Tag: Burj Dubai

The World’s Tallest Tower

On By Paul1 Comment
Diagram comparing the height of Burj Khalifa t...
Image via Wikipedia

Diagram comparing the height of Burj  Khalifa to other towers & structures

The Burj Khalifa, originally named Burj Dubai, and currently the tallest tower in the world, officially opened in Dubai on Jan. 4 2010 amid an impressive pyrotechnics display that highlighted the tower’s 2716.5-feet of aluminum and steel, and its 26,000 hand-cut glass panels. The Burj Khalifa blows away the next-nearest skyscraper, which is Taiwan’s 1670-foot Taipei 101, and the building has even surpassed ultra-tall, ground-cable-supported radio antennas.


Architects’ vertical leapfrogging, however, isn’t likely to stop at the Burj Khalifa. While the tower will be a tough one to beat, it is likely to remain at the pinnacle for only about another half-dozen years. Developers around the world have proposed numerous new skyscrapers. Some projects have leapt off the drawing boards, though plans for many record-breaking towers have been scuttled because of the global economic spasms of the past couple of years.

The original name of the Burj Khalifa, the Burj Dubai, was changed at the last minute to recognize United Arab Emirates president Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, who as emir of Abu Dhabi gave struggling Dubai a $10 billion bailout last month.

So what buildings could be the next to rise up and steal the Burj Khalifa’s crown? Here in the chart below are some of the tallest towers that have been dwarfed: Taipei 101 (Taiwan) as mentioned, Shanghai World Financial Centre (China), Petronas Towers (Malaysia) & Sears Tower (USA).

Waiting to compete for the prized crown are eight more on the drawing board:

1. Burj Mubarak al Kabir – 3,284 ft. Location: Madinal Al Hareer (City of Slk), Kuwait

2.1 Dubai – Three towers: 1969 ft., 2625 ft. and 3281 ft. Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

3. Miapolis – 3000 to 3281 ft. Location: Miami, USA

4. Nakheel Tower – 3281 to 4593 ft. Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

5. Sky City 1000 – 3281 ft. Location: Tokyo, Japan

6. Bionic Tower – 4029 ft. Location: Shanghai, China (As originally propoased)

7. Kingdom Tower – 3281 ft. Location: Jeddah, Saudi Arab

8. Millennium Challenge Tower – 6067 ft. Possible Location: Kuwait

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Taipei 101 Tower

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Taipei’s 101 Tower

(By Paul Chong)

SANY1821When terrorists struck and sealed the fate and tragedy of the WorldTrade Centre in 2001, Pernas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia claimed the honour of being the tallest structure in the world. In 2004, Taipei’s 101 Tower then stood tallest. Its supremacy has since been dwarfed by Burj Dubai at 800 metres & then Al Burj at 1200 metres appears unassailable, especially with its capacity & provision for its height increase if & whenever challenged. Dubai is the place where oil money is transforming the desert landscape with not just the tallest structures but the most futuristic & superlative developments imaginable.

(Picture of Burj Dubai below)

BurjDubaiSkyscraper

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Al Burj

It is all a question of national pride to have the tallest building in the world ; the biggest and best in everything is the name of the game. For instance, right now China is in a frenzy building more than half a dozen of mega shopping malls covering thousands of square metres. In terms of height, Shanghai would soon have a building superseding that of Taipei but not quite as tall to overtake those two structures in Dubai.

Taipei’s 101 Tower stands in solitude among the overall lower buildings. In general, Taipei is not a city of skyscrapers like Manhattan. By itself, it does not appear to be that awesome and tall. Further, the grey wintry polluted sky does not help to enhance the glory and splendour of the building.

In my three weeks stay in Taipei, I have been constantly reminded by the fact that Taiwan is a FREE country.¨ The word takes on the connotation of being chaotic without order – anything goes, whether it’s the traffic system, building codes, government administration or general business culture. The age of capitalism eats into every fibre of the country. One can be held to be legal in an illegal situation.

Even in Parliament, as often seen on TV, politicians put on public display their free for all prowess action with fists & blows in their furore. This is the practice of democracy not just with the mouths but with hands, fists & legs as well – male or female.

Though the city of just over two million population has multiple lanes for its traffic, chaotic u-turns and crossings spell awe for visitors. It is not unusual to expect traffic jams along major highways with motorists agonizing in long haul and delay. Urban pollution, shanty housings, homeless people sleeping around in car parks of shopping centres, railway or MRT stations are just some of the pressing problems to be eradicated in order to boost the image of Taipei as a tourist destination.

Prestigious tall 101 Tower will not sweep all the unsightliness of the city under its roof, when all the roofs and grounds of the city require due attention. However, its seediness of prostitution appeared to be swept clean without the visible & enhancing sign boards of “VD Clinic” as displayed on my first visit to Taipei in 1972.