Tallest city or town hall

At 243 m (799 ft) high and 48 storeys, Tower 1 of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan, is the world’s tallest city hall. A 55-second elevator ride takes visitors to the observation deck at 202 m (663 ft), giving views of some of Tokyo’s most famous landmarks such as famous landmarks Mount Fuji, Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo Tower, Meiji Shrine and Tokyo Dome. The complex’s Tower 2 reaches 163 m (536 ft), while the Assembly Hall rises 41 m (135 ft), and in total the city hall contains 27,500 m² (296,007 ft²) of floor space. Designed by architects Tange Associates to look like a computer chip, construction began in April 1988 and finished in March 1991. It reportedly cost around US$1 billion (then approx. £500 million). Kenzo Tange is one of the most renowned Japanese architects, using his buildings to blend international modernism with Japanese aesthetics. This particular building is an early example of postmodernism, an architectural style in which architects use varied historical references, geometries, decoration and materials to create a more complex appearance for their designs.