What Is a Freestanding Structure?

Freestanding structures are found all over the world, and have been marveled at not only for their height, but also for their beauty. The tallest building in the world is a freestanding structure.

Definition

"Freestanding" is defined by Merriam-Webster as "standing alone or on its own foundation free of support or attachment," as in a freestanding wall.

Freestanding vs. Non-Freestanding

If a structure is not freestanding, then it is a supported structure. Non-freestanding structures include those such as cable-supported, air-supported, frame-supported, and tensile structures.

Tallest Freestanding Structures

Some of the tallest freestanding structures in the world are the CN Tower in Canada, Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai, Fernsehturm Tower in Germany, World Financial Center in China, Trump International Hotel in the United States, and Burj Khalifa in the United Arab Emirates, which, as of 2010, is the tallest freestanding structure in the world.

References

• Infoplease: World's Tallest Buildings
• Merriam-Webster: Freestanding
• Infoplease: World's Tallest Towers

Resources

• SkyscraperPage.com
• AllAboutSkyscrapers.com: What is the World's Tallest Building?