A tower block, high-rise, apartment tower, residential tower, apartment block, block of flats, or office tower is a tall building, as opposed to a low-rise building and is defined differently in terms of height depending on the jurisdiction. It is used as a residential, office building, or other functions including hotel, retail, or with multiple purposes combined. Residential high-rise buildings are also known in some varieties of English, such as British English, as tower blocks and may be referred to as MDUs, standing for multi-dwelling units. A very tall high-rise building is referred to as a skyscraper.
A newer high-rise tower in downtown New Brunswick, New Jersey, U.S., known as the Hub City. High-rise towers often anchor central business districts.
The Majakka high-rise building in Kalasatama, Helsinki, Finland
These tower blocks were built in Shibam, Yemen, in the 16th century, and are the tallest mudbrick buildings in the world, some more than 30 metres (98 ft) high.
A residential block in Steinfurt, Westphalia, Germany, forming a "Y"
A building or edifice is an enclosed structure with a roof and walls, usually standing permanently in one place, such as a house or factory. Buildings come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and functions, and have been adapted throughout history for numerous factors, from building materials available, to weather conditions, land prices, ground conditions, specific uses, prestige, and aesthetic reasons. To better understand the concept, see Nonbuilding structure for contrast.
Skyscrapers under construction in Kalasatama, Helsinki, Finland (2021)
A timber-framed house in Marburg, Germany
Image: Ishtar gate in Pergamon museum in Berlin
Image: Philae temple at night
