Burj: Bonkers
From one extreme of Middle Eastern madness to the other. The Burj Dubai is likely to become one of the world’s iconic buildings, and is already its highest at almost 700 metres with at least another 100 metres to go. Up close it doesn’t seem that dominating, the perspective accentuated by the tapering tower. But seen from a distance, 20km or more out from the city, it stands proud like the Tower of Mordor. Standing in the bathroom and looking out through the floor to ceiling windows of my executive suite I was struck by the, well, stupidity of Dubai as I took a power shower on the 27th floor of a hotel built in the desert. An interesting article about Bill Baker, the Burj’s structural engineer here.
It’s hard to see in this shot, but this is a nice illustration of the city’s contrasts with the distant Burj visible beyond a series of wooden ships under construction, and a row boat powering past.
(I’m guessing this photo has reached Flickr – the UAE’s firewall prevents access to such a shocking site.)
2 Responses to “Burj: Bonkers”
1 Nic 29 October 2008 @ 3:04 am
Joe, on a visit to Dubai (which ended up being one of the most boring holiday destinations I have ever been to, and I note here that it had nothing to do with the company or the people we visited), I was amazed by the development of Dubai in the local museum. There is a naff model showing the growth from 1970 to now (er, 2000). It is worth seeing:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubai_Museum
Nic
2 Joel 29 October 2008 @ 10:37 pm
I remember that trip you took, and the jewellry you bought. Do you still have that ring?
But seriously – it’s a mystery to me why this is Britain’s second most popular long haul destination after Florida. Perplexing, except that it combines sunshine and shopping. I would have no desire to holiday or work here.
I’ve been to the museum in an attempt to fill the 12 hours waiting for a plane. It’s an interesting place and handy for one of the most enjoyable bits of Dubai, bobbing over the Creek for one Dirham on a passenger ferry.
Glad to be out. Yawn.
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