2012’s best tall buildings?

We’re only halfway through 2012, but these below have been named as some of the best tall buildings erected this year.*

"The Absolute Towers in Mississauga, Canada, a fast-growing suburb of Toronto, were named the best tall buildings in the Americas. The residential towers, which are set to be completed in August 2012, will reach a height of 179.5 meters  and 158 meters."

"The towers earned the nickname "Marilyn Monroe" for their sexy, curvaceous figures--just like the late legendary actress. "We see the entire building twisting to achieve the organic form, creating a beautiful new landmark for a developing urban area," engineer David Scott said in a statement."

"Sydney's 1 Bligh Street was named the best tall building in Asia & Australasia. This 28-story elliptical tower stands out from the boxy structures nearby," said the jurors.

"The centerpiece of 1 Bligh Street is the glass- and aluminum-lined atrium, Australia’s tallest naturally ventilated sky lit atrium. It carries through the full height of the building--up to 135 meters (443 ft.). “The dramatic, naturally-ventilated central atrium connects the office workers with nature at the inner depths of the plan, giving a sense of openness for the entire building," juror Werner Sobek said in a statement."

"Qatar 's 46-storey Doha Tower in  was named the best tall building in the Middle East and Africa."

" Designed by Ateliers Jean Nouvel, the Doha Tower was completed in March 2012 
There is no central core, maximizing the interior space available for tenants."

"Al Bahar Towers in Abu Dhabi was named the most innovative tall building in the world."

"The 29-story office building was given the innovation award for its dynamic façade, opening and closing in response to the sun, reducing solar gain by more than 50 percent. The façade design also, evokes a wooden lattice screen traditionally found in Islamic architecture."

* According to the Chicago-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), a group of architects, structural engineers, and builders of tall buildings that monitors tall building projects around the world.

(Images and captions from Business Insider)