MECCA | Abraj Al-Bait | 601m | 1972ft | 95 fl | T/O - Page 14

jaga185 · #**261** Posted **Oct 4, 2008, 12:01 AM**

Awesome pictures, and the shots of the Abraj Al-Bait Towers look awesome as well. I do wish there was a little more green, but since it it is Mecca I let it pass. lol

R@ptor · #**262** Posted **Nov 1, 2008, 10:36 PM**

By saudiguy (SSC)

JManc · #**263** Posted **Nov 1, 2008, 11:40 PM**

when they are finished, i wonder if someone will attempt to base jump from the top and see if they can land in near the kabba

MapleLeaf · #**264** Posted **Nov 2, 2008, 11:50 AM**

I don´t think this would be a good idea.

Lecom · #**265** Posted **Nov 3, 2008, 4:30 AM**

Those tents on the upper roofs will make for amazing spaces.

ls1z28chris · #**266** Posted **Nov 4, 2008, 10:24 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yasir

The Ajyad fortress, built in 1780 by the Ottoman Turks.

Picture taken from BBC News

They tore down an 18th century fortress to build this utterly plain and unremarkable looking complex?

yarabundi · #**267** Posted **Nov 4, 2008, 2:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ls1z28chris

They tore down an 18th century fortress to build this utterly plain and unremarkable looking complex?

Money talked !!

photoLith · #**268** Posted **Nov 7, 2008, 12:24 AM**

What a shame, these middle easterners obviously dont care too much about history yet, kinda like in China. It takes a society to become more modern before they start caring about history. Fn shame.

aspiringArchitect · #**269** Posted **Nov 7, 2008, 3:02 AM**

That, and I can't believe they'd build such an ugly monstrocity right over the holiest site in the Islam world.

Starsky · #**270** Posted **Nov 7, 2008, 5:05 AM**

After taking toke from the cultural enlightenment bong that is this thread, I've changed my mind. Now, I can appreciate the architecture in it's politically correct, all-architecture-is-equal form. It not ugly.

It's fugly.

Although its hard to get uglier than the city surrounding it(and its mindset of having to be of a certain religion to be in it). The Cities on Mars in Total Recall look better than Makka

Tom In Chicago · #**271** Posted **Nov 7, 2008, 5:53 PM**

Yes yes. . . we all are very aware that the architecture in Mecca is pretty dismal. . . but let's keep this on topic. . . if you want to rant about bad architecture there's a sub-forum you can use to do that. . . otherwise I'll be forced to shut this thread down. . . again. . . please DO NOT respond to this post debating what I just wrote as it will be met with immediate 3 days suspension. . . thanks for your cooperation. . .

photoLith · #**272** Posted **Nov 7, 2008, 7:46 PM**

^^^
Will I have to sit in detention also? lol

Anyways, does anyone know when this whole site is supposed to be finished and or if its still on track with its original time line?

Tom In Chicago · #**273** Posted **Nov 7, 2008, 9:26 PM**

Indeed it does. . .

TXAlex · #**274** Posted **Nov 8, 2008, 1:10 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by aspiringArchitect

That, and I can't believe they'd build such an ugly monstrocity right over the holiest site in the Islam world.

It looks like a giant Islamic Disney Vegas.

WilliamTheArtist · #**275** Posted **Nov 8, 2008, 1:29 AM**

Great looking building. Love many of the other buildings in the area are as well. Definitely different than the typical "western" aesthetic. Which, imo, makes it all the more wonderful.

malec · #**276** Posted **Nov 8, 2008, 5:39 PM**

by saudi guy, november 1st

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Full Size

Full Size

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NYC4Life · #**277** Posted **Nov 9, 2008, 8:07 PM**

Like a Vegas Mega-Resort rising.

leftopolis · #**278** Posted **Nov 27, 2008, 9:35 PM**

Thanks for the recent pics(from earlier in the month). Anywhere else in the world, a tower of this magnitude would have significantly more documentation by enthusiasts...that's my only disappointment. I suppose, also (a few posts up), it was disappointing to read about the historic fort that was demolished--perhaps it was crumbling into rubble anyway?

It looks like much of the surrounding area is a construction zone, so it will look drastically different in a few years. On a positive note, the Albraj Al-Bait project is a skyline in and of itself! Still waiting to see the clock portion--it's easy to lose size perspective with this building...that portion of the tower being several hundered meters, it could take another year or two.

Zerton · #**279** Posted **Nov 27, 2008, 10:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYC4Life

Like a Vegas Mega-Resort rising.

Exactly what I was thinking. It looks like a resort in Vegas called Mecca.

Joseph · #**280** Posted **Dec 13, 2008, 6:38 PM**

They tore down the Ajyad fortress, because it was Ottoman nd the Ottomans opposed the Saudi extremist interpretation of the faith it was a political, and religious move as much as financial.

This tower looks grotesque, and to have yet another building (the kings huge Palace) towering over the Kabba is abominable.

I believe the comparison with Las Vegas is apt, in the process of transformation The Prophet Muhammads schools where he first taught, and and his first house! Countless other historic buildings have also been demolished.

This is not a middle eastern mind set as same have claimed, but rather a Saudi one,

this would never happen in Iran, Syria, Jordon, or Egypt.

What a shame!