From the ancient tale of the Tower of Babel to the era of the modern skyscraper, the desire to build ever-taller structures seems fundamental to the human story. For nearly four thousand years, the title of ‘world’s tallest building’ belonged to the Great Pyramid of Giza. Then came a succession of breathtaking cathedrals and, in the modern era, some very familiar architectural icons: the Eiffel Tower, the Chrysler Building, and the Empire State Building.
For the past hundred years, however, determining the world’s tallest manmade structure’, has involved a great deal of technicalities. What constituted ‘tallest’ had to be qualified by definitions and categories. There were towers that didn’t have continuously occupied floors between the ground and their tourist-attracting observation decks. There were radio towers that qualified as the world’s tallest structures, but had guy-wires or supports to keep them standing. And there were the occupied, freestanding skyscrapers.
With its completion in 2010, the Burj Khalifa ended all arguments and brought the ‘world’s tallest’ title. At 2,722 feet, it is, by any measure or definition, the tallest thing humans have ever built.
It’s nearly impossible to describe the Burj Khalifa without sounding like a statistician or a tourism brochure. The building boasts 163 occupied stories. It contains 900 apartments, 37 floors of office space, the incredibly appointed 160 rooms of the Armani Hotel, and 3000 underground parking spaces. Reading about the Burj Khalifa in architectural journals, I was impressed but not fully compelled by what I saw. The technical feat was unquestionable, but I doubted that such a huge undertaking could constitute truly great design.
However, while traveling for business to the United States from Afghanistan, I was routed through Dubai. I decided to swing by the Burj Khalifa out of sheer curiosity. To be honest, I was fully prepared to dislike the thing. Dubai’s architecture is often far too gaudy for my tastes–like Las Vegas meets Disneyland, a jumble of nouveau riche, high-concept work. Plus, the ‘world’s tallest’ structures can often be disappointing from an aesthetic perspective, trading architectural aesthetics for sheer height.
But from the moment I entered the building, I could feel my resolve fading away. I was greeted with a museum-like gallery of graphics, video, and 3D models of the building describing the design and process of erecting such a marvel. The Burj Khalifa was built in six years, using 431,600 cubic yards of concrete and 43,000 tons of steel rebar. The height of the building required the invention of a new, super high-pressure trailer concrete pump. The crew onsite, which at the peak of construction exceeded 12,000 workers and contractors from more than 100 countries, put in over 22 million man-hours. The estimated cost of the project was $1.5 billion.
Above and beyond all of these figures, though, was a meticulousness of design and uncompromising attention to detail evident from walking through the building. Designed by Adrian Smith at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the building takes its inspiration from the hymenocallis flower, as the tower’s wings extend from the central core like the desert bloom’s petals. The spiral minaret, a design motif native to Islamic architecture, also plays heavily in the overall shape of the building, which grows progressively thinner as it stretches, spiraling, toward the clouds.
The Burj Khalifa is the embodiment of the “no expense spared” philosophy of development. An immaculate eleven-hectare park surrounds the building with a number of amazing fountains. The flowering trees and beds of the park are watered with the collected condensation from the building’s massive air conditioning system–which was pretty much invisible to my eye and successfully managed Dubai’s summer heat.
Throughout the building, from the joinery to the design of the curtain walls, was evidence of impeccable design. The 57 elevators zip quickly up and down and even the bathroom fixtures are impressive. The building’s fine dining restaurant, At.mosphere, on the 122nd floor, was similarly excellent, with exquisite food and, of course, breathtaking views.
As the United Arab Emirates’ economy diversifies from its oil wealth, it has made real efforts to prioritize tourism as a primary feature. The flagship development in this effort is Downtown Dubai, which includes the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall, a shopping center of mind-boggling luxury. I’m no fan of malls, and I was floored by the place.
As it came time for me to leave Dubai and catch my flight home, I was surprised at how utterly won over I’d been by the quick visit. The Burj Khalifa had changed how I thought about super-tall buildings–which is great, because the Kingdom Tower in Saudi Arabia, yet another brainchild of Adrian Smith, threatens to soon rise above even the Burj Khalifa. Rumors put that building at over a kilometer (over 3,200 feet) in height.
