[vanhenrik]

Nakheel increases height of Tall Tower to 1.4 kilometres


* Published: 20 June 2008 18:12 GMT
* Author: Colin Foreman
* More by this Author

Tallest skyscraper in the world will be the centrepiece of Ibn Battuta Mall.

Local developer Nakheel is finalising plans for the world's tallest tower in Dubai. The scheme involves constructing a 1.4 kilometre-tall tower next to the Ibn Battuta Mall in the Jebel Ali area.

The Tall Tower project had involved plans for a 1,050 metre-tall building, but it is understood these designs have now been revised upwards to make it the tallest skyscraper in the world.

At 1.4km it is almost double the height of Emaar's Burj Dubai, which is expected to reach about 815 metres, and several hundred metres taller than rival towers in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

A spokesman for Nakheel confirms designs for the tower are being finalised and says a launch is expected this year.

Earlier designs for the project showed a building with 228 floors, a four-level basement and one service sub-level – a total built-up area of 1.49 million square metres with 492,000 sq m of useable space.

The tower will house offices, apartments and hotels. In the original 1,050 metre design, the highest habitable floor was at 850 metres, topped by a 200-metre central spire with a three-level function area and three service floors (MEED 10:8:08).

Nakheel's tower will be the focal point of its plans for the Ibn Battuta Mall development next to Jumeirah islands and Jumeirah Lake Towers. The Tall Tower will be flanked by about 20 smaller towers of up to 90 storeys that will be next to the revamped shopping mall.

Work has started on changing the layout of the mall ahead of the proposed expansion, which will double its existing retail area to 250,000 sq m by building retail space over existing parking areas between the mall and the metro.

The expansion will also include entertainment attractions and a roller-coaster on top of the mall.


The Tall Tower was originally called the Pinnacle and destined for Palm Jumeirah, before becoming part of the Dubai Waterfront scheme when it was renamed Al-Burj. The consultancy team for the tower includes UK-based WSP, US-based Leslie E Robertson Associates and Australia's Woods Bagot.

The project is just one of several skyscraper projects under development in the Gulf that could claim the title of the world's tallest building.

Saudi-based Kingdom Holding had planned to build a tower in Jeddah that was expected to be one mile high (1,609 metres). However, these plans are understood to have been scaled back and the final height of the building could be about 1,100 metres.

Like Nakheel's Tall Tower and the Burj Dubai, the tower will form part of a wider 5.4 sq km real estate project planned by Kingdom Holding.

Another masterplanned community anchored by a tall tower is Kuwait's City of Silk. The Burj Mubarak is expected to be 1,001 metres tall. In Bahrain, Danish architect Henning Larsens Tegnestue (HLT) has completed design work for a 1,022 metre-tall tower.

If all these projects go ahead, and no other 1,000 metre-plus towers are built in other regions, the Gulf will be home to the five tallest buildings in the world.

THANKS ZZ-II ON SSC

PHOTOS FROM ZZ-II

LOKATION

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1 RELY GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE Leslie E Robertson Associates
http://www.lera.com/ IS GOING TO WORK WHIT THE DISIGN
END HOPFULEY PRESENT IT LATER THIS YEAR !!!

Leslie E Robertson
http://www.coe.berkeley.edu/forefront/fall02/images/robertson.jpg

Leslie E. Robertson (born 1928) was the chief engineer in charge of design of the World Trade Center in New York, which was destroyed in the September 11, 2001 attacks. He has been structural engineer on numerous other projects, including the Shanghai World Financial Center and the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong. He received the IStructE Gold Medal in 2004

sorce wikipedia

http://www.burjdubaiskyscraper.com/2008/tall_tower-burj_dubai.jpg

:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

[Dac150]

So is this the new and improved Al Burj?

[vanhenrik]

So is this the new and improved Al Burj?

yes it is but we have to wait for the final disign !
hopfuley it`s going to be presented after the summer
due to cunstruktion begins this year

[M II A II R II K]

That is just insane.

[Apex]

I honestly don't think that humanity has the technology to build something that tall . . . and if they did, it sure as hell wouldn't be profitable.

[Dac150]

All I can say is that this tower will be a tribute to human ingenuity. My hat’s off to those who have to ambition to make this project happen. As amazing as it sounds, it seems that the Burj Dubai’s WTB record will be short lived. That really says something. Truly amazing, and I highly look forward to construction.

[vanhenrik]

who change the title ?

[Scruffy]

Id normally say: blah, this will never happen. I'll believe it when I actually see it stretching into the sky.

But Ive had to eat my words many times when it comes to Dubai so I'll patiently wait and see

[Northwest]

Just incredible. :stunned:
Really looking forward to seeing the first renders.
:drooling:

[eduardo88]

absolutely ridiculous! not necessarily in a bad way :P

[photoLith]

holy monkeys! I thought something like this wouldnt happen until 2035 or something like that! WOW!!!! I hope it goes up!

