Eureka: Melbourne

At a height of 297 meters, Melbourne’s Eureka tower is the tallest residential building in the world. Its Skydeck, which opened on May 15 and sits on the 88th floor, is the highest public vantage point in the southern hemisphere*. Sounds impressive, right?

Just for perspective’s sake: the Empire State building (completed in 1931) is 381 meters tall; the current tallest building in the world, Taipei 101 in Taipei, Taiwan rises to a height of 448 meters and don’t even get us started on the Burj Dubai. What specifically interests us about the Eureka building isn’t so much its raw height, as much as how that height is being used, namely the Edge. The Edge is a nub-like, all-glass protrusion coming out the side of the Skydeck. For an additional fee, you can get in the Edge and experience what it’s like to be suspended 300 meters off the ground in a glass cage. But there’s more: the Edge moves. When you enter, it’s not fully extended and its glass windows are frosted over. As the Edge extends to its full length, the frosted effect is removed to a dramatic shattering noise, and the spectator is left gawking at a 300 meter drop to downtown Melbourne. Once you clean your pants out, you’re returned to the body of the skyscraper, and can go for a ride through the nearby wine country. Super fun!

*FYI, and maybe/probably just a coincidence "” 88 is an auspicious number for the Chinese, signaling prosperity. Shanghai’s Jin Mao tower is 88 stories tall. Does anybody know if the Eureka has any ties to the Chinese?