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Week 9 (18.05-24.05) The highest buildings in the world.

Do you remember a story about people who wanted to build the highest building to find God?

Source: http://www.arch.mcgill.ca/prof/sijpkes/philo-2009/tower-lecture/16630418fae9d172ccc68bb88d215dc5106146ce.jpg

Nowadays we can see buildings rising in  the sky but built not for religious reasons. They are created for earning money, some of them are used for showing prestige for instance the tallest building in the world - Burj Khalifa, built in Dubai. 829.8 meters high, amazing architecture wonder. 162 floors, 1 million m2, 57 lifts. 

The tower is placed in the center of the artificial lake. Spa centers, swimming pools, hotels, rest rooms, entertainment centers always are open for people who by a special visa. 

Source: http://extendcreative.com/burj-khalifa-dubai-the-tallest-building-in-the-world/

The concept and form have been based on some flower growing in this region. The foundations consist of 192 piles (1,5 meters in diameter and approximately 50 meters in depth). The building is self-sufficient in energy. Burj Khalifa has glass facades with special technologies, which protect the tower from the sun and high temperatures like 50°C.

Everything is amazing and incredible. On the Internet you can find many videos with extreme events and stunts performed at Burj Khalifa. E.g.

Base jumping:


This building is associated with Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol movie in which Tom Cruise climbed up the facades of the building. You can watch it here:



Source: 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_and_structures_in_the_world
http://www.burjkhalifa.ae/en/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burj_Khalifa

Comments

In my opinion, the construction of such skyscrapers aims only wealth. It is not just about hiring the area, but to win the title of the largest, most expensive, most luxurious, etc. It not only helps to gain titers of luxurious skyscrapers and retrieve outrageously high fees, but lure to the country in which it is built incredible amount of tourists, which will bring gain for the whole country. It is difficult to predict what else will surprise us in terms of architecture, but certainly the architects will find a way to increasingly more imposing structures.
MartaSB said…
The first video with base jumping is a great sample of French accent in English! :D I have respect for hights and I suppose it's not possible for me to take part in such activities. I wonder how much money people get for stunts like that...
I have never been in any of these buildings, but I definitely wish to check the view from there :)
Unknown said…
Many skyscrapers are built to bend with the wind. From what I've heard the tip of this building moves quite a lot (a few centimeters or even more) because of wind. Is that true? Do you know how far it can bend?

I was also wondering how long does it take to get to the top (by an elevator). They have to go really fast! Anyway I would love to see it one day :)
This comment has been removed by the author.
Yes, you're right. Skyscrapers moves and deviates from the vertical. Burj Khalifa moves max. 1,5 meters. It's not much in comparision to it's high. This building has world's third-fastest elevator. Maximum elevator speed is 36 km/h or 600 meters per minute, so you can get on 124 floor in about one minute. Thanks for comment.
rf. said…
I know that there was a project of a very tall spire allowing to launch satellites more easily. And now you've reminded me of a sci-fi book about a building connecting earth and moon :)
The highest building I've been to is CN Tower in Toronto, which is 553m high. It is the 3rd tallest tower in the world and the tallest free-standing structure in the Western Hemisphere. It was quite an amazing experiece, as the main pod has a glass floor on which you can walk, on the height of 356m. You can see a photo here: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/CN_Tower_Glass_Floor_Walk.jpg/800px-CN_Tower_Glass_Floor_Walk.jpg

I think that skyscrapers like these are really amazing, as they really show the amazing level of technology achieved by humans.
OMG,glass floor, really scary sight. Thanks for photo.Great that you were in Canada. I think that is very interesting country with a lot of green nature areas.
Unknown said…
Warsaw and Wrocław are the first cities in Poland in which tall buildings were constructed, which can be accounted as skyscrapers.The first Polish skyscrapers are PAST and PRUDENTIAL in Warsaw and POST OFFICE in Wrocław. In the following years skyscrapers were created also in Katowice and Krakow. Currently Warsaw is holding the biggest number of skycrapers in Poland.

The 5 tallest buildings in Poland are:

1. Pałac Kultury i Nauki in Warsaw. 237 meters in height, in total. Built in 1955.
2. Warsaw Spire in Warsaw. 220 meters, built in 2015
3. Sky Tower in Wrocław. 212 m, 2012
4. Warsaw Trade Tower in Warsaw, 1999
5. Złota 44, Warszawa 192, 2013
Peter thanks for examples from Poland. I have a curiosity in this subject. In Konstatntynow, near Warsaw, was a broadcasting mast, which had a 646 meters high. It was the tallest structure in the World. Unfortunately in 1991 this construction was collapsed. Burj Khalifa is the next highest object in The World, so We had a record to 2008. You can read about it here: http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maszt_radiowy_w_Konstantynowie
I recommend watching this video about how tall we can build: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJ4Qp2xeRds The highest buliding I've been to is Sears Tower(now called Willys Tower, but I associate myself with this group: https://www.facebook.com/pages/I-dont-care-if-its-called-the-Willis-Tower-I-call-it-the-Sears-Tower/185635633095 ) The thing I most liked about Sears Tower is the elevator so fast that you felt lighter when descending.
Unknown said…
I quite agree with Cezary. Such buildings are meant to show wealth and prestige which generates even more money from companies who wish to rent luxurious office space and tourists who visit these buildings and buy tickets for observation decks etc. Burj Khalifa looks amazing indeed. I guess it must be truly imposing in real life.