[GO_UAE]

Im not sure twenty 90 floor + towers around it will be enough if they are going for 1400 meters !

[malec]

Another design change and height change. It seems this happens 2 or 3 times a year. I'd say it'll change again in a few months. I wouldn't believe anything until an official statement and official render come out.

[Fabb]

As amazing as it sounds, it seems that the Burj Dubai’s WTB record will be short lived.


Even if construction started today, I think the tower wouldn't pass BD before another 5/6 years.
BD's record will probably last longer than Tapiei 101's.

[Dac150]

Even if construction started today, I think the tower wouldn't pass BD before another 5/6 years.

Still though, no sooner one is on the brink of topping out another one is about to pop out of the sand.

[MapleLeaf]

Burj Dubai is dead, long live Tall Tower! :D

BTW: Tall Tower? WTF got money for creating this name? :koko:

[Dac150]

BTW: Tall Tower? WTF got money for creating this name? :koko:

Well after all it is a tall tower.;)

[malec]

Tall Tower is just a preliminary code name since they haven't named it yet. I really doubt the final name will be "tall tower". It's like those towers on sheikh zayed road called something like "ahmed al attar al mohammed II al mohammed I tower" which ends up being called "millenium tower" or something like that.

[robotical]

Holy ****!

I nearly dropped my water glass when I read that!

[JDRCRASH]

:sly:

Shouldn't it be called it the "REALLY Tall Tower"?:D


http://www.burjdubaiskyscraper.com/2008/burj-tall-tower.jpg

[AnotherPunter]

I know this is likely to start a firestorm of "don't derail us with this question thats been asked a million times", so, please feel free to point me in the direction of where to find the answer. But does no one give thought to who the hell will fill all of these massive towers? Is there data on vacancy rates in Dubai?

I understand the concept of build it and they will come, but there really has to be a limit. No?

[GO_UAE]

well im no expert , but lets take one example just for the hell of it !

Egypt currently has 78 million people .... by 2030 its expected to reach double that and these figures were mentioned by the president of egypt adressing the people a few weeks back , anyway

its a hell of alot easier for egyptian (teachers , fresh graduate engineers and doctors , pilots) to settle down and find jobs and make families in a country which is considered a million times better than Egypt (the UAE) the standard of living here is tons of times better and now they can actually save up and buy property and live in a culture very similar to theirs in many ways ... so lets say out of the 40 maybe 50 ? million over loading the egyptian Regime , 1 million settle in the UAE , wont they need a place to settle and multiply ? ><

another example and ive noticed this recently.... professionals of arab desent coming to the gulf area to settle and raise there teenage children in an enviroment more fitting to them after spending 20+ years in the US / canada / australia and the UK !

[TheOldMan]

Is this a definate go ? When is this monstrosity scheduled to start construction? Im going to have to schedule a trip to Dubai sometime early in the next decade...

wow..

[NYC4Life]

I can only imagine how deep this building's foundations will be, and will it be deep enough to support such a "Tall Tower."

Good Bye America, World's tallest building will be in the Persian Gulf for the next 100 years :jester:

[PIZ]

There goes "ALL" of the worlds materials!!! There won't be any steel left to make other buildings, no glass, concrete! :haha:

Seriously though... I forgot where I read this/seen this (I believe it was when they where making the Trade Centers + Sears), but when those building where being made it slowed construction of all buildings world wide for a good while due to a shortage of building materials. Kinda "Wait in line" for your sh*t type deal... I can't imagine what this will do!



.

[Dequal]

I don't think that such a design as in the render (which isn't official) is not really possible to be build. The pressure from all those floors on the bottom floors would be enormous...

Why do you think that all skyscrapers that are build end in a peek or keel? That's to lower the pressure on the bottom floors.

And more than 1,000m of concrete, steel and glass, what would be the weight of that? It would be enormous! Too much for the basement floors and the rest at the bottom of the tower.

But that's my opinion, although I'm sure of it.

[speedy1979]

Well maybe they'll use some carbon fiber reinforced plastics on the upper floors.

[Buckman821]

This is sorta ridiculous. A lot of the fun of skyscrapers for me is that they are driven by economic factors, whereas even if this is possible from a physical standpoint there is absolutely NO WAY this could possibly be a profitable venture. That is why Dubai sort of makes me sick in a way. I don't want it to sound like sour grapes but it's frustrating.

