I agree with you. It's a hotel, so a commercial building. It's actually a disgrace to build such a megalomane expression of commercialism/capitalism right next to the holiest place of the Islam.

Even I as a hardcore atheist feel that it's a disgrace...
We westerners are so used to the nimbyist manner of thinking, it's thoughtcrime to question the established views. Such as how it's a bad thing to build something grander and more magnificent than what's already exists in a city. Such as how size alone is universally accepted to be "flaunting". Such as how making a building ornamental and nice is "tacky". And how the "holyness" is somehow diminished just because the building is being overshadowed by neighbors.

At least nimbyism is a pretty recent invention.... :sleepy:

Well, time for a new thread! :cheers:

All this discussion about the new buildings destorying the "old traditions" and so on. You have to realise that many muslims do not view this the same way as some of you may do. You shouldn't let the old prevent new developement.

And some of you are really saying its ACTUALLY BAD that the buildings are beautiful and detailed.

can't wait :)

Still the question remains. How are they gonna fill all the hotelrooms when the Hajj is not going on? Considering visiting Mecca is forbidden for non-muslims about 4/5 of the world population and therefore 4/5th of potential tourists are left out.

Kinda ironic is that history has proven that urbanity, and especially in combination with wealth makes people in general a lot less devoted to religion or sometimes even complete atheists. And here it is... Abraj Al Bait, the epitomy of urbanity mixed with wealth, right next to the holiest place in the world for Muslims. Risky!

has anybody interested on Abraj Al-Bait membership program?

Still the question remains. How are they gonna fill all the hotelrooms when the Hajj is not going on? Considering visiting Mecca is forbidden for non-muslims about 4/5 of the world population and therefore 4/5th of potential tourists are left out.

Kinda ironic is that history has proven that urbanity, and especially in combination with wealth makes people in general a lot less devoted to religion or sometimes even complete atheists. And here it is... Abraj Al Bait, the epitomy of urbanity mixed with wealth, right next to the holiest place in the world for Muslims. Risky!


There is absolutely no correlation between Urbanity and loss of faith as you put it. Depends what your definition of "Urban" is, from my experiences Makkah as always been quite the bustling city as any other you can think of. Besides some would consider DALLAS Texas "URBAN" and its pretty religious. Again baseless argument really.

<snip>
And some of you are really saying its ACTUALLY BAD that the buildings are beautiful and detailed.


Yeah, imagine them putting up a 100 story, grey, concrete commie block with no paint and no style.

There is already a part two!!! :lock: :lock:

any updating news?

any updating news?

Yes. In part 2 :lock: :lock:

I just wanna give my 2 cents about this

We can argue about the design, but religiously speaking there is nothing that prohibits building like this next to the main mosk. The only thing that maters is the kaba and that will be untouched so touching the old mecca would not add or substract to the holiness of the site.

I have never been to mecca, but I would have appreciated if they kept the old mecca and if they have built these new towers further bcz whenever you have old buildings you should keep them and preserve them for historical reasons.

From what I understood from that non-sense article in the 3-4 page of this thread it is a series of homes built along time ago. can someone tell me exaclty what it is.

I just wanna give my 2 cents about this

We can argue about the design, but religiously speaking there is nothing that prohibits building like this next to the main mosk. The only thing that maters is the kaba and that will be untouched so touching the old mecca would not add or substract to the holiness of the site.

I have never been to mecca, but I would have appreciated if they kept the old mecca and if they have built these new towers further bcz whenever you have old buildings you should keep them and preserve them for historical reasons.

From what I understood from that non-sense article in the 3-4 page of this thread it is a series of homes built along time ago. can someone tell me exaclty what it is.

Sorry this is off subject - but why is it that non-Muslims cannot enter/visit Mecca & Medina?

Such apartheid is intolerable.

Yes. In part 2 :lock: :lock:

Sorry, what's the link? Thanks.

I love the design of Abraj Al-Bait. It's like a reinterpretation of the old Soviet design langauge. Considering that the Ka'aba is already surrounded by mid-rises, I guess the cultural effect of this building is a non-issue.

Why there is no update on this..???..it's one of tallest...made by mankind
...no one ..is from there..to show us..some pictures :bash: ...and what happened with the guys that took pictures until now....:bash:
we need an update....:ohno: please

^^there is no update because this thread was closed over 6months ago, find the thread called mecca PART 2 there is something more recent in there


can a moderator please close this thread

delete

LINK (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=334299) to PART 2!!!