Architects Woods Bagot have designed a kilometre-high tower for developer Nakheel in Dubai.
The tower, unveiled at the Cityscape real estate fair in Dubai, will be the world’s tallest building and is part of a development that also includes “the world’s first inner city harbour”.
The following information is from Nakheel:
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Includes tower more than a kilometre high and the world’s first inner city harbour
Dubai, October 5th, 2008
Inspired by Islamic design and geometry, master developer Nakheel announced today that it is building Dubai’s capital, Nakheel Harbour & Tower. The new community was launched at a VIP event hosted by His Excellency Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman of Dubai World.
At the core of the Nakheel Harbour & Tower development is a tower more than a kilometre high and the world’s only inner city harbour. The development will cover an area of more than 270 hectares and become home to more than 55,000 people, a workplace for 45,000 more and attract millions of visitors each year.
“There is nothing like it in Dubai”, His Excellency Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem said at the launch. “Nakheel Harbour & Tower is located in the heart of ‘new Dubai’, where we have focused on creating a true community, a location for living, working, relaxing and entertaining, for art and culture. All of this is concentrated in one area.”
In line with Nakheel’s role in shaping Dubai’s future and creating some of the world’s most iconic developments, Nakheel Harbour & Tower incorporates elements from great Islamic cities of the past – the gardens of Alhambra in Spain, the harbour of Alexandria in Egypt, the promenade of Tangier in Morocco and the bridges of Isfahan in Iran.
“With Islamic influences governing its design, Nakheel Tower has been able to reach its height of more than a kilometre. This inspired approach has enabled us to achieve a number of amazing feats of engineering, for example the Tower will be the world’s tallest concrete structure,” said His Excellency.
Nakheel Tower will have four individual towers within a single structure – a groundbreaking engineering feat. A distinctive crescent-shaped podium encircles the base and complements its remarkable height.
“Nakheel has sought inspiration not just from Islamic design but also from the Islamic principles of inclusion, innovation, diversity, excellence, growth and progress. These are the same principles that have motivated and guided Islamic culture and helped create its great cities throughout history. Now they are shaping the cities of the future,” enthused His Excellency Sultan Bin Sulayem.
Not only has a development of this shape and scale not been attempted before, but it is also a further example of Nakheel’s innovative projects that have changed the way the world looks at Dubai.
The multibillion dollar Nakheel Harbour & Tower development will include 250,000m2 of hotels and hospitality space, 100,000 m2 of retail space and huge expanses of green spaces including canal walks, parks and landscaping. The new development is geographically central to the Emirate of Dubai, at the intersection of Sheikh Zayed Road and the Arabian Canal; and will also complement Nakheel’s surrounding developments including Jumeirah Park, Jumeirah Islands, Discovery Gardens and Ibn Battuta shopping mall.
The Nakheel Harbour & Tower development minimises car use and maximises train, bus and water transportation. A complete transportation hub blends into the harbour area with metro transportation combined with a unique water transport interchange, with Abra & Dhow station links.
Sustainability and safety will be key to the planning and design of Nakheel Harbour & Tower, with the latest standards and technology incorporated in the development.
“The inspiration for the project came from Sheikh Mohammed’s vision for building for tomorrow,” said His Excellency. “He is famously quoted as saying that ‘before evaluating the future, we have to take a quick look at the past. For it is the foundation of tomorrow’.
“It sends another message to the world that Dubai has a vision like no other place on earth.”
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Posted by Matylda Krzykowski
October 7th, 2008 at 9:01 am
… someones just been watching too much Babylon 5 reruns.
Altough its not as offensive as some dubai towers to date.. its still pretty darn ugly.
October 7th, 2008 at 10:32 am
I’d love to see UAE, being newly developed region of the world, as a country with the right vision towards the GREENER future. Now I know it’ll never become true. Materialistic DUBAI.
October 7th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
look like a pen or led pencil . if i articulate building ,it’s post modren building some of inspiration from empire center USA. very massive ,Gigantic straight coulmn form building with out any offsets and breathing space in it.
visibility from men’s eye view , through air or 10 to 20 Km away from the building.
but over all it look like very mechanical look. but its interesting ……
October 7th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
…
ALLAH AKBAR
!!!
…
October 7th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Husband
Don’t listen to the other blogs – I think your building looks lovely.
Wife
October 7th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
the best 70’s design i have seen all week!
October 7th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
I love the two “Islamic” inspired mega towers. I never knew Frank Lloyd Wright was a convert. Another concrete tripod, another Mile High…
October 7th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
very nice
October 7th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
not that impressed really. still waiting for someone to unveil a 2 mile tall building…
/sign
October 7th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
The design reminds me of something out of a science fiction movie. Anyone remember Heman: Masters of the Universe.
October 8th, 2008 at 12:14 am
I think I can see the eye of Sauron at the top.
October 8th, 2008 at 7:00 am
As far as another phallic expression of ego goes, yes, it looks to be an impressive structure and achievement. And I don’t begrudge Dubai it’s moment of glory, this is what the psyche of Man of every creed has always done.
And I don’t mean to come off as anti-Islamic, but the Sultan’s statement ““With Islamic influences governing its design, Nakheel Tower has been able to reach its height of more than a kilometre. This inspired approach has enabled us to achieve a number of amazing feats of engineering . .” What does that mean? That without Islamic influences governing its design, Nakheel Tower somehow would not be able to achieve amazing feats of engineering?
Are Architects Woods Bagot Muslims?
October 8th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
I’ve always been an ardent fan for high rise buildings. Im sure this building will look very imposing and very impressive by its sheer height alone. Although my comment is that the first 2 rendered images looks far more aesthetically pleasing, more due to perspective than anything else. The image of the scale model, brings it strongly back into reality and Im struggling to find that Islamic influence in any of its post modern design. Which brings forth one last point – I dont think the pinnacle of the tower has really been that well resolved. I would have loved to see other options. Especially for such an ambitious achievement.
Still…if you got it, then flaunt it!
October 8th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
what I like about it is that it’s so subtle
October 8th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
how long till dubai stops trying to compensate….? just buy a red sports car like everyone else
October 9th, 2008 at 6:13 am
yrag:
The influences here are the guy funding the project. So yeah, without that check, this is a non-project.
October 9th, 2008 at 10:09 am
its all about design..its an impressive building and nothing to say for YRAG I GUESS…
October 9th, 2008 at 10:13 am
for michel i guess ur limmited..i hope u can make a 2km meters building..so u can call him a project..
October 9th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
yrag, u are right.
islamic generate the architecture or enginering for this project?!
i m totally not convicing.
by the way, another huge, ugly ,show off building appear on the earth soon. 1km…
in the end, earth will be end up like the situation in ‘ wall.e’…
full of the high rise …rubbish high rise.
October 14th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Islamic teachings made this design possible and interesting? Please, Sheikh Whatsyourname! Even devout Muslims see through that kind of BS!
October 15th, 2008 at 11:48 am
Does anyone realize that the Emperor has no clothes on?!
October 16th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
after the gherkin here you have the asparragus…
October 16th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
This looks like Jar Jar Binks holidays pictures!
October 20th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
It is less than expected for such project………Disappointing !
May 16th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
yet another dubai ejaculation ! i have to say the futuristic look is kinda of cool but wears out and gets boring very quickly because there is no intellectual depth – purely technical – not against hight but mindless hight with very little vision except the mere fact of hight is hardly visionary at all and so last century and old and done and boring, move on dubai before its too late! …maybe its too late already.