[vanhenrik]

Is this a definate go ? When is this monstrosity scheduled to start construction? Im going to have to schedule a trip to Dubai sometime early in the next decade...

wow..

in my upinion it is ! end i think the pictures speak for it self !
the plot is wat the plot was for the burj dubai in the bigining of 2003

[Cypherus]

I don't think that such a design as in the render (which isn't official) is not really possible to be build. The pressure from all those floors on the bottom floors would be enormous...

Why do you think that all skyscrapers that are build end in a peek or keel? That's to lower the pressure on the bottom floors.

And more than 1,000m of concrete, steel and glass, what would be the weight of that? It would be enormous! Too much for the basement floors and the rest at the bottom of the tower.

But that's my opinion, although I'm sure of it.

The lithosphere probably couldn't support such artificial weight.

[GO_UAE]

The will place a HUGE block of titanium the size of the sear tower under the piles , that should do it ! XD haha

[SNT1]

Yeah, the higher the gas prices, the taller the middle-eastern towers get :haha:

As for the design, it might be Burj Dubai-esque where the structure tapers, unlike the (very) old monolithic rendering of Al Burj.

[malec]

It will have to taper. I don't see any other way of building this. I don't know what the hell Nakheel (the guys building it) are trying to do here. It will cost way too much and what benefit will this be to them and the city? It'll also be ridiculously expensive to maintain. But then again nothing at Nakheel makes much sense. :)

[Calrissian]

It will have to taper. I don't see any other way of building this. I don't know what the hell Nakheel (the guys building it) are trying to do here. It will cost way too much and what benefit will this be to them and the city? It'll also be ridiculously expensive to maintain. But then again nothing at Nakheel makes much sense. :)

Same was said for the Burj Dubai.

I am guessing its been said for just about any revolutionary skyscraper ever built. Indeed, maybe even the builders of the pyramids said the same thing, but they made it anyway.
--

I remain surprised that there are still a few visionaries in this messed up world, people with ideas that can inspire and make the world a slightly more interesting place.

I can't wait to see the final designs.

[SNT1]

Same was said for the Burj Dubai.

I am guessing its been said for just about any revolutionary skyscraper ever built. Indeed, maybe even the builders of the pyramids said the same thing, but they made it anyway.
--

I remain surprised that there are still a few visionaries in this messed up world, people with ideas that can inspire and make the world a slightly more interesting place.

I can't wait to see the final designs.

While the Burj Dubai is indeed insane, It's still only around 2100 feet in terms of roof height, and spire-less buildings U/C like the Russia Tower and the Chiacgo Spire can achieve nearly the same roof height.

Really, 4600-ft tall skyscraper? One can probably build a downtown complex with that amount of money, although this is Dubai, I wouldn't be surprised if it costed less than the WTC complex.

[Catmendue2]

Another design change and height change. It seems this happens 2 or 3 times a year. I'd say it'll change again in a few months. I wouldn't believe anything until an official statement and official render come out.



I say the final design gonna look more like the Illinois planned for Chicago yrs. ago and that is still a vision waiting for a developer. Do I say SOM.

[Alliance]

Sorry, but this borders on retarded. Simply a publcity stunt.

[photoLith]

Guys, holy crap, look at this! Theres not a Dubai thread really so Ill put it here! The worlds first rotating tower to be built in Dubai. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7472559.stm:worship:

[Alliance]

^^^Wow. How old and uneventful. And yes, ther ARE Dubai threads.

[photoLith]

Oh, well sorry, I didnt know, I saw it on the BBC website and had never heard of it and as a common passerby through this website every day i would have thought that I would have heard something about this project but whatever I guess that no one can post info on here without getting criticized.

[Alliance]

If information is posted correctly and appropriately, there won't be problems/criticism.

[GO_UAE]

Sorry, but this borders on retarded. Simply a publcity stunt.

I know I know ! it hurts ^.^ but this is for real :naughty:

But on a more serious note alliance ... Chicago is a great city, dont be a greedy person, you cant have it all.... stop hating on others so much :bowtie:

[JDRCRASH]

Same was said for the Burj Dubai.

I am guessing its been said for just about any revolutionary skyscraper ever built. Indeed, maybe even the builders of the pyramids said the same thing, but they made it anyway.
--

I remain surprised that there are still a few visionaries in this messed up world, people with ideas that can inspire and make the world a slightly more interesting place.


Yes, but nothing on a scale like this before. What about the buildings already dwarfed by the Burj Dubai? Now just think...how would they look stacked next to the Tall Tower?

[hamo]

Is this it ?? :hmmm:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2404/2306260963_6f26fbaba4b_o.jpg

I found this one, but they're not the same height.