Originally Published in:
Nice post. I be taught something more difficult on different blogs everyday. It will all the time be stimulating to learn content material from other writers and apply a little bit something from their store. I’d prefer to use some with the content material on my weblog whether or not you don’t mind. Natually I’ll provide you with a link on your net blog. Thanks for sharing.
I have been surfing on-line more than 3 hours these days, yet I by no means discovered any attention-grabbing article like yours. It?¦s beautiful value enough for me. Personally, if all website owners and bloggers made excellent content material as you probably did, the internet will likely be much more useful than ever before.
Hi there! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!
I used to be more than happy to search out this net-site.I wanted to thanks on your time for this wonderful learn!! I positively enjoying each little bit of it and I’ve you bookmarked to check out new stuff you blog post.
Saved as a favorite, I really like your blog!
There is noticeably a bundle to know about this. I assume you made certain nice points in features also.
I will immediately grab your rss as I can’t find your e-mail subscription hyperlink or newsletter service. Do you have any? Kindly let me realize in order that I could subscribe. Thanks.
I precisely wanted to appreciate you again. I am not sure what I could possibly have handled in the absence of the actual concepts documented by you relating to such a area of interest. It truly was a very distressing dilemma in my position, nevertheless understanding a new expert avenue you dealt with that forced me to jump for fulfillment. I will be grateful for this work and in addition believe you are aware of a powerful job you were doing instructing the rest with the aid of your websites. Probably you’ve never come across any of us.
naturally like your web site but you have to check the spelling on quite a few of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I in finding it very troublesome to tell the truth on the other hand I will certainly come back again.
Whats up are using WordPress for your blog platform? I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and set up my own. Do you require any coding knowledge to make your own blog? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Very interesting topic, regards for putting up.
Wonderful paintings! This is the kind of information that are meant to be shared across the web. Disgrace on Google for no longer positioning this post higher! Come on over and consult with my site . Thanks =)
I like this blog so much, saved to favorites.
Very interesting topic, thanks for putting up.
I like this site so much, saved to my bookmarks.
An impressive share, I just given this onto a colleague who was doing a little analysis on this. And he in fact bought me breakfast because I found it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the treat! But yeah Thnkx for spending the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love reading more on this topic. If possible, as you become expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more details? It is highly helpful for me. Big thumb up for this blog post!
Wonderful beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your website, how can i subscribe for a blog website? The account aided me a acceptable deal. I had been tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear idea
989512 924905Hey, I think your site might be having browser compatibility issues. When I look at your blog site in Safari, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, fantastic blog! 707501
949436 531102Would love to always get updated fantastic web site ! . 465949
Fantastic web site. Plenty of helpful info here. I am sending it to some buddies ans additionally sharing in delicious. And of course, thanks on your effort!
Saved as a favorite, I really like your blog!
Your work is very good and I appreciate you and hopping for some more informative posts. Thank you for sharing great information to us.
Betting Sites in the Philippines to Play Poker Online
This web site is really a walk-through for all of the info you wanted about this and didn’t know who to ask. Glimpse here, and you’ll definitely discover it.
A powerful share, I simply given this onto a colleague who was doing just a little analysis on this. And he in truth bought me breakfast as a result of I discovered it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the deal with! However yeah Thnkx for spending the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love reading more on this topic. If possible, as you become expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more details? It is highly helpful for me. Large thumb up for this weblog put up!
Nice blog here! Also your site loads up very fast!
What host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host?
I wish my website loaded up as fast as yours lol
Also visit my blog post special
651531 103416You completed certain great points there. I did searching on the subject matter and located most persons will go together with your weblog 932962
617345 470728Black Ops Zombies […]some individuals nonetheless have not played this game. It is hard to picture or believe, but yes, some people are missing out on all with the fun.[…] 537795
Hello there! This is kind of off topic but I need some advice from an established blog. Is it difficult to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty fast. I’m thinking about making my own but I’m not sure where to begin. Do you have any points or suggestions? Thanks
I have recently started a site, the info you offer on this website has helped me tremendously. Thanks for all of your time & work.
