Burj Dubai completed

The Chronicler · **on:** January 05, 2010, 10:52:32 AM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ml_dubai_tallest_building

Yesterday, the Burj Dubai (recently renamed Burj Khalifa) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates opened, allowing it to officially claim the title of the tallest building in the world. At a height of 2717 ft (828 m), not only is it the tallest skyscraper, it is also the tallest freestanding structure and tallest man-made structure ever built.

(here's the wikipedia page)Burj Khalifa

raga · **Reply #1 on:** January 05, 2010, 03:22:54 PM

The thing is essentially ridiculous, twice as tall as the empire state building, its half a mile tall! Its going to bite them in the ass one day, billions spent on a structure that is not very useful. I read on CNN that the top several floors are so small that they are essential an inefficient storage closet half a mile in the air.

MrDrake · **Reply #2 on:** January 05, 2010, 08:20:22 PM

I do wonder why they it's that big anyway, why make it big? I mean, if they're aiming to be the world's tallest tower, what's going to happen if they want a tower that's taller than Burj Dubai?

Soon you'll have buildings going up past the atmosphere.....

Noname · **Reply #3 on:** January 05, 2010, 08:25:04 PM

It's a white elephant. They can't possibly use it. It is like that useless hotel in North Korea. Cooked up for the egos of a few rich eccentrics. As it is, the Willis Tower is still LARGER, just not as tall. And yes, the Sears Tower is now the Willis Tower, and the Burj Dubai is the now renamed the Burj Khalifa.

And no matter what, my city (New York) STILL has a collectively larger skyline.

MrDrake · **Reply #4 on:** January 05, 2010, 08:30:14 PM

Hehe yeah, granted through, my country still has the tallest free standing structure in the southern hemisphere, the Sky Tower ^^

Noname · **Reply #5 on:** January 05, 2010, 08:31:53 PM

Oh. Your from New Zealand, then. XD

MrDrake · **Reply #6 on:** January 05, 2010, 08:33:23 PM

Hehe yup ^^

I do have to admit, I reckon that the Burj Bubai does look rather impressive, but I doubt I would go there.....too expensive anyway, besides, I want one of those world island things they're making in the ocean somewhere

Noname · **Reply #7 on:** January 05, 2010, 08:35:30 PM

I don't think it looks so impressive. It looks like a LOT of aluminum cans stacked on top of one another.

MrDrake · **Reply #8 on:** January 05, 2010, 08:41:25 PM

Wait a second....you have aluminum cans!? Curse you!

I do remember watching something about the struction on the National Geographic channel once and of how it was made.....expensively by the sounds of it!

Noname · **Reply #9 on:** January 05, 2010, 08:44:13 PM

Given how tall it is and that the materials, labor, and expertise are almost entirely foreign, it makes it hard to say that it was really middle-eastern.

As it is, my city is still 20-30 times more important than Dubai is, and given how fast that crappy little state's economy is falling, it will likely be 40-50 times more important in a year. XD

MrDrake · **Reply #10 on:** January 05, 2010, 08:52:55 PM

I still wonder why they even built it half the time.....couldn't they at least given it more of a middle-eastern look?

Besides, I still like my country better.....save for having no snow

Noname · **Reply #11 on:** January 05, 2010, 09:06:32 PM

I don't think middle-eastern architecture can go that high!

Still, This will be topped eventually. I give it 10-12 years. Hopefully in the USA.

MrDrake · **Reply #12 on:** January 05, 2010, 09:11:36 PM

Yeah, that sounds about right, around 10 or so years, someone else will want to top it like you said. I doubt it'll be here, no one seems to be wanting to build real tall structures, only apartment buildings, that's about the tallest things now they'll build here.

Noname · **Reply #13 on:** January 05, 2010, 09:16:15 PM

Another thing; why was mentioning aluminum cans significant to you?

MrDrake · **Reply #14 on:** January 05, 2010, 09:21:17 PM

*shifts eyes* You don't want to know

Nah, seriously, I don't even know myself, just something random

Caustizer · **Reply #15 on:** January 05, 2010, 09:54:56 PM

Well looks like us Canadians cannot be proud of our CN Tower as the world's tallest building anymore, but hey at least it held the record for a long LONG time. With the world going bigger, higher, faster everyday it was a record that was made to be broken.

Cancerian Tiger · **Reply #16 on:** January 06, 2010, 12:02:38 AM

The thing that gets me is why, after the events of 9/11, folks are still wanting to build even bigger skyscrapers :huh:.

MrDrake · **Reply #17 on:** January 06, 2010, 12:23:45 AM

Yeah, I mean, wouldn't it be a target for another plane or something? No offence to anyone either intended.

raga · **Reply #18 on:** January 06, 2010, 12:46:55 AM

Quote

And no matter what, my city (New York) STILL has a collectively larger skyline

Unofficial capital of the world my friend, I'll never stray too far.

Quote

The thing that gets me is why, after the events of 9/11, folks are still wanting to build even bigger skyscrapers

Well in the U.A.E. terrorism isn't much of an issue, but it still makes no sense considering they have plenty of land to expand on. In other places it does make sense to build up though. For example in Tokyo's financial district a single square yard (roughly .8 square meters) of land is worth more then a million dollars. You either build up, or pay up.

Noname · **Reply #19 on:** January 06, 2010, 03:11:30 AM

That thing will be a burden on an already-collapsing economy. The UAE really isn't as rich as it would like to have others think it is. All those luxury hotels, mound-of-sand islands, and apartments were bought with the equivalent of a giant credit card, with no way to repay the huge debts, and way too much celebration. Really. Dubai will NEVER equal New York, London, Paris, Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, or Rome.