[Austin55]

I know I know ! it hurts ^.^ but this is for real :naughty:

But on a more serious note alliance ... Chicago is a great city, dont be a greedy person, you cant have it all.... stop hating on others so much :bowtie:

I would cry if this thing was built in Chicago,I highly doubt he has any jeolusy or greed:shrug: Dubia can do whatever it wants,I highly appreciate this,and if it gets built it will be a Marvel of architecture and engineering,but I personaly doubt most people will like it,it might be ugly,its got a stupid name,but heck, its pretty frigen amazing,noone can trul deny that.

[Nowhereman1280]

I wouldn't want this in Chicago, we don't have the demand for anywhere near this much space. It would remain 75% empty for years and would probably cause massive price drops in downtown real estate and mess up our economy.

There is no way this could get approved here since the whole city would reject it as useless and excessive and impractical.

[PDM]

Al Burj rederings and inner plaza starting at 6:45!

zV-oeH0664M

[Apex]

I don't think that such a design as in the render (which isn't official) is not really possible to be build. The pressure from all those floors on the bottom floors would be enormous...

Why do you think that all skyscrapers that are build end in a peek or keel? That's to lower the pressure on the bottom floors.

And more than 1,000m of concrete, steel and glass, what would be the weight of that? It would be enormous! Too much for the basement floors and the rest at the bottom of the tower.

But that's my opinion, although I'm sure of it.

Beyond what you've mentioned ... what the hell are they building it on, sand right? :haha: I think this one doesn't have a chance.

[GO_UAE]

Apex attend the first 20 minutes of a 101 soil mechanics class at any college and you will realize what you just said is retarted XD ok sorry i know thats rude of me but come on man !

[Cypherus]

Al Burj rederings and inner plaza starting at 6:45!

zV-oeH0664M

Those are old renderings, and the new renderings have not been spotlighted.

[gttx]

Apex attend the first 20 minutes of a 101 soil mechanics class at any college and you will realize what you just said is retarted XD ok sorry i know thats rude of me but come on man !

Well, there actually might be some truth to what he said. Groundwater in the desert is about 3 times as corrosive as normal groundwater, so the foundations of these buildings are built into a pretty extreme soil environment.

For the Burj Dubai, they had to create a new cathodic protection system that had never been used before....even then, they only designed it to last for 100 years. After that, who knows what will happen? They are hopeful that it will last longer, but corrosion can be a pretty nasty thing for sub-grade reinforced concrete, and you can't exactly replace a cathodic protection system sealed inside the foundation.

So, for a building of this scale, corrosion will be a huge concern, especially since they plan to build such a deep foundation. Its location in the desert is exactly why it's such a problem.

[Dequal]

That's totally true. Skyscrapers over the world are build on a location that is the best. New York suppertalls on the rock, Petronas Towers with foundations of 120m in the bedrock,...

And now the Al Burj or Tall Tower in the middle of the desert, with nothing solid in the ground...

[gttx]

That's totally true. Skyscrapers over the world are build on a location that is the best. New York suppertalls on the rock, Petronas Towers with foundations of 120m in the bedrock,...

And now the Al Burj or Tall Tower in the middle of the desert, with nothing solid in the ground...

I'm not sure if you're being serious or sarcastic, but I'll respond as best I can:

Supertalls anywhere, regardless of whether they're on a man-made island or on top of a mountain or whatever, will always be supported by bedrock. Essentially, every piece of steel and concrete transmits forces from the tower down all the way into the bedrock, which is, because of it's enormous size, suitable for handling just about anything we build on top of it. So, whether in New York or Dubai, Chicago or Kuala Lumpur, the tower will have to be connected somehow to the bedrock. If it's right under the surface, it's fairly simple; if it's much deeper (in Chicago, for example, it's like 100 feet below the surface), then large caissons are needed. I have no idea how deep the bedrock is in Dubai, but regardless they will not build the tower on top of sand, as some people here believe.

[Dequal]

I'm not sure if you're being serious or sarcastic, but I'll respond as best I can:

Supertalls anywhere, regardless of whether they're on a man-made island or on top of a mountain or whatever, will always be supported by bedrock. Essentially, every piece of steel and concrete transmits forces from the tower down all the way into the bedrock, which is, because of it's enormous size, suitable for handling just about anything we build on top of it. So, whether in New York or Dubai, Chicago or Kuala Lumpur, the tower will have to be connected somehow to the bedrock. If it's right under the surface, it's fairly simple; if it's much deeper (in Chicago, for example, it's like 100 feet below the surface), then large caissons are needed. I have no idea how deep the bedrock is in Dubai, but regardless they will not build the tower on top of sand, as some people here believe.

You're right what you're saying, but we can't conclude anything yet because the new renders and design aren't published yet. Maybe the whole design is changed dramatically, maybe not. Although I don't think it would be possible to build the Al Burj as the previous designs, or the bottom of the tower must have the walls of a bunker...

[Cypherus]

but regardless they will not build the tower on top of sand, as some people here believe.

