MECCA | Abraj Al-Bait | 601m | 1972ft | 95 fl | T/O - Page 28

leftopolis · #**541** Posted: **May 4, 2010, 2:09 AM**

These were posted Aug. 31st 2008--so while a bit dated, they're the most spectacular collection I've seen thus far. The city is growing very rapidly. It's also very hilly--just no trees/shrubbery--so creating high-rises wil probably continue in clusters, wherever possible. Those tightly packed, shady alleys are probably a great relief in a city that can reach 100F+ throughout the year.

From Here:

leftopolis · #**542** Posted: **May 4, 2010, 5:29 AM**

Evidently the company doing the composite work of the clock face, including up to the crescent moon on top, is also doing some roofing shapes @ Foster's project(the HSR connecting Mecca, Medina, Jeddah):
PREMIER COMPOSITE TECHNOLOGIES BUILD HARAMAIN STATION MOCK UP FOR FOSTER+PARTNERS

***************************************

Also, the "guts" of the clock, have been worked on for 2 years already--there are a few fascinating pics at the link below:
Mar '08: Fabrication has started for the Makkah Clock Tower Project

Quote:

The structural steel works fabrication has been started at Cimtas Gemlik Works for the Makkah Clock Tower which is part of the DOKAAE project in KSA. Çimtaş’s scope includes detailing, modeling, supply, fabrication, and erection of 10,000 tons of structural steel with built-up columns and hot-rolled beams. The project comprises of a 245 m-tall steel structure clock tower will be built on top of a 346 m-tall concrete structure. The tower will support the world’s largest 4 clocks with a diameter of 43 meters each. When completed this tower will be 591 meters tall and will become one of the tallest buildings in the world.

This thing may actually be topped out by the end of the year--considering the final 200M are a separate project well under way.

OneWorldTradeCenter · #**543** Posted: **May 4, 2010, 2:27 PM**

Nice shots. This tower will contain of the heighest observation decks in the world. I guess it will be the second tallest at 558m, surpassed only by the one of Shanghai Tower.

muppet · #**544** Posted: **May 4, 2010, 3:40 PM**

www.flickr.com/4006, www.skyscrapercity.com

leftopolis · #**545** Posted: **May 13, 2010, 1:19 AM**

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/832...472d46281o.jpg

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/415...afff12bfdo.jpg

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/3812/mecd.jpg

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/5599/mc2u.jpg

This pic is a couple of weeks older--for comparison purposes, but also it gives a sense of how "done" the project is looking:

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/722...6b7c86151o.jpg

photoLith · #**546** Posted: **May 13, 2010, 2:24 AM**

I am sure that the scale of this thing cant be fully appreciated unless you were standing there. Its massive.

colemonkee · #**547** Posted: **May 13, 2010, 4:30 AM**

I think the people in the second picture give a pretty good idea of scale, which impressive to say the least.

leftopolis · #**548** Posted: **May 16, 2010, 2:02 PM**

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3646/...1e62c6b4_b.jpg

On edit:
I don't know about anybody else, but I sure am frustrated with the challenge of finding any current construction pics. Big Mo is supposed to be up and running/keeping time (on all 4 sides)--by August. Seeing that portion of the building under construction--which already has been in progress for several weeks--is possibly the most exciting part(other than the topping out with the crescent moon).

John Hinds · #**549** Posted: **May 25, 2010, 8:02 AM**

Looking at the image above I can't help but think that they've replaced/overshadowed a religious temple with a new giant temple of wealth and tourism.

evanmack · #**550** Posted: **May 25, 2010, 10:31 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Hinds

Looking at the image above I can't help but think that they've replaced/overshadowed a religious temple with a new giant temple of wealth and tourism.

agreed. hard to wrap my mind around it

PhxPavilion · #**551** Posted: **May 26, 2010, 12:53 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Hinds

Looking at the image above I can't help but think that they've replaced/overshadowed a religious temple with a new giant temple of wealth and tourism.

Eh, one in the same.

alex1 · #**552** Posted: **May 30, 2010, 6:15 PM**

looks like Vegas.

MolsonExport · #**553** Posted: **Jun 8, 2010, 4:17 PM**

the surrounding cityscape looks as dry as a box of melba toast

JHoward88 · #**554** Posted: **Jun 21, 2010, 8:15 PM**

I ran across an old arabic advertisement for this building somewhere. The structure is impressive in my opinion, but the location is a head turner. It isn't any of my business, but I am inclined to imagine that there are lots of Muslim people who probably have mixed feelings about a Vagas-style facility towering over Mecca. I've never been super fond of muslims, but... I hate to see any culture invaded in such an apparently irreverent way. Couldn't they build it at least far enough away from the prayer site that its shadow doesn't engulf the shrine? *shrug* It seems like the equivalent of a Chase Manhattan Tower being randomly built in the middle of that big plaza at the Vatican.

shakman · #**555** Posted: **Jun 22, 2010, 12:32 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHoward88

I ran across an old arabic advertisement for this building somewhere. The structure is impressive in my opinion, but the location is a head turner. It isn't any of my business, but I am inclined to imagine that there are lots of Muslim people who probably have mixed feelings about a Vagas-style facility towering over Mecca. I've never been super fond of muslims, but... I hate to see any culture invaded in such an apparently irreverent way. Couldn't they build it at least far enough away from the prayer site that its shadow doesn't engulf the shrine? *shrug* It seems like the equivalent of a Chase Manhattan Tower being randomly built in the middle of that big plaza at the Vatican.

I can tell you that I a really upset Muslim seeing this built near our most sacred site. Just imagine something as such being built next to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem or any sacred shrine of any religion. To me this is beyond irrelevant; this is desecration

JHoward88 · #**556** Posted: **Jun 23, 2010, 4:07 AM**

^ Shakman, Your feelings are entirely understandable. In my previous post above, I declared that "I've never been super fond of muslims...". As you are a Muslim, I would like to apologize to you and any other Muslim readers for my phrasing as it comes across as condescending. In hindsight, I should have left that phrase out.

More appropriately worded, Islamic culture is rather alien to me, and in light of the events of the last decade, I admittedly struggle with anti-Muslim stigma. I don't want to drag this thread off topic, but I do want to make it clear to you and others that I respect individuals, their traditions, and their faiths.

Lecom · #**557** Posted: **Jun 23, 2010, 4:20 AM**

I actually like the structure's placement, to an extent. It visually draws the eye to the site of the Muslim holy of holies from tens of miles away, and it is topped with a religious symbol as opposed to a commercial one.

Crush_Buds · #**558** Posted: **Jun 23, 2010, 4:24 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lecom

I actually like the structure's placement, to an extent. It visually draws the eye to the site of the Muslim holy of holies from tens of miles away, and it is topped with a religious symbol as opposed to a commercial one.

I wholeheartedly agree.

SkyscrapersOfNewYork · #**559** Posted: **Jun 23, 2010, 5:16 AM**

this thing just gets uglier and uglier...i rlly cant think of a worse supertall

vandelay · #**560** Posted: **Jun 23, 2010, 1:13 PM**

I actually like it, both as a symbol and as a structure. It looks like something you'd find on Arrakis.