#026 l Burj Al Arab l DUBAI l 321m l 60fl

[SteelCity32]

Burj Al Arab
Dubai, UAE

HEIGHT: 321m/1,053 feet
FLOORS: 60 floors
COMPLETION: 1999
ARCHITECT: W.S. Atkins & Partners

The world's tallest hotel has acquired the reputation of being the world's most luxurious hotel and has been swamped with critical acclaim from travel writers around the globe. Journalist Kathi Everden commented: "There is no such thing as a seven star hotel because hotel ratings only go up to five star. But there are hotels that go beyond five star so the terminology has grown up around Burj Al Arab because it is an exceptional hotel.

Tom Wills Wright, architect with WS Atkins, explained: "The brief was to create a building that would become an icon for Dubai rather like Sydney has its Opera House and Egypt has the pyramids. The brief was given by Jumierah International who wanted something novel, different, which can be symbol of Dubai. The litmus test we used to assess if we had fulfilled the brief was to see if we could draw the building in five seconds Pictionary style and ask everybody to name it. "We built the tower on its own island because we thought it enhanced the iconic nature of the building, and that seemed logical because the building looks like a sail of a ship."

Central to the hotel's design is the atrium. It takes up a third of the interior space and, with a height of 182 metres; it could accommodate the Statue of Liberty. Technology is everywhere in the hotel from the suite-only bedrooms to the submarine that carries guests to the Al Mahara underwater restaurant. A team of marine biologists look after the three huge aquariums which create a coral reef that is home to 40 species of fish.

[RafflesCity]

8.5/10

One of the most unusual buildings around, and very well suited to its environment too!
Imagine it in NY...

Fits in well.

8/10

[hugo_hlv]

9/10

7/10

[AG]

One of the world's most unique pieces of architecture, and well designed.
9.5/10

[tritown]

Its proportions deceive the mind of its true height. It is massive, yet very graceful.

[Taufiq]

You have to see this structure up close to get a get a proper feel for it's magnificence. 9/10

[hypermount]

9.5/10 !!

[Jasonhouse]

A masterpiece. No matter how much they make a building have a similar shape, nothing will duplicate the perfection of this design. One of my goals before I age much is to vacation in this hotel for a few days. I wouldn't want to stay too long, or I would probably never want to leave.

[Pchi in Hanoi]

Originally Posted by Jasonhouse

A masterpiece. No matter how much they make a building have a similar shape, nothing will duplicate the perfection of this design. One of my goals before I age much is to vacation in this hotel for a few days. I wouldn't want to stay too long, or I would probably never want to leave.

Costs so much to stay there.. luckily the firm that invited me paid for a week i really didnt want to go home.

[Jasonhouse]

Whoops... 9.5/10

[baqthier]

9.7/10!

[Bobdreamz]

a very weird building...I don't know if that is good or bad..it is interesting...8/10,,,

[cgrassham]

Wonderful beautiful unusual design That looks great at night

[DrumCorpsAlum]

So sharp, it'll poke you eye out. Dude, 9.5/10.

[Caledon1981]

ahhh . . 9.8/10

[SUNNI]

does it have an island for itself? ill give it 9.5

If it were possibly I'd give it a 6/5! This is 1 of my 3 favorite skyscrapers ever!

[Homeroids]

Yeah I love it. 8.5/10. I think it's location on the man made peninsular has a lot to do with selling it's design and uniqueness. Imagine if it was in downtown Hong Kong or Sydney. It wouldn't have the same impact on the senses.