Thank you for sharing superb informations. Your site is very cool. I’m impressed by the details that you have on this blog. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for more articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found just the info I already searched all over the place and simply couldn’t come across. What a great website.
Its such as you learn my mind! You appear to know a lot approximately this, like you wrote the guide in it or something. I think that you simply could do with some percent to drive the message house a bit, but instead of that, that is fantastic blog. An excellent read. I will certainly be back.
An impressive share, I just given this onto a colleague who was doing just a little evaluation on this. And he the truth is purchased me breakfast as a result of I found it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the deal with! But yeah Thnkx for spending the time to debate this, I really feel strongly about it and love studying extra on this topic. If potential, as you turn into expertise, would you thoughts updating your blog with more details? It’s highly helpful for me. Massive thumb up for this blog post!
Very interesting topic, thanks for putting up.
I will immediately grasp your rss feed as I can’t to find your e-mail subscription link or e-newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please permit me recognise in order that I may subscribe. Thanks.
934012 212611As a result you will demand ultra powerful online enterprise ideas to maintain operating in finding into matters right your incredible web-based work. MLM 327457
I have been absent for some time, but now I remember why I used to love this web site. Thanks, I’ll try and check back more frequently. How frequently you update your web site?
I discovered your weblog web site on google and verify a number of of your early posts. Proceed to keep up the very good operate. I simply further up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. Seeking forward to reading more from you afterward!…
What i do not realize is if truth be told how you are no longer really a lot more smartly-appreciated than you may be now. You’re so intelligent. You understand thus considerably relating to this subject, produced me individually imagine it from so many various angles. Its like women and men don’t seem to be fascinated until it is something to accomplish with Lady gaga! Your individual stuffs great. At all times handle it up!
Someone essentially help to make seriously articles I would state. This is the first time I frequented your website page and thus far? I surprised with the research you made to make this actual submit extraordinary. Wonderful activity!
833572 495669Hi there! Good stuff, please do tell me when you finally post something like this! 558322
Hello there, You’ve done an incredible job. I will certainly digg it and in my opinion suggest to my friends. I’m confident they will be benefited from this site.
whoah this blog is great i love reading your posts. Keep up the good work! You know, many people are looking around for this info, you can aid them greatly.
I went over this internet site and I conceive you have a lot of good information, saved to bookmarks (:.
Unquestionably imagine that that you said. Your favorite reason seemed to be on the internet the simplest factor to remember of. I say to you, I definitely get annoyed at the same time as other people consider issues that they plainly do not know about. You controlled to hit the nail upon the highest and defined out the entire thing without having side effect , other folks can take a signal. Will probably be back to get more. Thanks
I just couldn’t depart your web site prior to suggesting that I actually enjoyed the standard info a person provide for your visitors? Is going to be back often in order to check up on new posts
Thanks for sharing with us this important Content. I feel strongly about it and really enjoyed learning more about this topic.
OKBet
I gotta favorite this website it seems very beneficial very beneficial
I loved up to you’ll receive performed right here. The cartoon is attractive, your authored subject matter stylish. however, you command get got an edginess over that you wish be delivering the following. ill undoubtedly come more earlier again as precisely the similar nearly very regularly within case you defend this increase.
Good post. I learn something tougher on totally different blogs everyday. It’ll always be stimulating to read content material from other writers and apply a little something from their store. I?d prefer to use some with the content material on my weblog whether you don?t mind. Natually I?ll give you a link on your internet blog. Thanks for sharing.
Hey there, You’ve performed a great job. I?ll definitely digg it and individually recommend to my friends. I am sure they will be benefited from this web site.
Yet another thing I would like to express is that as an alternative to trying to accommodate all your online degree lessons on days of the week that you end work (because most people are exhausted when they come home), try to have most of your lessons on the week-ends and only a few courses in weekdays, even if it means taking some time off your end of the week. This is really good because on the weekends, you will be much more rested plus concentrated on school work. Thanks alot : ) for the different guidelines I have mastered from your site.
excellent post, very informative. I wonder why the other specialists of this sector don’t notice this. You should continue your writing. I am sure, you have a huge readers’ base already!
Valuable info. Lucky me I found your web site by accident, and I am shocked why this accident didn’t happened earlier! I bookmarked it.