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

SteelCity32 · October 4th, 2002, 10:21 PM

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 · October 4th, 2002, 10:36 PM

8.5/10

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

October 5th, 2002, 12:23 AM

Fits in well.

8/10

October 5th, 2002, 01:30 AM

7/10

AG · October 5th, 2002, 04:10 AM

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

hypermount · October 5th, 2002, 04:40 AM

9.5/10 !!

Jasonhouse · October 5th, 2002, 06:54 AM

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.

Jasonhouse · October 5th, 2002, 06:54 AM

Whoops... 9.5/10

baqthier · October 5th, 2002, 07:38 AM

9.7/10!

Bobdreamz · October 5th, 2002, 10:01 AM

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

cgrassham · October 5th, 2002, 01:34 PM

Wonderful beautiful unusual design

That looks great at night

DrumCorpsAlum · October 7th, 2002, 06:07 AM

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

Caledon1981 · October 7th, 2002, 06:24 AM

ahhh . . 9.8/10

SUNNI · October 7th, 2002, 08:24 AM

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

October 7th, 2002, 08:52 AM

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

Homeroids · October 7th, 2002, 12:56 PM

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.

Manuel · October 7th, 2002, 07:37 PM

Unique is the word imo. Carefully designed but looks a bit fat to me.
a high 8.5/10.

Patrick · October 7th, 2002, 10:45 PM

much too wide in my eyes
2

October 9th, 2002, 09:30 PM

Nice but I would have liked it more if it was designed by locals. There are some very decent architects in the region.

Ersh · October 9th, 2002, 10:05 PM

Very exotic and sci-fi looking. I like this one...9/10

View Poll Results: Burj Al Arab, Dubai
10	762	45.63%
9.5	263	15.75%
9.0	213	12.75%
8.5	99	5.93%
8.0	87	5.21%
7.5	35	2.10%
7.0	42	2.51%
6.5	17	1.02%
6.0	12	0.72%
5.5	10	0.60%
5.0	16	0.96%
4.5	6	0.36%
4.0	10	0.60%
3.5	4	0.24%
3 and below	94	5.63%
Voters: 1670. You may not vote on this poll

October 4th, 2002, 10:21 PM	#1
SteelCity32 Don't be that guy! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 1,098 Likes (Received): 0	#026 l Burj Al Arab l DUBAI l 321m l 60fl 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. __________________ I often dream of huge numb buildings, jet black sinister architecture. Being installed when nobody sees. Their appearence so sudden that few would take notice. Last edited by ZZ-II; June 19th, 2008 at 10:12 PM.

October 5th, 2002, 04:40 AM	#6
hypermount Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Malaysia Posts: 414 Likes (Received): 21	9.5/10 !! __________________ Moto BARISAN NASIONAL: "United we stand, united we fall". Moto PAKATAN RANJANG: "United we stand, you fall yourself lah".

October 5th, 2002, 07:38 AM	#9
baqthier RISING LIKE A SPIRE! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Land of The Petronas Towers Posts: 6,304 Likes (Received): 1	9.7/10! __________________ Whatever lah! *7 YEARS OF THE MALAYSIAN FORUM Since 22nd Dec, 2002* - Kuala Lumpur Sky - Penang Sky

October 5th, 2002, 10:01 AM	#10
Bobdreamz Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Miami/Orlando, Florida Posts: 1,846 Likes (Received): 3	a very weird building...I don't know if that is good or bad..it is interesting...8/10,,, __________________ Metro Miami...1000+ highrises completed & under construction.

October 4th, 2002, 10:36 PM	#2
RafflesCity By Spirit Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S I N G A P O R E Posts: 26,215 Likes (Received): 2	8.5/10 One of the most unusual buildings around, and very well suited to its environment too! Imagine it in NY...

October 5th, 2002, 12:23 AM	#3
Sunflower Guest Posts: n/a Likes (Received):	Fits in well. 8/10

October 5th, 2002, 01:30 AM	#4
European Guest Posts: n/a Likes (Received):	7/10

October 5th, 2002, 04:10 AM	#5
AG Engineer in training Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Gladstone (ex. Adelaide) Posts: 2,023 Likes (Received): 0	One of the world's most unique pieces of architecture, and well designed. 9.5/10

October 5th, 2002, 06:54 AM	#7
Jasonhouse Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 12,277 Likes (Received): 8	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.

October 5th, 2002, 01:34 PM	#11
cgrassham Burned Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Pontefract, UK Posts: 324 Likes (Received): 0	Wonderful beautiful unusual design That looks great at night

October 7th, 2002, 06:07 AM	#12
DrumCorpsAlum Phoenix, AZ/Camden, SC Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Phoenix, AZ/Camden, SC Posts: 320 Likes (Received): 0	So sharp, it'll poke you eye out. Dude, 9.5/10. __________________ http://www.galleychronicles.com http://www.facebook.com/DrumCorpsAlum

October 7th, 2002, 06:24 AM	#13
Caledon1981 --------- Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: OKC Posts: 217 Likes (Received): 0	ahhh . . 9.8/10 __________________ --------

October 7th, 2002, 08:24 AM	#14
SUNNI architect by day Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Brisbane Posts: 3,059 Likes (Received): 0	does it have an island for itself? ill give it 9.5

October 7th, 2002, 08:52 AM	#15
X-seed 4000 Guest Posts: n/a Likes (Received):	If it were possibly I'd give it a 6/5! This is 1 of my 3 favorite skyscrapers ever!

October 7th, 2002, 07:37 PM	#17
Manuel Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 9,952 Likes (Received): 2	Unique is the word imo. Carefully designed but looks a bit fat to me. a high 8.5/10.

October 7th, 2002, 10:45 PM	#18
Patrick DWF Alaaf! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Kurtrier / Herzogtum Nassau Posts: 2,734 Likes (Received): 291	much too wide in my eyes 2 __________________ Viquet oisch, Motz d'Öropp! Last edited by Patrick; September 7th, 2003 at 06:54 PM.

October 9th, 2002, 09:30 PM	#19
Umawi Guest Posts: n/a Likes (Received):	Nice but I would have liked it more if it was designed by locals. There are some very decent architects in the region.

October 9th, 2002, 10:05 PM	#20
Ersh Skyscrapercity Hobbit Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Atlanta, Ga Posts: 78 Likes (Received): 0	Very exotic and sci-fi looking. I like this one...9/10 __________________ 9/11 - We will remember

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