Superskycrapers - Burj Dubai Saturday, Jan 28 2006
futurism 5:36 pm
The above is an artists’ rendering of Burj Dubai, a tower that will measure 700 - 900m in height (the tallest on Earth) upon its completion in 2008. Its location is the city of Dubai in United Arab Emirates, home to several other artificial wonders. Construction began only recently, with around 20 floors completed so far. The exact height is being kept a secret by developers. The cost is approximately $8 billion.
Why build towers so tall? Because we have the technology! The top will sway back and forth up to about a dozen feet, which is typical for buildings of this size, but unnoticeable because it’s so gradual. Not only will Burj Dubai will be the tallest occupied building on Earth, it will be the tallest manmade structure of any kind (including radio towers). It will not even be beaten by the proposal for a Solar Tower in Australia, because recent developments have reduced its planned height from 1000m to 650m.
700m above the ground, the distance to the horizon is approximately 65 miles, compared to 3 miles to the horizon at ground level. The field of view increases from 5 square miles to 100 square miles.
Skyscrapers have appeal besides the wow factor. Making use of vertical expansion allows us to condense a lot of activity, services, and interactions within a smaller space. China has considered building a 1228m “Bionic Tower” to house 100,000 people. The cost estimates for such a structure are in the range of $20 billion.
A Space Elevator, the type that would lift packages and passengers to geosynchronous orbit, would be about 100,000 km in height. Liftport ambitiously claims one could be built by 2018, through the use of automated robotic builders using buckytubes (buckminsterfullene) as a building material. (A buckytube is a molecule made of long chains of covalently bonded carbon atoms.) Buckytube towers would be able to easily withstand airplane impacts, or even indirect nuclear attacks.
It could take a while, but once the first orbit-reaching structure is created, there will be more to follow. The convenience of reaching space by climbing rather than launching independently will bring the cost of space travel down to affordability. The political and economic reasons for building such towers will be pursuasive to many countries and groups in the years after they become technologically feasible. We’d better get used to these towers, because we’ll be seeing a lot of them!
November 29th, 2005 at 12:03 pm
Sky scrappers are awesome. One of the greatest hindrances to creating really massive structures has been that the weight of steel on itself, once it reaches a critical mass, will simply crumble. But just imagine what will be possible once the steel skeleton of a sky scraper is replaced with carbon nanotubes. Another design that I hope to see more of in the future is underground dwellings. This solves the space problem but leaves the above environment unspoiled. And this is in line with your last post which imagines a future world that looks more like the archetypal perfect world that is full of the majesty of nature.
December 26th, 2005 at 8:33 am
“This solves the space problem…” Say, what space problem? This planet is basically empty.
Sure, city centers are dense - because people happen to want to live there in the center. But there is not the slghtest shortage of land, right?
January 20th, 2006 at 9:21 pm
As Robert Freitas, inventor of the Respirocyte, says:
“By the end of this century (or sooner), everything “environmental” will be heavily regulated by the authorities and we will be thoroughly in control of our planet’s fate and should be managing the environment responsibly, like a well-run park or nature preserve.”
January 31st, 2006 at 3:23 am
there is also this construction in dubai:
http://realestate.theemiratesnetwork.com/developments/dubai/palm_jebel_ali.php
February 8th, 2006 at 6:01 pm
“Why build towers so tall? Because we have the technology!”
What a dissapointment. The technology is not the only determining factor. It is great to see new technology used in buildings - but if the only application for this is to build a tower bigger than your neighbour / rival can, it would seem that your motivation stems from an evolutionary hiccup to try and outshine your rivals with mating displays.
Bigger engineering projects are NOT indicators of technology. A bigger pile of bricks is not technology ; adhesive is.
Big projects do have uses. Towers to interact with outer-space (launch ramps, elevator bases) need to be big. But residential towers? Hardly.
April 24th, 2006 at 9:13 pm
If there is no space problem then why are we infilling parts of the ocean to create more land?
April 25th, 2006 at 7:07 pm
Because land adjacent to the water in metropolitan areas is valuable. Have you ever ridden in an airplane? Note that most land is entirely uncolonized. It just isn’t settled because no one has gotten around to it yet.
April 28th, 2006 at 11:05 am
Many areas are not settled for a lot of different reasons besides no one has gotten around to it.
