The world is filled with awe-inspiring structures, yet not every ambitious project makes it to completion. Here, we delve into 15 grand megaprojects whose construction was halted, each with its own unique story of vision, challenges, and unexpected endings.
15. Doha Sharq Crossing: Qatar’s $12 Billion Traffic Solution
Designed as a stunning three-bridge system connected by underwater tunnels across Doha Bay, the Doha Sharq Crossing was set to transform Qatar’s infrastructure. Planned to handle 6,000 vehicles per hour, it was intended to ease traffic in Doha by the 2022 World Cup. But by 2015, plummeting oil prices forced Qatar to shelve the project, although there’s now talk of a 2024 restart. Whether this grand plan will see completion remains to be seen, as it continues to symbolize Qatar’s ambition and the economic reality of fluctuating oil prices.
14. Sagrada Familia: Barcelona’s Everlasting Basilica
Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia has captured the world’s imagination since construction began in 1882. This awe-inspiring basilica by architect Antoni Gaudí is still under construction after 140 years, slowed by financial issues and the Spanish Civil War. Thanks to modern tech like 3D printing, hopes are high for a post-2026 completion, marking 100 years since Gaudí’s death. With costs at €25 million annually, the basilica may one day be finished, standing as both an architectural marvel and a tribute to human persistence.
13. Mingun Pahtodawgyi: Myanmar’s “Cursed” Temple
Commissioned in 1790, the Mingun Pahtodawgyi was intended to be the tallest pagoda in the world. However, Myanmar’s King Bodawpaya ceased construction upon hearing a prophecy claiming its completion would bring down his kingdom. At 164 feet tall, this incomplete structure remains a symbol of ambition thwarted by superstition and stands as a hauntingly beautiful relic of Myanmar’s history.
12. Wonderland Amusement Park: Beijing’s Ghostly Theme Park
Intended to be a 120-acre Disneyland-style attraction on the outskirts of Beijing, Wonderland Amusement Park fell victim to financial mismanagement in 1998. With rumors of hauntings and financial troubles, the abandoned park’s eerie remains became a local spectacle. In 2013, the site was demolished, leaving behind a lesson on the risks of unsustainable ambition and a curious reminder of Beijing’s development history.
11. South China Mall: The World’s Largest Empty Mall
Dongguan’s South China Mall, a sprawling 7.1 million square foot shopping center, was once filled with high hopes, featuring a roller coaster and gondolas. But infrastructure issues and lack of transportation left most of the mall empty since its 2005 opening. A $402 million investment now sits largely vacant, becoming a stark reminder of the risks in commercial projects without adequate planning.
10. Yujiapu Financial District: China’s $30 Billion Financial Hub
Once envisioned as a new Wall Street, Tianjin’s Yujiapu Financial District suffered from flooding issues, financial mismanagement, and delayed timelines. Expected to be bustling by 2014, the area remains underdeveloped and lacks the commercial allure initially promised. While government agencies have trickled in, Yujiapu stands as a case study in the risks of urban overdevelopment.
9. Centro Financiero Confinanzas: Caracas’s “Vertical Slum”
Caracas’s Centro Financiero Confinanzas was initially conceived as a cutting-edge financial center. However, following the Venezuelan financial crisis in the 1990s, construction halted, and the building became a “vertical slum,” housing squatters. Once intended as an economic symbol, the tower now tells the story of resilience amid adversity, highlighting Venezuela’s broader economic challenges.
8. Hunter’s Point Shipyard: San Francisco’s Toxic Challenge
The Hunter’s Point Shipyard redevelopment in San Francisco aimed to create a thriving neighborhood, but was halted by hazardous contamination. Cleanup efforts were marred by accusations of falsified data, leading to a $27 billion lawsuit. Hunter’s Point is a cautionary tale about the importance of environmental safety, as the project remains unfinished and the community awaits a resolution.
7. Thames Garden Bridge: A London Bridge That Never Was
The Thames Garden Bridge was designed to be a verdant pedestrian crossing with lush greenery over the River Thames. Despite a grand vision, financial mismanagement and public backlash over taxpayer funds led to its cancellation before breaking ground. The abandoned project underscores the importance of accountability in public spending, and serves as a cautionary tale for future urban projects.
6. Ryugyong Hotel: North Korea’s Unopened Pyramid
Intended as North Korea’s tallest luxury hotel, the Ryugyong Hotel was halted in 1992 due to economic collapse. Despite sporadic attempts to revive it, the hotel has remained closed, serving instead as a propaganda symbol. The structure stands as a symbol of the country’s unfulfilled ambitions and economic challenges, towering over Pyongyang as an unfinished relic.
5. Burj Al Babas: Turkey’s Abandoned Castle Village
The Burj Al Babas project in Turkey aimed to build 732 fairytale-like luxury homes, but economic instability halted construction. With only 587 partially built and none completed, the abandoned “castle village” has become a symbol of the dangers in luxury real estate markets. Burj Al Babas reminds us that even the grandest visions can be left unrealized in times of economic hardship.
4. Sathorn Unique Tower: Bangkok’s “Ghost Tower”
Bangkok’s Sathorn Unique Tower was intended as a luxury condominium complex but was left unfinished after the 1997 Asian financial crisis. The abandoned skyscraper has since drawn urban explorers intrigued by tales of hauntings. The tower’s eerie atmosphere offers a haunting lesson in the fragility of real estate investments during economic downturns.
3. Xanadu Houses: The Futuristic Homes That Didn’t Last
Built in the 1980s, the Xanadu Houses were an attempt to bring futuristic living to life. Yet design flaws and quickly outdated technology led to their demolition by 2005. These colorful, bubble-like homes were a fascinating glimpse of forward-thinking architecture—but ultimately, they became a reminder that even the most creative designs can become obsolete without adaptability.
2. Boldt Castle: A Grand Love That Never Came to Be
On New York’s Heart Island, Boldt Castle was commissioned by George Boldt as a romantic tribute to his wife. But when she passed away suddenly, construction ceased, and the castle was left unfinished. Restoration efforts have continued over the years, and Boldt Castle remains a testament to love and ambition interrupted by personal tragedy.
1. Pyramid of Neferefre: Egypt’s Unfinished Pyramid
Finally, we come to Egypt’s Pyramid of Neferefre. Originally planned as a grand tomb for the pharaoh, construction stopped shortly after it began. Today, the incomplete pyramid stands as a silent reminder of the impermanence of power and ambition, echoing the timeless challenges that have always accompanied humanity’s most monumental projects.
