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

[abumuhannadh]

see the lines in every floor of this mall?
it is facing the Kaaba. it is tricky to draw it because Kaaba is so close that the lines itself are arcs.

[MattToronto]

Oh cool, nice touch.

[Roukaya19]

Timekeeper of Muslim world


image hosted on flickr

The Makkah Tower Clock is seen at the background of the Kaaba.

By ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 10, 2010

MAKKAH: A giant clock on a skyscraper in Islam’s holiest city Makkah began ticking at the start of last Ramadan, amid hopes it will become the Muslim world’s official timekeeper. The Makkah Clock, which is considered the world’s largest, has four faces measuring 43 meters in diameter.

It sits 400 meters up what will be the world’s second-tallest skyscraper and largest hotel, overlooking the city’s Grand Mosque, which Muslims around the world turn to five times a day for prayer. “The Makkah Clock started with the order of King Abdullah ... one minute after midnight on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan 1431H,” the Saudi Press Agency said.

Over 90 million pieces of colored glass mosaic embellish the sides of the clock, which has four faces each bearing a large inscription of the name “Allah”. It is visible from all corners of the city, the state news agency said.

The clock tower is the landmark feature of the seven-tower King Abdulaziz Endowment hotel complex, being built by the Saudi Binladin Group, which will have the largest floor area of any building in the world when it is complete. The residential tower is estimated to cost $3 billion.

The clock is positioned on a 601-meter tower, which will become the second tallest inhabited building in the world. “Because of its position in front of the Grand Mosque the whole Islamic world will refer to Makkah time instead of Greenwich. The Makkah Clock will become a symbol for all Muslims,” said Hashim Adnan, a resident of Jeddah.

The project is part of efforts to modernize the holy city and make it more capable of catering to pilgrims. Around two million Muslims visit the city each year for the annual Haj pilgrimage, a once-in-a-lifetime requirement for able-bodied Muslims, and 3.5 million pilgrims visit Makkah at other times of the year.

The Makkah Clock Royal Tower is the most prestigious hotel in the Middle East. The extensive project, called Abraj Al-Bait, features a five-star Fairmont hotel with over 1,000 guestrooms. The complex also includes a selection of residential offerings as well as retail space, restaurants and extensive convention facilities.

The hotel is the focal point of the iconic Abraj Al-Bait Complex, which is part of the King Abdul Aziz Endowment Project, whose mandate it is to upgrade the precincts of the Two Holy Mosques.

The complex includes seven towers with a total floor space of 15.6 million square feet and is adjacent to the Grand Mosque. The property joins Fairmont’s worldwide collection of iconic luxury hotels and is an addition to the company’s Middle East and Africa portfolio.

The hotel, a 76-story tower at 577 meters high, will be among the world’s tallest and its unique and distinctive features will ensure a landmark presence.

Many scholars are of the opinion that Makkah Time can — being located in the center of the world — provide the world an alternative to the GMT. At a conference in Doha in 2008, Muslim scholars presented “scientific” arguments that Makkah time is the true global meridian. They said that Makkah is the center of the world.

“Putting Makkah time in the face of Greenwich Mean Time, this is the goal,” said Mohammed Al-Arkubi, general manager of Royal Makkah Tower Hotel.

The Royal Clock is sitting atop the central tower in the Abraj Al-Bait Project, 50 meters opposite the Grand Mosque in Makkah. The clock will be visible from 17 km away at night and 11 to 12 km away during the day. A German-owned company, Premiere Composite Technologies, has designed the clock.

Sources said that the world’s largest clock — six times larger than London’s Big Ben — the project includes a Lunar Observation Center and an Islamic Museum. While the Royal Clock will announce daily prayers, the Lunar Observation Center and Islamic Museum will serve to protect the heritage for future generations. The observatory will also be used to sight the moon during the holy months. On special occasions, 16 bands of vertical lights will shoot some 10 km up into the sky.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/haj_...icle185759.ece

[ibib]

From the storm last week







Recent

[Koobideh]

To be honest, I think the Saudis are ruining Mecca. It's a holy city, it's supposed to feel very tranquil and pretty. It's not meant to look like New York with tall skyscrapers. I think this is just the beginning though, I think they will industrialize Mecca a lot more and turn it into a commercial city like NYC or Tokyo, and take the spirituality away from the city.