June 29th, 2006 at 5:40 am
I think skyscrapers and cities are welcome. people talk about unfairness to rural zones, that don’t have the same utilities and opportunities… is true that they love nature… but if they come to a modern city (that are being built or will be built in the future, hope) relying on public transports instead of cars (that are individual properties that occupies a lot of space) and green ways of energy, recycling, water treatment,… they (”rural people”) will have access to everything plus will help to make this necessary changing, progressions, investments in our quality of live even more accessible! think that instead of local utilities that costs lots of money to built and maintain we could do with that same money a bigger and more effective one! think that we would have more green zone… yes, more Forest because many don’t farm… just have plants! think that the 80% of earth that we use for farming (and here is the question of space… cities are not big but they consume so many resources that they need many times there space to obtain them, for example: London needs all the part of England and wales just for food and then Scotland for other resources… this is big!!) we could have more animals… they would have more territory (I would love to see animals in there habitat or at least free, without stress, dyeing because they don’t have space to reproduce and eat!) we would have better air (I do believe because big buildings tend to filter the air gases they produce…) everything works for a better quality of life. don’t you think?!
say no to climate changing, say yes to quality health, education, entertainment, whatever! say yes to cites… green cities.
This was improvised… was not thinked before so:
sorry if it is to confused and sorry my grammar and speeling mistakes (i’m not English but Portuguese)
September 8th, 2006 at 4:39 pm
Dubai builds with the anticipation of a future population explosion and the rank as world’s #1 tourist destination.
The problem is that it does not build for a need. Forget the people who already live there. Healt? Education? Nope, not here. The main concern is $$$$$.
They must have forgotten that they sit smack dab in the middle of the worlds most uneasy region. There will be no future population boom. The main tourist destination of the world will never be realised and the current boom will be a sea of “see-through” buildings.
I once respected this place, and their aspirations. I do not anymore. This is not a city of civic pride. There is an almost like caste system, poorly paid army of foreign construction workers, tremendous ring of imported prostitution that reigns supreme, the destruction of coral reefs, almost total foreign exploitation and child slavery ( Camel Jockeys).
This is the only place in the world to claim 7 star hotel, it is completely based on the backs of “modern day slaves”, greed, and despiration to survive without an income generated by oil.
Consider this place a test. To see if it can survive. The common man has no place in this city. Without the common man, this will be Monaco on steroids. Evil with a shiney facade.
I hope this place is destroyed one day. It certainly will not be the paradise it claims it will be. Cities like Paris, Tokyo, London, New York will ALWAYS be the front runners. You just might never have to go to Paris, Tokyo, London, New York since Dubai wants to build them all in Dubai( and probably will). Still like Dubai? Still think this is amazing? Do you really believe Burj Dubai will fill up? Be a success? Tower of Babel in the land where the Quran rules and westernization is frowned upon by hell bent vigilantes? Dubai is just wrong. Keep telling yourselves this is paradise, it’s a greedy sheiks dream that you all BUY into literally. Think about that the next time you pay $40.00 to fill your toyota’s up with.
I see more failure than the glamour you see. This place will never surpass the real wonders of the world. This place will never see 10 million pop. in our lifetimes. 40 million tourists a year? Yes there must be 40 million billionaires who say “I’ve just got to see the underwater hotel in Dubai every year”.
Still sparkling?
September 9th, 2006 at 10:37 am
Well, I live in San Francisco, which I enjoy very much, so it’s not like I’m about to move to Dubai. I can’t afford to go there anyway. Yes, I’m sure that they are going to slow down their growth at some point, but why not enjoy it now? The “modern-day slaves” should move to a different town if they don’t like Dubai. I understand that a Quran-dominated country will never be as progressive or truly deep as major world cities. However, I am impressed by these wonders of engineering, and the people in Dubai, even the low-level workers, are getting food to eat thanks to tourist dollars. Much better than starving to death like everyone in Africa.
The world today is still way better than the world of a few decades ago. All forms of crime are down, worldwide. Greed is nothing new. Until we genetically engineer ourselves (or whatever) to be nicer people, this quality will remain.
November 15th, 2006 at 6:13 am
In reference to Pro Arab September 8th, 2006 at 4:39 pm, seems that you are bitter mate. Dubai is a great place to live, but it is not for everyone.
As for your slaves story, please grow up. People who are unskilled get paid less, its that simple.
You hope this place will be destroyed someday? Probably the place you live in will be destroyed. People like you have been bitching about Dubai for the last 20 years saying it will fail blah blah blah. And the fact is it hasnt.
