Before-After Images of Extraordinary Skyline Transformations in 16 Cities around the World

One of the most important characteristics of the modern era is the global urbanization process. More than half of the world’s population now lives in cities or towns, and by 2030 the numbers will add up to 5 billion people. This huge wave is – without a doubt – causing unparalleled changes in the development of all major cities.

Paris, New York, Sydney, Dubai, as well as many other Alpha cities across the world are considered the promoters of urban change. These are the top places investors choose for building large corporate headquarters, mega-malls, or ambitious residential communities. When space is not an issue, projects can expand horizontally, thus creating new streets, neighborhoods, or suburbs. But in crowded central locations, the developments sprawl vertically to mind-boggling heights, often becoming city icons.

Take London’s “The Shard”, a breathtaking 95-story vertical structure. Completed just a few years ago, the multiple-use building has already become an emblematic image of London’s skyline.

To show you the dramatic transformation of some of the world’s most important cities, we turned to Google and compiled a series of Street View snapshots, superimposing each individual skyline of a few years ago against the way it looks today.

Here are 42 before-and-after images that reveal some of the most impressive developments completed during the last years in the following metropolises:

1. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Centro Empresarial Senado

Link to Street View

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<iframe src=”https://www.rentcafe.com/content/marketing/timelapse/international-cities/1-centro-empresarial-senado.html” width=”100%” max-width=”570″ height=”540″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”></iframe>

2. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Reserva Jardim Complex

Link to Street View

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<iframe src=”https://www.rentcafe.com/content/marketing/timelapse/international-cities/2-Reserva-Jardim.html” width=”100%” max-width=”570″ height=”540″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”></iframe>

3. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Torre Oscar Niemeyer

Link to Street View

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<iframe src=”https://www.rentcafe.com/content/marketing/timelapse/international-cities/3-Torre-Oscar-Niemeyer.html” width=”100%” max-width=”570″ height=”540″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”></iframe>

4. Tokyo, Japan – Toranomon Hills

Link to Street View

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<iframe src=”https://www.rentcafe.com/content/marketing/timelapse/international-cities/4-Toranomon-Hills.html” width=”100%” max-width=”570″ height=”540″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”></iframe>

5. Tokyo, Japan – Ark Hills Sengokuyama Mori Tower

Link to Street View

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<iframe src=”https://www.rentcafe.com/content/marketing/timelapse/international-cities/5-Ark-Hills-Sengokuyama-Mori-Tower.html” width=”100%” max-width=”570″ height=”540″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”></iframe>

6. Tokyo, Japan – The Yomiuri Shimbun Building

Link to Street View

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<iframe src=”https://www.rentcafe.com/content/marketing/timelapse/international-cities/6-The-Yomiuri-Shimbun-Building.html” width=”100%” max-width=”570″ height=”540″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”></iframe>

7. Tokyo, Japan – Japan Post Tower

Link to Street View

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<iframe src=”https://www.rentcafe.com/content/marketing/timelapse/international-cities/7-Japan-Post-Tower.html” width=”100%” max-width=”570″ height=”540″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”></iframe>

8. Sydney, Australia – ANZ Bank Centre

Link to Street View

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<iframe src=”https://www.rentcafe.com/content/marketing/timelapse/international-cities/8-ANZ-Bank-Centre.html” width=”100%” max-width=”570″ height=”540″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”></iframe>

9. Sydney, Australia – 85 Castlereagh Street

Link to Street View

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<iframe src=”https://www.rentcafe.com/content/marketing/timelapse/international-cities/9-85-Castlereagh-Street.html” width=”100%” max-width=”570″ height=”540″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”></iframe>

10. Sydney, Australia – Era Apartments

Link to Street View

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<iframe src=”https://www.rentcafe.com/content/marketing/timelapse/international-cities/10-Era-Apartments.html” width=”100%” max-width=”570″ height=”540″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”></iframe>

11. Paris, France – The Majunga Tower

Link to Street View

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<iframe src=”https://www.rentcafe.com/content/marketing/timelapse/international-cities/11-The-Majunga-Tour.html” width=”100%” max-width=”570″ height=”540″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”></iframe>

12. Paris, France – Tour Carpe Diem (center), Tour D2 (left)

Link to Street View

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<iframe src=”https://www.rentcafe.com/content/marketing/timelapse/international-cities/12-Tour-Carpe-Diem.html” width=”100%” max-width=”570″ height=”540″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”></iframe>

13. Paris, France – Tour Sequana

Link to Street View

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<iframe src=”https://www.rentcafe.com/content/marketing/timelapse/international-cities/13-Tour-Sequana.html” width=”100%” max-width=”570″ height=”540″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”></iframe>

14. London, United Kingdom – The Shard and The Walkie-Talkie

Link to Street View

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<iframe src=”https://www.rentcafe.com/content/marketing/timelapse/international-cities/14-The-Shard.html” width=”100%” max-width=”570″ height=”540″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”></iframe>

15. London, United Kingdom – Heron Tower

Link to Street View

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<iframe src=”https://www.rentcafe.com/content/marketing/timelapse/international-cities/15-Heron-Tower.html” width=”100%” max-width=”570″ height=”540″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”></iframe>

16. London, United Kingdom – The Leadenhall Building

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<iframe src=”https://www.rentcafe.com/content/marketing/timelapse/international-cities/16-The-Leadenhall-Building.html” width=”100%” max-width=”570″ height=”540″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”></iframe>

17. London, United Kingdom – The Tower, One St George Wharf

Link to Street View

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<iframe src=”https://www.rentcafe.com/content/marketing/timelapse/international-cities/17-St-George-Wharf-Tower.html” width=”100%” max-width=”570″ height=”540″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”></iframe>

18. Moscow, Russia – International Business Center

Link to Street View

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<iframe src=”https://www.rentcafe.com/content/marketing/timelapse/international-cities/18-international-Business-Center.html” width=”100%” max-width=”570″ height=”540″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”></iframe>

19. Moscow, Russia – Rublevskie Ogni

Link to Street View

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<iframe src=”https://www.rentcafe.com/content/marketing/timelapse/international-cities/19-Rublevskie-Ogni.html” width=”100%” max-width=”570″ height=”540″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”></iframe>

20. Moscow, Russia – Zagorye Quarter Tower

Link to Street View

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<iframe src=”https://www.rentcafe.com/content/marketing/timelapse/international-cities/20-Zagorye-Quarter-Tower.html” width=”100%” max-width=”570″ height=”540″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”></iframe>

Check out the next page to see how other cities have transformed over the last years: Cape Town (South Africa), Dubai (UAE), Singapore, Hong Kong, Taipei (Taiwan), Toronto (Canada), Chicago, Manhattan, San Francisco, and Dallas.