes in response to the movement of the sun. This reduces solar gain by more than 50 percent, creating a more comfortable environment for occupants. The façade design also works with the local culture, evoking a wooden lattice screen traditionally found in Islamic architecture," writes Jennifer Polland.