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

[Jake Schwartz]

For some reason, when looking at Saudi Guy's photo, I'm reminded of the Venetian in Las Vegas. I suspect there are no gondolas in front of this thing

[jaga185]

Originally Posted by View2gowanus

^Mecca is not really a 'large city'. The 2008 estimate of Mecca and environs is only 1.7 million, and that is quite dubious/generous given the impossibility of separating pilgrims from actual residents (pilgrims come year round now). The 'old city', where this project is being built, is quite small (300k) and hemmed in by mountains. It is quite incongruous to the scale and sacred nature of what Mecca once was.

I see. Well, in my opinion, I like it.

[malec]

By Saudi Guy on SSC

[Northwest]

Good to see an update on this hard-to-follow project. The supertall portion of this seems to be well underway now.

[Aleks]

Yeah great find. It's hard to believe they're actually building this.

[myshtern]

looks like las vegas

Cool none the less

[NYC4Life]

Originally Posted by myshtern

looks like las vegas

Cool none the less

Reminds me of The Bellagio Resort:

[Patrick]

Originally Posted by malec

Some updates from July 14th
Posted by Saudi Guy on SSC



Please no bullshit this time.

HOLYW*#@#*@#)*E*&E
i cant belive this thing is going up, its crazy

[Lecom]

It must be quite an experience for someone who holds the Kaa'ba in such high spiritual regard to be able to gaze out at it from his hotel room at any time of the day.

[Dequal]

I wonder it's possible to pray if there's such a huge construction site next to it...

[NYC4Life]

Originally Posted by Dequal

I wonder it's possible to pray if there's such a huge construction site next to it...

The construction site sits right in the vicinity of the Kaa'ba, the holiest site in Islam, so nothing will stop their daily prayers. Construction on the project itself would not allow for any sort of interference. It should be interesting when the annual pilgrimage to Mecca (The Hajj) takes place in December.

[le calmar]

Wow, what a strange vision.

[Boquillas]

Anybody see the irony in comparing this to the Bellagio, which takes its architectural cues from Venetian architecture, which took its cues from middle-eastern architecture? I think the way this palimpsest of architecture is being translated by Western eyes is probably quite different from the way the Saudis see it (though I'm sure they've had plenty of exposure to the Western visual vocabulary).

[Aleks]

Never noticed that. Thanks you for pointing it out.

[Boquillas]

I just think its funny how it all comes back around eventually. The building is like a translation of a translation of itself.

[Lt. Washburn]

How far away would this building need to be to not be visible from within the mosque?

By the way, saw a kid on the Jeopardy teen tournament talk about getting caught taking pictures here, says it's not allowed.

[photoLith]

Horrid looking structure. I cant believe they are building it there. Just no, its terrible, no doubt about it.

[Chitown]

Originally Posted by Lt. Washburn

How far away would this building need to be to not be visible from within the mosque?

I don't know, but given what I've seen of Mecca's terrain (admittedly, little), I wouldn't think it'd have to be particularly far away. I must say I'm quite surprised they built it so it looms over the Mosque like that.

By the way, saw a kid on the Jeopardy teen tournament talk about getting caught taking pictures here, says it's not allowed.

In the Mosque, or Mecca in general?

[[SP]Neo]

is it illegal to take photos in there?

@boquillas: really interesting guess.

[PhxPavilion]

Definitely similar looks to the Venetian in Vegas, except the detestable giant clock tower.