Actually, much of the buildings built in Dubai use "skin friction" techniques. As you pile drive a steel pillar into sand, it will eventually stop once friction between the steel post and the sand around it reaches maximum contact resistance.

[Nicko999]

I can't wait to see this monster getting up in the air.:worship:

[lewisblack]

I've been thinking about this and I think it's incredible but to build a near mile high tower it's got be really special and i'm not sure if this will have it.

I think one thing about Dubai is that it has no fixed fixed centre. I think they should build up Dubai Waterfront more and not make skyscrapers like this.

If the UAE is going to make themselves the worlds biggest tourist destanantion then they should get a move on big time. The Oil will run out in 20 years and this tower isn't helping.

I personally think this is a publicity stunt but if it isn't then whats the point in it.

They need a postcard destanation like the Statue of Liverty, Eiffel Tower or Big Ben.

Another thing someone said was that you can't build a tower on sand that's true but there's stuff underneath sand.

And with so many floors how do you get so many elavators in a building that size and if i've bought the penthouse i'm not going to wait 10 minutes to get to the top am i ( I haven't bought the penthouse the way and don't want to know how much it would cost ).

[Lecom]

The Oil will run out in 20 years and this tower isn't helping.

How is it not helping? If anything, developments like these are intended to shift Dubai's economy away from oil revenue.

[zuelas]

Geez this kid is thick (lewisblack)..... have you ever heard of an express elevator? I guess they should have come to you first since you're the only person asking the important questions. There's stuff underneath the sand??

[L.u.v.]

:sly:

Shouldn't it be called it the "REALLY Tall Tower"?:D


http://www.burjdubaiskyscraper.com/2008/burj-tall-tower.jpg

^ But it's not really tall... it's hyper tall.

[manchester united]

How many floors it will have if built ?

[NYC4Life]

It is currently listed as having 228 floors.

[malec]

Looks like were back to the start again:



http://www.gulfnews.com/business/Real_Estate_Property/10230267.html


Contest for tallest tower in the Gulf hots up

By Suzanne Fenton, Staff Reporter
Published: July 19, 2008, 23:05

Dubai: Competition to build the world's tallest tower is hotting up in the Gulf as developers continue to battle it out with their increasingly ambitious designs and dizzying heights.

A report by Middle East Economic Digest (MEED) last week had said Nakheel was planning to increase the height of its Al Burj project to 1.4 kilometres, making it almost double the height of Emaar's Burj Dubai, which is said to be around 750 to 815 metres long. However, Nakheel has denied the report.

A spokesperson for Nakheel said yesterday that the design of the project was still being finalised, but height won't necessarily be the focus of the tower.

"Although the project will be a significant architectural structure, it's worth noting that an iconic building doesn't necessarily have to be the tallest.

For example, Sydney Opera House is an iconic building admired around the world and its worldwide appeal is not based on height," the spokesperson said.

The Al Burj project had originally been planned at Dubai waterfront with an initial height of 1,050 metres. The project will now come up near Ibn Battuta Mall, a source told Gulf News.

Mall development

According to the MEED report, Ibn Battuta is increasing its retail space to 250,000 square metres, with entertainment attractions, including a roller coaster on top of the mall itself.

Nakheel said further details on the tower are expected to be released by the end of this year.

Meanwhile, there are rumours that the proposed Saudi Arabian mile-high tower will fall short of the hyped mile.

According to sources, the tower could reach 5,250 feet, four times the size of the Empire State Building in New York, with a development value of £5 billion.

Unless you suffer from vertigo and if you can take the heady heights, from the top of the tower you'll be rewarded with an unparalleled view of the Middle East, North Africa and the Indian Ocean.

The project is being overseen by Saudi Prince Al Walid Bin Talal Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, under his company, Kingdom Holdings, in a joint venture with London firms Hyder Consulting and Arup.

Graham Whitehead, head of corporate communications at Hyder Consulting headquarters in London, told Gulf News that a confidentiality agreement had been signed between the parties involved and hence no details could be released.

Although the height and design specifications can't be released until Kingdom Holdings gives permission, a spokesperson for Hyder Consulting in Dubai said: "They are aiming for the tallest building in the world."

