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

[GulfArabia]

Originally Posted by MysticMcGoo

Is Mecca a fast growing city in terms of population? Or is it pretty stagnant?

its the oldest city in the world,, alot of pilgrims from poor areas stay illegally in makkah after hajj season... they end up living the same style they come from,,, which bothering because thier buildings are disorganised.. but all of this is changing.. unlike before, they are all sent back home...

[GulfArabia]

what does dubai has to do with this thread ?

[Kot Behemot]

Originally Posted by ibib

What's gonna be built on the left side where the cranes are on the picture?

[Qatar Son 333]

Major Masjid expansion

[Kot Behemot]

Thanx. I found some renderings already
So it's an insanely fast building site. Had no idea about it...

[south]

Mecca sure has a landscape unlike any other skyscraper city. Looks great with the buildings dotted all around the mountains, and one huge clock tower in the middle.

[GulfArabia]

i can spot int hat picture 8 separate tunnels
i can see that the new minarets int he expansion are much larger than the old ones, can't wait to see the whole thing come together, with Jabal Omar mega project ( twin towers, down bellow the picture) and Rawabi abraj al bait (19 skyscrapers + 4 supertalls behind abraj al bait) plus the makkah metro and the madina-makkah train + other cities

[VRS]

last picture its amazing, the tower its very contrast with surround area...

[MysticMcGoo]

Originally Posted by GulfArabia

its the oldest city in the world,,

Ummmm.......Jericho?

[shelterbcn]

Originally Posted by Kot Behemot

What's gonna be built on the left side where the cranes are on the picture?

[GulfArabia]

no not that

[GulfArabia]

this:



OLD LOOK



the surcle will be completed in the future, it will make abraj al bait towers part of the mosque as a minaret

[GulfArabia]

http://www.emirates247.com/news/regi...08-13-1.278503

Saudi holds contest for Makkah beautification
More than 300 contestants shorlisted to pick the best design


This is a computer generated rendering of the four-faced clock, atop the Abraj Al-Bait Towers, in Makkah. (AP)

Saudi Arabia has invited hundreds of Islamic intellects and artists from around the world to present their thoughts on how to make Makkah the most beautiful city in a rare contest for the development of Islam’s holiest shrine.

More than 300 participants from most Arab countries and as far as China, Malaysia, Pakistan, the United States and Turkey have been shortlisted for the competition which involves artistic works on how to beautify Makkah and turn it into a museum-like city attracting not only pilgrims but millions of Muslims who are interested in ancient Islamic culture and arts.

The contest is part of a long-term development strategy for the birthplace of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) ordered by King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz to turn Makkah in to the world’s most beautiful city and make life for the pilgrims easier.

Officials said 442 artists and Islamic intellects from 22 countries had applied for the two-month contest but 306 of them have been shortlisted.

The competition is entitled “In love with Makkah, we meet” and is patronised by the Emir of Makkah, Prince Klaled al Faisal, a Saudi royal family member.

“The main purpose of this significant contest is to spread the Islamic art and culture through works that will tell the story of Islamic heritage for the Makkah, the capital of the Islamic culture and the most beloved to our hours,” said Osama bin Fadl al Bar, Mayor of the Holy city.

“It will bring together hundreds of Moslem artists from 22 countries….all of them have been asked to present their thoughts in individual works that will allow us to turn it into the most beautiful city and into a real Islamic arts museum that will be open for all,” al Bar told local reporters this week.

In comments last week, Prince Al Faisal said the Gulf Kingdom, which controls over a fifth of the world’s proven oil reserves, aims to turn Makkah into the most beautiful city in its 20-year development plan, which started two years ago.

“The development strategy for Makkah has been at the heart of the Kingdom’s Five-Year Development Plans….if Makkah had not been here, this region would not have attained such an important cultural and political position in the world.”

He said all development proposals and initiatives for Makkah’s development came from the vicinity of the Holy Kaaba.

“We are honored to serve the House of God and we have a responsibility to develop Makkah and ensure that peace and security prevail there for the welfare of pilgrims who come from different parts of the world,” he said.

He commended the efforts of artists, intellects and businessmen and who have taken the initiative for the beautification of Makkah.

Al-Bar said the preparation for the Islamic competition for the beautification of Makkah had taken two years to make a plan, taking into account Makkah’s preeminent position in the Islamic world.

He said the Makkah municipality intended to ensure the participation of a large number of artists from Arab and Islamic countries in the competition, adding that it would be publicized in the international media.

Al Bar said the competition, which has attracted prominent Islamic cultural experts from several countries for judging the work, also aims at spreading genuine art by depicting Makkah’s heritage in artworks.

Prizes worth around $300,000 will be given to the winners and the art works will be displayed at 12 locations in the city after the deadline on September 27.

“We will be answerable to God the Almighty if we do not work to turn the holy city of Makkah into the world’s most beautiful city,” Prince Al Faisal said.

“We can do so because the present conditions are helpful, especially the full support from our leadership and the financial boom enjoyed by the kingdom.”

Faisal said Saudi Arabia, the world’s dominant oil exporter, is pushing ahead with a 20-year strategy launched two years ago to develop Makkah, the destination of millions of Muslims who come for the annual pilgrimage.

He said the strategy includes a comprehensive road and construction blueprint designed to beautify the city and surrounding areas and facilitate the movement of passengers, mainly during the peak pilgrimage season.

“We should have the best road and transport network that suits the most sacred spot on earth… because it is the most sacred place, we should work hard to make it the most beautiful city in the world,” Faisal said

The plan has already resulted in the construction of the world’s largest clock, which was successfully tested on the first day of the holy Ramadan.

The clock boasts four glimmering 46 metre faces of high-tech composite tiles, some laced with gold, sitting more than 400 metres over the Holy Haram (Mosque) compound. The tower’s height will reach 601 metres.

Premiere Composite, which is responsible for cladding the top section, including a shimmering spire topped by a golden crescent moon, puts the planned height at 590 metres.

That would make it the world’s second tallest building — ahead of Taiwan’s 509 metre Taipei 101, but well behind the Burj Khalifa, the 828 metre skyscraper inaugurated in Dubai in January. Some 250 “highly qualified Muslim workers” were completing welding work on the clock’s frame, according to Saudi officials.

By Nadim Kawach
Published Friday, August 13, 2010

[Roukaya19]

Mashallah Beautiful Makkah


"In Love of Makkah We Meet"
" بحب مكة نلتقي "

competition website

http://mbp.org.sa/


***

[Oasis-Bangkok]

Big Update

image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr

[MysticMcGoo]

That's madness.

Very good shots.

[Gendo]

Originally Posted by GulfArabia

its the oldest city in the world

No offense, but nearly all credible scholars and archeologists agree that Damascus and Jericho are the two oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.

Mecca is pretty close though.

[Atmosphere]

Originally Posted by ibib

Thanks to -yaser-
Can't believe all this area below is gonna be demolished for the West Gate

When do they start with that? And is there a thread for it?

[ibib]

Originally Posted by ibib

Thanks to -yaser-
Can't believe all this area below is gonna be demolished for the West Gate

West Gate: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=523938

[Makkawi.Pk]

Eid Mubarak

image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr