Burj Al Arab
1994-1999
Tom Wright
Dubai
The Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai is known for its iconic look. All of the iconic buildings that are known today like the Sydney Music Hall or the Eiffel Tower can be recognized by a few quick strokes of the pen. That is exactly what Architect Tom Wright was briefed to do for the Burj Al Arab. The building was to be recognized in a 30 second or less sketch. The idea for the hotel came to Wright while on the beach of Dubai. He noticed the sails of the boats that the island is known for and going off of that, created the symbol of Dubai.
The Hotel is the largest in the world, but its most remarkable feature is that it sits on a manmade island of sand held in by friction. “Workers drilled steel piles into the seabed to support the massive building and armored the island with precast concrete "shed" units -- specially designed hollow blocks made to minimize the force of waves. Workers then filled the structure with sand dredged from an offshore seabed” (Dowdey, October) The building jetting out from the shore, had to be resistant to wind and many tests were done on the building to make sure that it was able to hold up to time. The Burj Al Arab, has amazed me ever since building went into effect in 1994. The way the rigid concrete and steel structure is united with a more delicate glass fibre fabric is so unique. The atrium is special in its own way as well by being the tallest in the world at 182 meters high. Additionally, the fabric is illuminated all hours to make the building glow and stand out even more in its open site.
The Burj Al Arab building reminds me of the wu-wu that has been discussed in class. It stands out from everything else in a wide open area. Furthermore, it is also wide and tall spanning out from the site making the eye go straight up in wonder and delight at the building. It celebrates its iconic look while being a seven star rated Hotel in Dubai.
Atkins Global. (n.d.). Burj Al Arab. Retrieved 2009 18th, February, from Tom Wright : http://www.tomwrightdesign.com/web/burj_al_arab.php
The Hotel is the largest in the world, but its most remarkable feature is that it sits on a manmade island of sand held in by friction. “Workers drilled steel piles into the seabed to support the massive building and armored the island with precast concrete "shed" units -- specially designed hollow blocks made to minimize the force of waves. Workers then filled the structure with sand dredged from an offshore seabed” (Dowdey, October) The building jetting out from the shore, had to be resistant to wind and many tests were done on the building to make sure that it was able to hold up to time. The Burj Al Arab, has amazed me ever since building went into effect in 1994. The way the rigid concrete and steel structure is united with a more delicate glass fibre fabric is so unique. The atrium is special in its own way as well by being the tallest in the world at 182 meters high. Additionally, the fabric is illuminated all hours to make the building glow and stand out even more in its open site.
The Burj Al Arab building reminds me of the wu-wu that has been discussed in class. It stands out from everything else in a wide open area. Furthermore, it is also wide and tall spanning out from the site making the eye go straight up in wonder and delight at the building. It celebrates its iconic look while being a seven star rated Hotel in Dubai.
Atkins Global. (n.d.). Burj Al Arab. Retrieved 2009 18th, February, from Tom Wright : http://www.tomwrightdesign.com/web/burj_al_arab.php
Dowdey, S. (October, 01 2007). How the Dubai Seven-Star Hotel Works . Retrieved February 17, 2009, from How Stuff Works.com: http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/dubai3.htm
WS ATKINS CONSULTANTS LTD. (2006). JUMEIRAH BEACH RESORT. Retrieved February 18th, 2009, from Burj Al Arab: http://www.tomwrightdesign.com/PageLibraryAssets/Jbrpress.pdf?61
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