[JMO_0121]

I dont know why you would want to build something this tall. It will look very out of place, even standing by Burj Dubai. I mean Dubai has built palm tree islands, now it should build palm tree islands with coconuts just to attrack more attention. I dont think growing this fast is healthy. Cities like NY, Chicago, or Paris took hundreds of years to be the way they are today, and now Dubai its going to outpace cities like that in less than 20 years. WTF??? Still, it looks nice, Dubai that is, not this FUGLY PROJECT,,, I mean.... tower.:yuck:

[BuildItUp]

I dont know why you would want to build something this tall. It will look very out of place, even standing by Burj Dubai. I mean Dubai has built palm tree islands, now it should build palm tree islands with coconuts just to attrack more attention. I dont think growing this fast is healthy. Cities like NY, Chicago, or Paris took hundreds of years to be the way they are today, and now Dubai its going to outpace cities like that in less than 20 years. WTF??? Still, it looks nice, Dubai that is, not this FUGLY PROJECT,,, I mean.... tower.:yuck:

I believe they are building fast for the following reasons:

1. Diversify away from oil dependence and start a new real estate economy/ financial hub/ tourist destination and etc ...
2. Oil in UAE is finite
3. Take advantage of cheap money since all prices are at all time high
4. It is statement to the world that they are the new "America"... we are rich, our environment is clean, we have no prejudice and we welcome your money...

[Spocket]

^Where can I get a hold of this cheap money you speak of ? ;)

Anyway, you're right that this sort of thing is designed to diversify the economy of Dubai and the UAE but perhaps not quite in the same way that you're thinking. It's a very small percentage of the world's population that really cares so much about how tall a building is. What most people are really interested in is the effect a destination will have on them. Perhaps it's more accurate to call it the experience of the place.

Dubai is already becoming "larger than life" (so to speak) It's really impressive and amazing. THIS tower isn't really something that people could appreciate the same way though. The Burj Dubai has elegance of design , compliments the Dubai skyline while "making" it, and also holds the WTB title making it something of an attraction in itself. Whether or not it ever turns a profit is another matter. The "Tall Tower" of whatever it ultimately gets named posesses none of these qualities except potentially for one. It's a rather monolithic-looking slab , it's TOO tall , doesn't have any character to speak of, would detract from the Dubai skyline's attractiveness, is out of scale, and , probably most importantly, could never make a profit. If it was half as tall as currently planned it still wouldn't "fit".

Don't get me wrong, if any place on Earth is poised to clinch and hold indefinitely the location of the WTB, it's probably Dubai. I have no problem with Dubai adding the WTB (since it already has the title anyway) at a mile high but this thing is something more properly placed in a skyscraper freak-show.

[Dequal]

I believe they are building fast for the following reasons:

1. Diversify away from oil dependence and start a new real estate economy/ financial hub/ tourist destination and etc ...
2. Oil in UAE is finite
3. Take advantage of cheap money since all prices are at all time high
4. It is statement to the world that they are the new "America"... we are rich, our environment is clean, we have no prejudice and we welcome your money...

Dubai is already living from the tourism and real estate. The money made by oil is reduced to 5% or something of the total income.

[Dequal]

How is it not helping? If anything, developments like these are intended to shift Dubai's economy away from oil revenue.

Al Burj:

Costs > Revenue

That's why it's not helping.

[malec]

eney news a bout tall tower (al burj) some picture update ??
i ask here becous it is one of the most view`d threds !


Nope. Someone should drive out to the site and see what's going on.

[Lecom]

Al Burj:

Costs > Revenue

That's why it's not helping.

Revenue will exceed costs, one way or another. if the tower's office space itself is not profitable, then a cash cow complex that feeds off the centerpiece's attraction factor will make the money (e.g. Downtown Burj Dubai).

[M II A II R II K]

Why was the height information taken out of the title, is it because they haven't made it up yet....

[MolsonExport]

Insanity. Crazy. Mindboggling.
Cool. Awesome. Spectacular.

[Lecom]

Why was the height information taken out of the title, is it because they haven't made it up yet....

Yep, you just answered your own question.

[malec]

Revenue will exceed costs, one way or another. if the tower's office space itself is not profitable, then a cash cow complex that feeds off the centerpiece's attraction factor will make the money (e.g. Downtown Burj Dubai).

But the thing is, this has already been done with burj dubai. You can't really do the same thing twice and expect it to succeed.

[America 117]

4. It is statement to the world that they are the new "America"... we are rich, our environment is clean, we have no prejudice and we welcome your money...

Yay right!!!!!:haha: they are a 3erd world country they will never be like us no matter how hard they try, wanna bes

but for real dident they make the size smaller i have looked at the renders and
it will ( if it even gets built ) be the same hight as the burj dubia.
is this true?

and i have never seen it this high before in a render.
does this tower have a website or something?

[Bergenser]

Can't waith for the design, I don't expect too much
since I guess when it comes to heights as this, the design opportunities are limited.

[malec]

According to Imre the entire site is being boarded up. By the entire site I mean not just the tower but the surrounding development too.

[L.u.v.]

^ Is that a good thing or should we be worried?

[Aleks]

Maybe they're getting ready to roll in the big machinery.

