Walter Menzies:
Drawing inspiration

Surely that can't be the Taj Mahal rearing up behind the Albert Dock? It is. It's goodbye to the Echo Arena and hello to the Sydney Opera House, resplendent on the Liverpool waterfront. The Statue of Liberty (92 metres) is dwarfed by the unloved St Johns Beacon at 102 metres. It's all part of the fun and games at the my liverpool skyline website: with the click of a mouse, you can redesign the skyline. Inserting buildings like Kuala Lumpur's gigantic Petronas Twin Towers (452 metres) is a thrill. Obliterating them is a treat. Paddy's Wigwam aka The Metropolitan Cathedral: floated off to Dublin perhaps or blasted into outer space to fulfil its cosmic destiny.

Any Liverpool buildings for the Guinness book of records? Yes, the Panoramic on the 34^th floor of Beetham West is Britain's highest restaurant. You can wash down your caviar blinis with a swig of Krug. Or dine in widescreen watching the ships go by and eavesdropping the cheery chatter of the bling bling revellers.

And the helicopter? You'll have to wait for Shanghai Towers, proposed for Princes Dock. It is named in homage to the cities' twinning. Part of Peel's Liverpool Waters, this is currently the subject of a design competition: one million square feet, 60 stories and a rooftop helipad. Or you might prefer to moor your yacht after a relaxing trip from MIPIM in Cannes.

What's the connection with Little Richard? Height. He is short. He played the Tower Ballroom in New Brighton. So did the Beatles. At 172 metres, the Tower trounced Blackpool at 158 metres. Unfortunately, it had a short life. Completed in 1900, the magnificent lattice steel tower was dismantled in 1921. The buildings were finally destroyed by fire in 1969. But Blackpool Tower glitters on with Britain's highest postbox. Mrs Trellis can send a slightly risqué postcard to her nephew franked "posted from the top of Blackpool Tower". And, at sunset on a clear day, you can see the Isle of Man.

And Manchester's claim to fame? The clocktower of Waterhouse's magnificent Town Hall is a landmark at 87 metres. The CIS Tower (118metres) was the tallest building in Europe for a time. For 43 years until 2006 it was the UK's tallest building outside London. Its 7244 solar panels are our number one solar project generating enough electricity to make 9 million cups of tea a year.

Higher! Higher! The Deansgate Hilton with its 47 floors at 171 metres now dominates the Manchester skyline. It is the tallest building outside London. But not for long. Now under construction, the Piccadilly Tower (Inacity/ Ballymore) will be the tallest. Its 58 floors, including a hotel and apartments, will top 188 metres.

Bigger! Bigger! The Civil Justice Centre at Spinningfields boasts Europe's largest glass wall.

Are tall buildings sustainable? Joe Sumners, Arup Project Director for the Shard of Glass in London (proposed height 306 metres) thinks that tall buildings will be an important part of a sustainable future. The key to making them green, he argues, is optimising all parts of their design. Arup's concept design for The Shard specifies that over 80% of the heat it uses will be recovered from exhausted air and used again. "It's an inherently sustainable building," claims Sumners.

And the official view? CABE says that: "Owing to their high profile and local impact, tall buildings should set exemplary standards in design. The revised guidance places sustainable design and construction as a crucial facet of these design standards... proposals should exceed the latest regulations for minimising energy and reducing carbon emissions over the lifetime of the development".

Where will it end? Now under construction, Burj Dubai is the world's current tallest freestanding structure on land, 604 metres in February 2008. It is planned to rise to over 700 metres. Polish your binoculars before you get on the plane.