Seems more like you being bitter and full of envy really. And Dubai is better off without idiots such as yourself.
Everyplace in the word has its pros and cons and Dubai is not exception. It is a country that is just bloody 35 years old!! Youre telling me teh western countires didnt commit dire crimes and unspeakable things back in the day?! Ha. Anyway I have been in Dubai since the early eighties and have slowly but surely seen things improve with time, and they will continue to improve.
Unfortunately with a city’s success will come naysayers and jealous people such as yourself.
Good day and best of luck wherever you are whining now!
November 15th, 2006 at 9:29 am
If anyone else from Dubai visits this thread, please POST A LINK TO PHOTOS OF DUBAI THAT YOU’VE TAKEN. I’m really interested in your photo-journalism, etc. Not interested in your arguments, really.
November 15th, 2006 at 11:39 am
Sure thing, I will post some lovely pics soon
November 15th, 2006 at 6:22 pm
Also - if anyone who visits this thread has bought an apartment at Burj Dubai, please invite me to come visit you once the structure is done!!
December 5th, 2006 at 4:50 am
I think skyscrapers and cities are welcome. people talk about unfairness to rural zones, that don’t have the same utilities and opportunities… is true that they love nature… but if they come to a modern city (that are being built or will be built in the future, hope) relying on public transports instead of cars (that are individual properties that occupies a lot of space) and green ways of energy, recycling, water treatment,… they (”rural people”) will have access to everything plus will help to make this necessary changing, progressions, investments in our quality of live even more accessible! think that instead of local utilities that costs lots of money to built and maintain we could do with that same money a bigger and more effective one! think that we would have more green zone… yes, more Forest because many don’t farm… just have plants! think that the 80% of earth that we use for farming (and here is the question of space… cities are not big but they consume so many resources that they need many times there space to obtain them, for example: London needs all the part of England and wales just for food and then Scotland for other resources… this is big!!) we could have more animals… they would have more territory (I would love to see animals in there habitat or at least free, without stress, dyeing because they don’t have space to reproduce and eat!) we would have better air (I do believe because big buildings tend to filter the air gases they produce…) everything works for a better quality of life. don’t you think?!
say no to climate changing, say yes to quality health, education, entertainment, whatever! say yes to cites… green cities.
This was improvised… was not thinked before so:
sorry if it is to confused and sorry my grammar and speeling mistakes (i’m not English but Portuguese)
December 5th, 2006 at 4:51 am
Dubai builds with the anticipation of a future population explosion and the rank as world’s #1 tourist destination.
The problem is that it does not build for a need. Forget the people who already live there. Healt? Education? Nope, not here. The main concern is $$$$$.
They must have forgotten that they sit smack dab in the middle of the worlds most uneasy region. There will be no future population boom. The main tourist destination of the world will never be realised and the current boom will be a sea of “see-through” buildings.
I once respected this place, and their aspirations. I do not anymore. This is not a city of civic pride. There is an almost like caste system, poorly paid army of foreign construction workers, tremendous ring of imported prostitution that reigns supreme, the destruction of coral reefs, almost total foreign exploitation and child slavery ( Camel Jockeys).
This is the only place in the world to claim 7 star hotel, it is completely based on the backs of “modern day slaves”, greed, and despiration to survive without an income generated by oil.
Consider this place a test. To see if it can survive. The common man has no place in this city. Without the common man, this will be Monaco on steroids. Evil with a shiney facade.
I hope this place is destroyed one day. It certainly will not be the paradise it claims it will be. Cities like Paris, Tokyo, London, New York will ALWAYS be the front runners. You just might never have to go to Paris, Tokyo, London, New York since Dubai wants to build them all in Dubai( and probably will). Still like Dubai? Still think this is amazing? Do you really believe Burj Dubai will fill up? Be a success? Tower of Babel in the land where the Quran rules and westernization is frowned upon by hell bent vigilantes? Dubai is just wrong. Keep telling yourselves this is paradise, it’s a greedy sheiks dream that you all BUY into literally. Think about that the next time you pay $40.00 to fill your toyota’s up with.
I see more failure than the glamour you see. This place will never surpass the real wonders of the world. This place will never see 10 million pop. in our lifetimes. 40 million tourists a year? Yes there must be 40 million billionaires who say “I’ve just got to see the underwater hotel in Dubai every year”.
Still sparkling?
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