[sledhead35]

4. It is statement to the world that they are the new "America"... we are rich, our environment is clean, we have no prejudice and we welcome your money...

this may be true, but read comments on burj videos on youtube. this is a region with a lot of unrest. i sense that a big part of the population feels angry about the hype or something. building a beautiful city and getting tourism doesnt fix these problems, although these feelings can be silenced for a while. i just think the social ideals are a long way from those of america. not that america is better or worse. heck, im not from either country.

[Tom In Chicago]

Unless you're referring to the Iraq invasion of Kuwait, the GCC hasn't historically had much "unrest" at all. . .

. . .

[Lecom]

^ Is that a good thing or should we be worried?

That's what happened at Downtown Burj Dubai - the other day some forumers have just began saying how they fenced off about a square mile around the BD site. Next year pictures of the concrete foundation of the BD surface on the Net. Since then - you know the rest.

In other words, yes, it's a very good sign.

[Lecom]

But the thing is, this has already been done with burj dubai. You can't really do the same thing twice and expect it to succeed.

Why not? it's not just a gimmick, it's a method of real estate development. It's no secret that land values around landmarks are higher than elsewhere. Thus, they decide to create an instant landmark that will certainly increase the real estate value around it. There is no way a tower taller than the BD won't be a landmark. Without a landmark, the complex would be just another luxury development with some water features, cafes and towers. Compare the amount of attention garneredby the Downtown Burj Dubai vs a similar development without a prominent centerpiece - e.g. the Dubai Festival City. Seriously, think of how many times we are getting glimpses of stuff like the Old Town, South Ridge apartment complex, etc, just when we check out pictures of the Burj Dubai.

[Mike K.]

I've updated the name of this project in the database to "Tall Tower."

If other stats are factual now, including the 1,400m height, please verify and I'll update the database.

[VivaLFuego]

EDITED: oh, apparently it won't be 1.4km anymore?

[malec]

From bizzybonita on SSC


http://i35.tinypic.com/1ju6fo.jpg

[NYC4Life]

What a great and sandy location for a "Tall Tower."

[OhGreatOne]

I still maintain that building a skyscraper that tall would present (pardon the pun) monumental engineering problems. The pressure at the base of the building would be extraordinary. Could a base for a building that tall (and heavy) be built, with some margin of safety, to avoid a catastrophic collapse as it nears completion, or worse yet, once the last tennant has brought home a bag of groceries that was just a little too heavy? I remain incredulous as to the structural viability of this monstrocity. Comments?

[NYC4Life]

I agree with the above statement. Dubai is a recipe for a coming disaster. Besides trying to break records, there are no viable reasons to build so tall, especially in Dubai where towers probably sit half empty in a landscape that's otherwise, desert.

[GO_UAE]

My great grand mother had more vision than some people on these boards ! sheesh >.<

[drewmandan]

I still maintain that building a skyscraper that tall would present (pardon the pun) monumental engineering problems. The pressure at the base of the building would be extraordinary. Could a base for a building that tall (and heavy) be built, with some margin of safety, to avoid a catastrophic collapse as it nears completion, or worse yet, once the last tennant has brought home a bag of groceries that was just a little too heavy? I remain incredulous as to the structural viability of this monstrocity. Comments?

Buildings aren't built unless they've been calculated to be structurally sound. They way you say it, it sounds like they're just throwing these things up without any plans. There are literally YEARS of testing, simulations, and more testing that go into every building built in a place like Dubai. Don't be an idiot.

By the way, the reason buildings keep getting taller is because materials science continues to advance. Concrete today is an order of magnitude stronger than 30 years ago and probably a thousand times stronger than the stuff they used in Rome.

[OhGreatOne]

Buildings aren't built unless they've been calculated to be structurally sound. They way you say it, it sounds like they're just throwing these things up without any plans. There are literally YEARS of testing, simulations, and more testing that go into every building built in a place like Dubai. Don't be an idiot.

By the way, the reason buildings keep getting taller is because materials science continues to advance. Concrete today is an order of magnitude stronger than 30 years ago and probably a thousand times stronger than the stuff they used in Rome.

Don't get me wrong--I'd actually like to see this thing get built. I'd also like to have enough money to visit Dubai in, say 5 to 10 years from now to enjoy this and other engineering marvels.

There are, of course, structural engineers who make a career of stress analysis, studying vectors, pressure points, partial differential equations and the like in order to ensure, with some margin of safety, the viability of their projects. Of course, the technological advancements in materials may make these buildings viable. However, I still remain curious, if not downright incredulous, as to what would be needed to support nearly a mile of skyscraper above ground level. Imagine the weight per square foot that would come to bear on each square inch of the core, as well as the pressure on the walls and other supporting columns!

