It is yet to be finished but the Burj Dubai skyscraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is poised to take the title as the world's tallest building when completed. Although it has surpassed the height of the Taipei 101 as of the second week of May at the height of 636 meters, the official title cannot be bestowed on the Burj Dubai until the building is fully finished and open for business. Many, however, think the official proclamation is unnecessary as it is obvious that the Burj (it's nickname) will eventually claim it. The final height is still being kept secret due to competition but leaks have indicated that it will be around 818 meters or 162 floors!
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I first read about this project almost two years ago and was immediately fascinated by its lofty goal of
claiming the "World's Tallest Building" title (or is it world's tallest structure?). I was even following the project's construction through regular updates on its website until blogging claimed my attention and erased the Burj from my consciousness. However, a recent photo from a friend with the building as a backdrop reminded me of the project.
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From photos available all over cyberspace, I can see that the project is staggering. And I can just imagine how it is to see it up close. However, I can't help asking myself why it is necessary to build such high structures, why the need to stretch the limits of construction and safety for a mere record. Sure, it is a sight to behold but with 911 still fresh in my memory the mere thought of setting foot on such a structure scares me. And then there's the fear of earthquakes. Dubai may not be in an earthquake zone but you'll never know. Nature has a way of surprising us sometimes and we may be testing her strength with this project. He he. Forgive me for being a bit negative about this. It must be the the paranoid acrophobic in me taking over.
Tallest Building Race is On!
Still, it looks like claiming the "tallest building" title is big business these days as there are upcoming projects poised to snatch the title from Burj Dubai in the future. One of Burj Dubai's potential competitors is the proposed Murjan Tower, in Manama, Bahrain which is expected to be 1,022 m (3,353 ft) in height with 200 floors. Also potentially competing with for the "tallest structure" title is the proposed 1,001 m (3,284 ft) Burj Mubarak al-Kabir to be erected in Kuwait with facilities including an Olympic stadium, residences, hotels, and a retail cpmplex. Another proposed tower which may surpass the height of Burj Dubai, is Al Burj, on a site near Dubai Marina. Speculation has suggested various heights between 700 m (2,297 ft) and 1,200 m (3,937 ft), but the developer is keeping the final height tightly under wraps. Whew, you think that's enough? Listen to this: The Mile-High Tower, a recently announced skyscraper planned for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, would be almost twice as tall as Burj Dubai if completed! Whoa, just reading about it makes my head spin!Burj Dubai, tallest building, tallest structure, world’s tallest building, world’s tallest structure, tallest skyscraper, highest skyscraper, Murjan Tower, Burj Mubarak al-Kabir, Al Burj, Mile High tower, Taipei 101
It looks like there's no stopping these developers, especially in the rich Arab states where governments are gradually shifting their focus to the tourism industry in preparation for the oil deposit depletion. I just hope people like me can overcome their acrophobia to be able to enjoy these marvels of human achievement not only from the ground.
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Additional trivia about the Burj Dubai:
- The interior will be decorated by Giorgio Armani (wow!). An Armani Hotel (the first of its kind) will occupy the lower 37 floors. Floors 45 through 108 will have 700 private apartments on 64 floors (which, according to the developer, sold out within eight hours of going on sale). An outdoor zero-entry swimming pool will be located on the 78th floor of the tower. Corporate offices and suites will fill most of the remaining floors, except for a 123rd floor lobby and 124th floor (about 440 m (1,444 ft)) indoor/outdoor observation deck. The spire - itself over 200 m (700 ft) tall - will hold communications equipment.
- It will also feature the world's fastest elevator, rising and descending at 18 m/s (59 ft/s).[26] The world's current fastest elevator (in the Taipei 101) travels at 16.83 m/s (55.2 ft/s). Engineers had considered installing the world's first triple-decker elevators, but the final design calls for double-deck elevators. A total of 56 elevators will be installed that can each carry 42 people at a time.
- Outside, and at a cost of Dh 800 million (US $ 217 m), a record-setting fountain system is to be built by a California-based company responsible for the fountains at the Bellagio Hotel Lake in Las Vegas. Illuminated by 6,600 lights and 50 colored projectors, it will be 275 m (900 ft) long and will shoot water 150 m (490 ft) into the air, accompanied by a range of classical to contemporary Arabic and world music.
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