Amazing Architecture

Burj al-Arab is one of the few unique class seven stars hotels around the world. This Dubai hotel is a part of  “The Jumeirah Beach Resort”. The building stands on an artifical island approximatelly 280 meters from the shore. It has a shape of a sail under strong wind. It is 321 meters high and has 60 floors which makes it the highest bulding on the world not containing any office space and the highest hotel. But what is curious it is not highest based hotel – because Jin Mao Tower contains a hotel on 53-87 floor space.

Burj al-Arab. Photo taken from Skyscrapercity forums.

Burj al-Arab was built in 5 years time between 1994 and 1999. It contains only high-class 202 penthouses, the smallest one covers the area of 159 quadratmeters and the biggest about 780 quadratmeters. The building contains also many restaurants, view platform, two big swimming pools, two deep diving pools, eighteen health rooms, hydrotherapy and massage rooms, solarium, jacuzzi, sauna, fitness studio, museum, library, chopter landing pad and few stocks-high aquarium with the whole living coral reef.

Burj al-Arab's hall. Photo taken from Skyscrapercity forums.

All items, equipment and furnishing was especially designed or chosen for this hotel. The most luxurious penthouses have golden elements of furhishing. Every guest has an indyvidual butler for his disposal 24/7. If demanded personal cook, additional security and a car with driver can be given to guest.

Burj al-Arab one of many restaurants. Photo taken from Skyscrapercity forums.

There are six hotel emplyees falls on one guest. Prices for one place to sleep starts with 1300 USD for twendy four hours. But the two floor-penthouses prices are up to 35.000 USD per night.

Burj al-Arab corridor. Photo taken from Skyscrapercity forums.

Burj al-Arab penthouse. Photo taken from Skyscrapercity forums.

Shanghai Tower is under construction since fall 2008 and will be probably finished in 2014. It will stand in Pudong district of Shanghai. The building will be 632 meters high (2073 ft) with 128 floors to use. The total high of the building is 632 meters but only 565 meters till roof (the rest will be antennas or spire). The contained area will be approximately 380.000 quadratmeters (4,090,000 sq ft). This will be the second tallest building in the world and tallest in China. The approximate cost of the building will be probably around 2,2 billion dollars.

Construction site in mid 2009. Photo taken from Skyscrapercity forums.

Plans of creating financial district in Shanghai were announced in 1993 and included plans of three huge supertalls. Two of them are already standing (Jin Mao building – finished in 1998 and Shanghai World Financial Center – finished in 2008).

Shanghai Tower finally approved project in surroundings of other Shanghai supertalls. Image taken from Skyscrapercity forums.

After years of proposals government chosen design from Gensler. This very innovative construction spins and twists around the central core surrounded by a curtain of glass. The project is based on nine cylindrical cores sticked to each other and rising in twisted shape. This design is supposed to reduce the wind pressure on the whole construction (wind loads will be reduced by 24%). Used materials and unique shape will highly reduce the energy consumption.

Another view of futuristic Shanghai Tower. Image taken from Skyscrapercity forums.

The construction is not only innovative but beautiful. Surely this will be one of the most impressive supertalls ever rised. The facade is changing in all directions showing China’s connection to the world, time and space. There will be six sky gardens in building’s parameter. The exterior and interior skin of the building will be transparent. There will be also places for atrium and inside civic squares which makes building open to the world and giving people a lot of public space.

The downtown in Chicago is being embellished with new skyscraper which architecture is one of the finest examples of unconventional ways of thinking about tall buildings. This one is a 82 story (five underground), 251 meters high (that is 822 feet) highrise of mixed residential use. It is still under construction, but topped-out already. The building is designed by Jeanne Gang, and what is interesting – this is her first project.

Aqua, Chicago. Photo taken from Skyscrapercity forums.

The building will consist eight-floor base with wide terrace with gardens, pools, hot tubs, gazebos, fire pit and running track. The building has balconies stretched up to 3,7 meters (12 ft) what gives the irregular shape and makes facade an undulating. This solution is very simple and effective, especially when looking from the ground level. Looking on the building from far away makes the irregular shape almost invisible. That is the only flaw that could be seen here, but the whole idea and construction itself are outstanding.

Aqua, Chicago. Photo taken from Skyscrapercity forums.

Finishing the building is scheduled on 2010. Aqua will be filled with 474 rental units filling 33 stores. Fairmont Hotel was supposed to rent 15 floors from the buildings space, but in Augus 2008 worth 84 million $ conctract was terminated, compared to economical environment changes.

Aqua, Chicago. Photo taken from Skyscrapercity forums.

Aqua, Chicago. Photo taken from Skyscrapercity forums.