There is a perception, at least among some in the West, that safety shortcuts are often applied to buildings in an effort to save time, and especially money. I proffer the following--earthquake building safety codes. In some third world countries, buildings are often built in violation of local codes. These often collapse tragically even in moderate earthquakes. I sincerely hope that all due caution is rendered when engineering these super structures.

[malec]

Don't get me wrong--I'd actually like to see this thing get built. I'd also like to have enough money to visit Dubai in, say 5 to 10 years from now to enjoy this and other engineering marvels.

There are, of course, structural engineers who make a career of stress analysis, studying vectors, pressure points, partial differential equations and the like in order to ensure, with some margin of safety, the viability of their projects. Of course, the technological advancements in materials may make these buildings viable. However, I still remain curious, if not downright incredulous, as to what would be needed to support nearly a mile of skyscraper above ground level. Imagine the weight per square foot that would come to bear on each square inch of the core, as well as the pressure on the walls and other supporting columns!

There is a perception, at least among some in the West, that safety shortcuts are often applied to buildings in an effort to save time, and especially money. I proffer the following--earthquake building safety codes. In some third world countries, buildings are often built in violation of local codes. These often collapse tragically even in moderate earthquakes. I sincerely hope that all due caution is rendered when engineering these super structures.
You can be sure that high-profile buildings like the burj dubai and this (if it actually ends up getting built) are done properly. It's the less known ones that I'd be more worried about sometimes.
Anyway we can't make these sort of conclusions now since nobody knows what it'll look like. I'm sure what'll be presented will be possible to build.

What a great and sandy location for a "Tall Tower."
Yes, power lines, power plant and sand :haha:
People say that the plant will go soon to be replaced by a marina 2 of some sort. I think that plant isn't going anywhere soon, there's too much need for it and there'd have to be a massive one under construction somewhere else for this to go.

[AltinD]

What a great and sandy location for a "Tall Tower."

Similar to this perhaps

I took from the taxi 4 years ago :)

28/Aug/2004

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/8976/img0995ah1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Zerton]

I don't really care if it will get used or not (well, building a building that won't be at least 50% full is stupid) I would like to see it materialize. But I don't think this is going to be built.

[Starsky]

This is sorta ridiculous. A lot of the fun of skyscrapers for me is that they are driven by economic factors, whereas even if this is possible from a physical standpoint there is absolutely NO WAY this could possibly be a profitable venture. That is why Dubai sort of makes me sick in a way. I don't want it to sound like sour grapes but it's frustrating.

Personally, it's not frusterating...it just seems like it doesn't make sense. People on these forums say the funding for all these mega-projects is only 5% from oil revenues..Where do the rest of the billions, if not Trillions come from at this point? Tourism...sorry it hasn't been a premier destination very long and its an psuedoislamic country.

It just seems bizarre when you have thousands upon thousands of miles of desert, with no crops, no suburbs, no buildings etc that are forcing the construction to go vertically, rather than horizontally like every other city in the world. It seems the entire city is just one giant prestige project. Although..they may be the smart ones. When the oil runs out it will finally turn a profit. I just don't believe that oil wealth or oil related wealth is only paying for 1/20th of all the Dubai stuff.

[drewmandan]

Actually, most of the money is coming from outside investors who are investing based on the expectation of Dubai property values continuing to increase as prodigiously as they have been for the past 10 years. But then the investment raises property values, so it's one of those self-fulfilling prophesy situations. Unfortunately, these kinds of markets (based more on speculation than commodities) tend to crash quite dramatically sometimes. Hopefully Dubai will be spared, but we will see.

[nergie]

You can be sure that high-profile buildings like the burj dubai and this (if it actually ends up getting built) are done properly. It's the less known ones that I'd be more worried about sometimes.
Anyway we can't make these sort of conclusions now since nobody knows what it'll look like. I'm sure what'll be presented will be possible to build.


Yes, power lines, power plant and sand :haha:
People say that the plant will go soon to be replaced by a marina 2 of some sort. I think that plant isn't going anywhere soon, there's too much need for it and there'd have to be a massive one under construction somewhere else for this to go.

I agree that plant is going nowhere, with the way Dubai continues to grow the need for water and energy will continue to grow at least at the same rate. I recently returned from Dubai and in the Gulf News it says that the econominc boom in the GCC is straining both the power grid and water resources of the region. The Dubai government purposely has delayed the residents from moving into several newly built condo buildings because the buildings cannot be supported by the existing electircal grid and water network.

[malec]

^^ I think that problem is more with Ajman than with Dubai

[TowerZFan]

My analysis of this is simple. I am interested in architecture and that is where I invest my energies, either in praise or dislike for a particular project. Disliking a future project due to its present pre-contruction sandy landscape or possible future low occupancy rate is not my cup of tea. I love buildings and 'Tall Towers'. Build more everywhere please.