• Gran Hotel Domine Bilbao

• Burj Dubai

When completed, this building is intended to be the tallest in the world. Originally, it was in the running with the Freedom Tower in New York, however, the Burj Dubai has the advantage of actually having begun construction while the New York project has been bogged down in political and sentimental interests.

Just how tall the tower will be remains to be seen. With any skyscraper, there is a certain amount of “fudge room” where the actual height of the construction may not be exactly what was anticipated. With a project as massive as this, more flexibility is called for in the design, planning, and execution. At this time, the tower is expected to be 2,683 feet tall (818 meters). However, those numbers have changed in the past and are likely to change again. There are estimates that it could go as high as 3,116 feet (950 meters) when all is said and done. It is also unclear how many stories will be in this tower. Early estimates were around 200, but those have been lowered to 189 as construction progresses.

Dubai is no stranger to monumental skyscrapers, but this one sets a new standard. Aesthetically, the Burj Dubai is a brilliant shard of glass piercing the Arabian sky. It is formed by three main shafts arranged in a Y shape. Their setbacks taper in a spiral pattern until the Burj Dubai is merely a spire in the sky. In any city, this would be a monumental structure. On the flat plain of Dubai, it is a shock to behold, likely to be visible for miles and miles. One can only imagine the views possible from those living and working inside. Floors one through 37 are expected to be a hotel. The 45th through 108th floors are expected to be residential, with the remaining 52 floors being offices, except for floors 123 and 124, which will hold the observation deck.

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