MECCA | Abraj Al-Bait | 601m | 1972ft | 95 fl | T/O - Page 57

Paco · #**1121** Posted **Jun 7, 2011, 8:44 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TANGELD_SLC

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't clock towers originate in the Muslim world?

The striking clock tower was first constructed in 1154 near the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Syria, by the Arab engineer Muhammad al-Sa'ati. Towers with water clocks and sundials originated elsewhere.

In England, a clock was put in at Westminster, in 1288; and in 1292 a clock was put up in Canterbury Cathedral. Both are no longer in existence.

The clock is important as it is part of a plan to move the prime meridian from London to Mecca. As this would move the date line over so that Honolulu and Anchorage are in different days, I would think that USA would have a serious problem with this change.

Mecca is trying to gear up to be able to handle 10 million visitors for the hajj instead of the current 3 million.

While I am not Muslim, it seems to me that priority for a 16 million square foot building should be how to build the world's largest cubicle hotel with sanitation and simple dining for 1 million pilgrims. It should not be a 7 star hotel and a shopping mall.

STR · #**1122** Posted **Jun 7, 2011, 9:07 AM**

^Wait, there's a group pushing to have the prime meridian moved from Greenwhich to Mecca? What...the...hell. I mean, I've seen proposals for a Milan Meridian (which would solve the issue of Russia being split by the IDL), but Mecca would do nothing beyond causing a big, expensive transition for the whole planet.

Wow. You weren't kidding.

Stepping back from that, anyone know the scheduled top-out? I'm curious to see them assemble the crescent.

11thFloor · #**1123** Posted **Jun 7, 2011, 8:47 PM**

...hilarious

vandelay · #**1124** Posted **Jun 8, 2011, 12:29 AM**

Suddenly the Big Ben on viagra clocktower makes sense. When you put this all into context: the erasure of the Ottoman fortress, the British hand in the creation of the Saudi state, the attempt to usurp GMT, etc., this multi-use complex might more aptly be called a post-colonial complex.

Zerton · #**1125** Posted **Jun 9, 2011, 5:17 PM**

Quote:

This claim that the holy city is a "zero magnetism zone" has won support from some Arab scientists like Abdel-Baset al-Sayyed of the Egyptian National Research Centre who says that there is no magnetic force in Mecca.

"That's why if someone travels to Mecca or lives there, he lives longer, is healthier and is less affected by the earth's gravity," he said. "You get charged with energy."

........

betawest · #**1126** Posted **Jun 9, 2011, 5:26 PM**

It looks like a Stalinist gigantism. Grotesque, yet fascinating. Clearly one of the most interesting constructions in the world.

Ch.G, Ch.G · #**1127** Posted **Jun 10, 2011, 8:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paco

While I am not Muslim, it seems to me that priority for a 16 million square foot building should be how to build the world's largest cubicle hotel with sanitation and simple dining for 1 million pilgrims. It should not be a 7 star hotel and a shopping mall.

Agreed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by betawest

It looks like a Stalinist gigantism. Grotesque, yet fascinating.

I think that's a pretty apt comparison.

MalcolmTucker · #**1128** Posted **Jun 21, 2011, 5:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by arkhitektor

That made we wonder whether they are using cheap foreign labor. Don't you have to be Muslim to enter Mecca? (Not that there aren't other poorer countries where they could find Muslim workers to underpay)

Anyway, are all of the construction workers on the project Muslims?

I remember reading that the Chinese company building a rail project in/near the city had a bunch of workers convert so they could win the project. Now that is dedication!

Yup, found it!
http://www.emirates247.com/1-600-chi...09-12-1.289733

Troubadour · #**1129** Posted **Jun 22, 2011, 5:54 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

I remember reading that the Chinese company building a rail project in/near the city had a bunch of workers convert so they could win the project. Now that is dedication!

I fail to see the dedication in pretending to change religions for a contract. It just means the workers have no pride, and the Saudi authorities have no shame.

Traynor · #**1130** Posted **Jun 26, 2011, 12:33 PM**

Cellphone pics an hour ago of parts of the crescent being lifted into place.

(Images courtesy of Makkawi.Pk at SSC found here: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...0#post80329280 )

yousef · #**1131** Posted **Jun 26, 2011, 6:32 PM**

This image installation Crescent on this article!

Troubadour · #**1132** Posted **Jun 26, 2011, 7:19 PM**

My opinion on this thing keeps changing, so I'm going to split the difference and say that it carries some worthwhile qualities - albeit largely stolen from the buildings it imitates - but is ultimately a gaudy and corrupt statement that serves no one well.