Some people do like the tower exposed above, some others not. From what the available computer-generated pictures can show, I don’t like it. I am an art person and for me beauty is essential in architecture but, of course, for those who build such buildings, the profit comes first.

It would be more descriptive but it’s not nice to say “idiots” although some broadminded above expressed some quite ridiculous opinions such as “Al Burj will not stand” or someone else is convinced that only Americans architects are valid, the others are rubbish. What incompetence!

On the other hand, some others are wiser and it may be useful for someone to read them.

I would like to tell a few things to the fans of “tall architecture”. I am a European and the only way to visit some tall skyscrapers is to travel over oceans.
Wonder why in Asia and the “younger” countries/continents like USA and Australia building up is encouraged by their authorities while in Europe they prefer to build horizontally? There are cities in Europe rich enough to build some nice skyscrapers, aren’t they? So why Europe is struggling? It would be in our benefit considering the lack of land in the small countries of Europe, but it seems like the old continent has still old mentalities and I think this is one of the reasons. There are some movements going on in Moscow, Istanbul or London, Frankfurt already stands out. But European authorities hardly approve skyscrapers to be build and many people here dislike them too. They just want to be traditional; they love their old and dump buildings which hardly can be used. And you see in a middle of the modern city a 1 – 200 years old and horrible building which hardly can be used. And when to knock them down to make some space, everyone is screaming: No! That’s our national treasure and identity!

I lived in London last year and there are some nice pieces of architecture such us the Swiss Building, known as the Gherkin, you can see it above in the diagram, is the lowest one. Architects in London are in a real trouble if they want to design skyscrapers as they must be aware of important buildings and structures which must not be “covered” by big bloody towers. And when they manage to stay away of these national spotlights (and I don’t doubt their value) people protest against high rise structures and stand in the way. In this conditions, no wonder why Europe is still low rice. No worries, it will get taller in the future, when we’ll be old and retired and we’ll have lots of free time to admire skyscrapers.

Oh well, back to Dubai. Magnificent skyline, isn’t it? But that’s not all. Western engineers are working out new technologies and materials that can sustain much taller buildings that Al Burj or any structure in the world based on steel. And if we are lucky enough and the Middle East doesn’t run out of oil soon, not only Dubai but our entire planet will go even higher, even space elevators are in engineers’ vision. Have you heard of that? It’s just a matter of time, resources and peace, because war only knocks down.

Feedback welcomed.
Thanks.

Just a response to one of your comments “…..they didn’t already thought about all the details..” As I stated earlier I am a project manager for very large construction projects like this. As scary as it sounds, ‘they’ haven’t always thought about every detail; especially in Dubai where projects are fast-tracked at break neck speed and nobody has time to think beyond there specific assignment .