MECCA | Abraj Al-Bait Endowment | 601m | 1972ft | 95 fl | T/O

[seb.nl]

Big Ben, Empire State Building, Arabian details... I'd say the building is human

[Oasis-Bangkok]

image hosted on flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/2907013...n/photostream/

image hosted on flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/2907013...n/photostream/

image hosted on flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/2907013...n/photostream/

image hosted on flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thameri...n/photostream/

image hosted on flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/2907013...n/photostream/

image hosted on flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bepooo/...n/photostream/

[Eastern37]

thanks for the update, those ships look really cool

[SNAEK]

great update

[KillerZavatar]

wow amazing!

[Martin S]

Originally Posted by FM 2258

This building makes me want to convert to Islam just to see it. This building enhances the area and gives a very good reference point.

The tower was debated on the UK forum and someone pointed out that the Saudi authorities, responding to the criticism that such a tall building is inappropriate in such a sacred location, stated that to a true Moslem, the Kaaba is so sacred that nothing would distract him from his worship. Anyone who was distracted by the presence of the tower would clearly be an unbeliever.

The upshot of that is that the only people who notice this building are unbelievers posing as Moslems.

[GulfArabia]

Originally Posted by Martin S

Anyone who was distracted by the presence of the tower would clearly be an unbeliever.

no one says that, keep ur issues with islam to your self.

[CakarCakmaz]

massive building

[abodi_cool]

really stunning at night

[Martin S]

Originally Posted by GulfArabia

no one says that, keep ur issues with islam to your self.

Well, I've only heard that second hand but it was stated as the official view of the Saudi authorities. If I'm wrong then I apologise but there is a certain logic in it, which I guess would appeal to some people.

Clearly I'm not a Moslem but I do take an interest, albeit a secular one, in the religion. You can't divorce an interest in the Abraj Al-Bait from Islam and its philosophies. To a non-Moslem (and I guess to a lot of Moslems), there is genuine amazement that such a building could be built in such a location.

There are a lot of wider issues here just as there are with the rebuilding of the World Trade Center site (which I think has a lot of similarities) or that new skyscraper planned right next door to the Empire State Building. I don't see why debating those issues, within reason, should be suppressed.

[abumuhannadh]

Originally Posted by Martin S

Well, I've only heard that second hand but it was stated as the official view of the Saudi authorities. If I'm wrong then I apologise but there is a certain logic in it, which I guess would appeal to some people.

Clearly I'm not a Moslem but I do take an interest, albeit a secular one, in the religion. You can't divorce an interest in the Abraj Al-Bait from Islam and its philosophies. To a non-Moslem (and I guess to a lot of Moslems), there is genuine amazement that such a building could be built in such a location.

There are a lot of wider issues here just as there are with the rebuilding of the World Trade Center site (which I think has a lot of similarities) or that new skyscraper planned right next door to the Empire State Building. I don't see why debating those issues, within reason, should be suppressed.

well, it is NOT "the official view of the Saudi authorities" you can't help but get distracted even a little when there is this monster looking over you while you make Tawaf of the Kaaba or sit in the Grand Mosque. i know i do. doesn't mean we feel any less respect for Kaaba.

[noir-dresses]

This building has such a charming fasad. The more you look at the cladding, the better it look's.

[Martin S]

Originally Posted by abumuhannadh

well, it is NOT "the official view of the Saudi authorities" you can't help but get distracted even a little when there is this monster looking over you while you make Tawaf of the Kaaba or sit in the Grand Mosque. i know i do. doesn't mean we feel any less respect for Kaaba.

OK - not much point in me arguing about this as I don't know the original source.

What you have said though makes perfect sense to me. If skyscrapers didn't distract us, there wouldn't be an SSC.

These issues occur in other places. I've always felt that the skyscrapers in the City of London distract from St Pauls Cathedral - particularly the Barbican towers, which loom right behind the church when viewed directly from the Thames.

However, there is a difference in the case of the Abraj Al-Bait in that it is not just a case of a tall building built close to a holy site but one clearly intended to interact with that site in a very dramatic way.

Personally, though it isn't my favourite skyscraper, I don't dislike the building and I feel that, in an architectural way at least, it is fitting to its location. I guess the problem is that I would imagine Mecca as having more in common with the great Islamic cities of southern Spain rather than Shanghai or New York.

[Shezan]

giant complex, very impressive

[H.I.Gazzaz]

[ibib]

[droneriot]

Will the stuff around the clock be lit too once it's done? The writing above, and the pillars to the left and right with the domes on top...

[ibib]

Well, according to the renders, they should be to some extent

[VRS]

lovely to see the green clock at that night...

[Matthieu]

I'm sure the question was already asked, but can we have more details on the movement of the clocktower? Is it fully mechanic or running on a battery powered quartz?