This presentation, the base jumping video in particular, reminds me of other video I watched some time ago. It's very different from what you posted – it's made by a Romanian guy who, without any security measures, climbed a 280m chimney in Pitesti. You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLp5hlyrtnE It may make you nervous.
Unknown said…
This skyscraper looks really amazing. I would really love to stand on the top floor of this tower. The view must be impressive and breathtaking.
View is really beautifull. Today it's not a problem to visit Burj Khalifa from home. Thanks for google : https://www.google.com/maps/views/u/0/view/streetview/burj-khalifa/burj-khalifa-at-the-top-observation-deck-entrance-ground-floor/XTKFFOeTTW4LigUGKnch5g?gl=u&heading=36&pitch=74&fovy=75
Unknown said…
I saw in Barcelona Collserola Communications Tower. It is work of engineering in Spain which is used to communications hub. It is nice lookout point of catalan architecture which every tourist should to see. Collserola has 288 m high and is situated 560 m above sea level. From 10th floor we can swe 360 degree panoramic view of Barcelona.
Unknown said…
I had a great pleasure to take part in event that took place in Złota 44 skyscraper. Warsaw was so beautiful from this perspective. The clock on the Palace of Culture looked remarkable and luxurious. It was very unforgettable night. If I had vast sums of money, I would definitely buy an apartment in this building.
Unknown said…

It is really amazing that we can build such high buildings but I prefer the small ones. It is because of terrorist attack from 11th of September. I have seen on the internet a lot of movies were people tried to climb on various sky scrapers. The view Is really amazing and by looking on the pictures you can feel a little afraid of it. It is fun to be on the highest building but I prefer the smaller ones :D
Unknown said…
It’s amazing. I’ve never known that Burj Khalifa is self-sufficient in energy. I thought it needed external energy sources for powering all appliances. Even providing water needs electricity for pumps which generate enough pressure for the highest floors. European countries are debtors so I don’t think we can build such beautiful buildings in the future.
Unknown said…
I agree with you that skyscrapers may be the sign of prestige but I think that building them may be also a great area development plan as we can fit a lot of floors in them and thereby save space for other buildings. In my opinion, a vast amount of skyscrapers in the city makes it look more modern and developed in different areas. I also think that Warsaw has benefited from the fact that there have been more and more construcion projects of skyscrapers as it resembles western cities more.
Oh, I envy you. Do you have any photos from this building ? Once time I was on the roof of TPSA building, where is heliport.
Dubaj is the place where average the sun shines 10 hour a day, so it have to be used :)
Unknown said…
Burj Khalifa is wonderful building. It is amamzing that people create, build really high skyscrapers. I can’t imagine how looked their constructions. I haven’t known that Burj Khalifa is self-sufficient in energy before I read this article. I think that is not only architectural wonder but also technological wonder. On its construction had to work most talented specialists from around the world. there was no place for any mistake. It looks perfect.
Unknown said…
I think that the highest building I've ever been to was Rockefeller Center in NYC. It was high enough for me:) Although I like the idea of building vertically to save space and green areas, it makes me wonder that people in such "small vertical cities" are travelling in an elevator all the time. This limits the daily excercise and walking is the only thing that is left for some people. I hope that one day somebody will make a brilliant invention like internet transfer earned by kilometres walked/ran or energy earned by recycling.
Unknown said…
I hope that one day somebody covers some areas of Sahara desert in solar panels - this could provide sooo much energy!
Unknown said…
In Los Angeles there are just a couple of tall buildings, the rest are small due to frequent earthquakes in this area. It looks really weird - this huge city with only maybe 5 skyscrapers. And because of that LA has a very big area.
Unknown said…
Hahaha, the idea about building which let us to reach God is very funny from the physical view. I have never interested in this topic, but it is very interesting. Height of this buildings is really impressive.
Your first video example- Wow! It’s great, amazing, beautifull. It made an impression for me. Vistas from there must be beautifull.
I don’t know the architecture, but it must be a pearl of architecture and a big success of the construction. What do you think, you know, about it?
Unknown said…
Because a man can. Thats why such buildings are build all the way since The Tower of Babel. Humanity always seeks for new challenges. We don't accept impossible for the answer. And the richer somebody is the more possible ideas he sees. That was the case with Empire State Building, Petronas Towers, Taipei 101 and most recently with Burj Khalifa. That will be the case with 1,000 meters tall Kingdom Tower when it will be completed in 2019.
Unknown said…
In my opinion tall buildings both have advantages and disadvantages. Of course, it saves space. High-rise buildings create a very interesting space. The view from the upper floors of skyscrapers is really amazing. Several times I watched the city from a height and the feeling was amazing. In contrast, the disadvantage of such solutions is to focus a large amount of people on a small space. This causes considerable difficulties in movement.
Unknown said…
Those buildings are real demonstration of the modern technology, intelligence and constructor genius. States that are building such buildings are showing their welfare and ability to conduct long-term projects of high complexity. Still, as for me sometimes it is much better to invest money into other branches of the state's economy, it will bring result.
I'm not a huge fan of those buildings. I'm not an expert and I can be wrong but I just don't think they are practical. Of course it's a demonstration of the modern technology but for me it is something like rich people having very big houses, fancy cars to impress others. It's like yelling at everybody around "You! You see, I have a bigger building than YOUUU!"...
I simply love skyscrapers simply for their architectural design. I adore the futuristic look found in many movies/games that depict future towns, like Bladerunner for example. I wish we had more of those, I'd just love to see a cyberpunk vision of towns come to life!
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