The world is filled with grand visions of progress, but not all of them come to fruition. A quick glance at the number of failed, stalled, and abandoned mega projects around the globe might make investors and planners think twice. Yet, despite the cautionary tales, the world seems to be gripped by “mega-mania,” with colossal ventures continuing to rise, often at staggering costs.
From fully operational nuclear power plants left unused to entire cities that have been abandoned to nature, the landscape of empty mega projects is vast and varied. So, what are some of these costly, unfinished engineering marvels? Why were they abandoned, and why are more still being built? The answers may surprise you.
Jeddah Tower: Saudi Arabia’s Sky-High Dream
Saudi Arabia is known for its ambitious construction projects, but one of its most iconic endeavors, the Jeddah Tower, remains incomplete. Planned to reach a staggering height of 1 kilometer (3,330 feet), this tower was set to become the tallest building in the world. However, construction halted in 2017 after 64 floors were completed.
The reasons behind this stoppage are rooted in politics. The project’s owner, a Saudi prince, fell out of favor with the current king, leading to a financial impasse. While there are rumors that the Saudi Public Investment Fund may revive the project in the future, for now, the Jeddah Tower remains a partially built monument to what could have been.
The tower’s engineering is nothing short of revolutionary, featuring a design that eliminates the need for massive columns and instead relies on interconnected structural elements that resist both wind and gravity. If completed, it would boast 165 floors, 59 elevators, and a total area of 2.6 million square feet. But for now, this incredible structure stands empty and incomplete.
La Sagrada Familia: A 141-Year-Old Work in Progress
Moving from the modern to the ancient, the La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, is another example of a mega project that remains unfinished. This basilica, intended to reach nearly 600 feet in height with intricate Gothic and Art Nouveau details, has been under construction since 1882.
The death of its visionary architect, Antoni Gaudí, in 1926, left the project without clear direction. The Spanish Civil War further complicated matters when many of the original plans and models were destroyed. Although construction resumed in recent years, skeptics remain doubtful that it will ever be fully completed, despite a new target date of 2026.
Neuschwanstein Castle: The Mad King’s Unfinished Dream
Germany’s Neuschwanstein Castle, often depicted in fairy tales and as inspiration for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle, is another legendary project left incomplete. Initiated by King Ludwig II in 1868, this medieval-style castle was intended to be a massive, fortified palace with ornate interiors reflecting both legend and poetry.
However, King Ludwig’s untimely death in 1886 left the castle unfinished, with only 14 of the planned 200 rooms completed. Today, while it remains a breathtaking tourist attraction, Neuschwanstein is still an incomplete relic of a bygone era.
The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant: A $2.5 Billion White Elephant
The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant in the Philippines is perhaps the most tragic example of an abandoned mega project. Completed in 1985 at a cost of $2.5 billion, this nuclear facility was fully operational but never became active.
Concerns over safety, particularly in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster, and its proximity to a major fault line and the then-dormant Mount Pinatubo, led to its mothballing. Despite numerous attempts to revive the plant, it remains idle and heavily secured, a symbol of wasted potential and economic loss.
The Ryugyong Hotel: North Korea’s Cold War Relic
In Pyongyang, North Korea, the Ryugyong Hotel stands as a towering reminder of the Cold War era. Construction began in 1987, aiming to create a 1,080-foot tall, 105-floor hotel that would rival any in the world. However, the project stalled in 1992 due to North Korea’s economic struggles following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Although some work has resumed on the hotel’s interior, it remains largely empty—a ghostly pyramid in the heart of Pyongyang.
Centro Financiero Confinanzas: The Tower of David
Venezuela’s Centro Financiero Confinanzas, also known as the Tower of David, is another stark example of an abandoned mega project. Construction of this skyscraper began in 1990 but halted in 1994 during the Venezuelan banking crisis. What was intended to be a bustling financial hub turned into a vertical slum, housing squatters until they were evicted following an earthquake in 2018.
Today, the tower is a crumbling, empty shell, slowly deteriorating as time takes its toll.
Why Do Mega Projects Continue?
Despite the numerous examples of failed or stalled mega projects, new ones continue to rise. The answer lies in humanity’s relentless pursuit of progress and innovation. Visionaries learn from past mistakes, and as our needs evolve, so too do our ambitions. While some projects may falter, others will succeed, pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the many empty and abandoned mega projects that dot the globe. Each tells a story of ambition, innovation, and, sometimes, failure. As we look to the future, it’s clear that the drive to build bigger, better, and more spectacular projects will continue, even in the face of past missteps. Stay tuned as we explore more of these incredible structures in future articles