[abumuhannadh]

looks like your first time here

[Hepec]

It is true. The industrial moguls have ruined everything Mecca stands for.
They are destorying the spirituality of The Grand Mosque by turning attention towards "another skyscraper". Aren't we supposed to marvel in awe at the Holliest place on earth for Muslims?
For example, take a look at this picture-they say a picture tells a thousand words:

It is very clear that anyone who come to Mecca will be looking up at the Clock tower!!
I can't believe it.And those on the top will look down at "the peasants".

To my fellow forumers, I don't mean to insult anyone, I'm merely pointing out this immense mountain of concrete that is "literally" blocking the sun and sky from reaching Kabba.

[Scrapernab2]

There are many ways to look at the same issue. That is what makes us human. And causes so much conflict.

Can anyone show some pictures of the construction at the top? Seems like only far away pictures lately.

Like this, only more recent:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...postcount=6117

[Pfeuffer]

this place is not holier than any other place in the world ! that is a fact !
who thinks otherwise is nothing but a brainwashed idiot. every pig got more
intelligence and gets more respect for me than all muslim " people " !!
the building itself is just a tacky symbol to show the world that they`ve got
the money to build a skyscraper ! if the saudis wouldn`t have found the black
gold they still would be the most primitive mammals in the world. you can
still notice this in their manners.

[Rody69]

^ what about you? do you have any manners at all??

[Pfeuffer]

I don`t treat women like shit ! also when I´m in a foreign country
I respect other cultures ! and so on...
but let`s stop this off-topic discussion !

[(fabrizio)]

Originally Posted by GulfArabia

image hosted on flickr

Is the floor of the area immediately before the mosque made of stone or is it a sort of resin? thanks.

Gotta say that, honestly, the green lighting on Abraj Al-Bait's top is quite, erm, chavvish. Too bright, too out of context, it flashes out like a green floodlight. It's a shame, because the clock is quite elegant when the sun is shining.

[Roukaya19]

You have to see the "Makkah Clock Tower" as a "BIG MINARET" with its crescent

for the FUTUR - BIG - WIDE - ENLARGE - CIRCLE - "MASJID AL HARAM"

with this photo ...VISUALIZE IT!




old render but it give an idea...the tower look smaller

[GulfArabia]

ppl who never been to makkah are complaining, stop trolling "Pfeuffer"

that render is kinda similar but the dominoes buildings will not look creepy, plus there will be a train station and alot of other details

[GulfArabia]

Originally Posted by Scrapernab2

There are many ways to look at the same issue. That is what makes us human. And causes so much conflict.

Can anyone show some pictures of the construction at the top? Seems like only far away pictures lately.

Like this, only more recent:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...postcount=6117

all these pictures are recent and were taken in the last 4 days Scrapernab2

[abumuhannadh]

Originally Posted by (fabrizio)

Is the floor of the area immediately before the mosque made of stone or is it a sort of resin? thanks.

Gotta say that, honestly, the green lighting on Abraj Al-Bait's top is quite, erm, chavvish. Too bright, too out of context, it flashes out like a green floodlight. It's a shame, because the clock is quite elegant when the sun is shining.

the white floor is white marble. it stays cool even at 50+ degrees in summer.

and as for the green, i think pictures are different from reality when it comes to light. you have to 'see' it to judge it. i guess.

[Scrapernab2]

Originally Posted by GulfArabia

all these pictures are recent and were taken in the last 4 days Scrapernab2

The last picture (the one attached) of the close up of the top of the tower was from October 29. All the pictures in the last 4 days are from far away and you cannot see any construction.

[Roukaya19]

Now we are in the "Hajj season" so maybe the construction will go slowly for this time as it did during ramadan.

[Roukaya19]

For the tower sure it's "BIG" but I think we react as it was when they built those big minarets at the Grand mosque.

I'm sure that ppl have said "OOOh it's tooo high!!" or "What are those, what they are doing?!!!" etc...and now ppl says about the same thing!



In this old pic, you can see a minaret around the mosque..."smaller" then those one around the mosque today.

In the left corner, there is the old Ajyad Fortress who has been demolish to built the actual Abraj al Bait.

[Roukaya19]

Old pic of the Grand Mosque with one or 2 minarets



very old pic of Mecca about 100 years ago






Mecca in 60-70's



Mecca 2010