Fascinating place, no?
I'm simultaneously captivated and repelled by the mountains of money being spent there. Having completed construction of the first of the three 'Palm Islands'...
and with work on the the 300 artificial islands (with purchase prices of between 6.2 and 32.7 million dollars) that make up 'The World' expected to complete in 2008...
work on the Burj Dubai, scheduled to be the world's tallest building, has recently reached level 116, with the height currently standing at 406.5 m (1,335 ft).
See here for more incredible ongoing and future projects. Be sure to check out the Hydropolis (a $500/night underwater hotel, assembled entirely in Germany) and the tasty-looking Ski Dome.
From the Burj Dubai website:
So, what do you think? Is the amount of money being spent here obscene? Do these projects, which represent the leading edge of man's ability on the architectural front, make the world a better place? Is this a vision of what the Middle East can be?
Discuss.
I'm simultaneously captivated and repelled by the mountains of money being spent there. Having completed construction of the first of the three 'Palm Islands'...
and with work on the the 300 artificial islands (with purchase prices of between 6.2 and 32.7 million dollars) that make up 'The World' expected to complete in 2008...
work on the Burj Dubai, scheduled to be the world's tallest building, has recently reached level 116, with the height currently standing at 406.5 m (1,335 ft).
See here for more incredible ongoing and future projects. Be sure to check out the Hydropolis (a $500/night underwater hotel, assembled entirely in Germany) and the tasty-looking Ski Dome.
From the Burj Dubai website:
http://www.burjdubai.com/
The goal of Burj Dubai is not simply to be the world’s highest building. It’s to embody the world’s highest aspirations.
Burj Dubai looks different depending on where you’re standing. For those living nearby, it is a shining accomplishment – tangible proof of Dubai’s central role in a growing world. For those standing in other global capitals, it is a shining symbol – an icon of the new Middle East: prosperous, dynamic, and successful.
In fact, Burj Dubai is both. It is a fact – an unprecedented example of international cooperation – and a symbol – a beacon of progress for the entire world.
It is not by chance that it is being built in Dubai. In less than thirty years, this city has transformed itself from a regional center to a global one. This success was not based on oil reserves, but on reserves of human talent, ingenuity and initiative.
A vision this bold requires visionaries. Creating the centerpiece for a new world capital attracted the world's most esteemed designers, developers and builders. One of them is the tower's architect, Adrian Smith.
As a consulting design partner at Skidmore, Owings and Merrill - the global leader in creating supertall structures - Adrian Smith has had a hand in several of the world's tallest buildings. With Burj Dubai, he - and the world - will surpass them all.
So, what do you think? Is the amount of money being spent here obscene? Do these projects, which represent the leading edge of man's ability on the architectural front, make the world a better place? Is this a vision of what the Middle East can be?
Discuss.