Shangai World Financial Center

The Shangai World Financial Center (SWFC) is located in China. It was designed by Eugene Khon and William Pedersen from Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates. William Pedersen is one of the best North American Architects. The structural engineers have been Leskie E. Robertson Associates (LERA).

This project has been named the 2008 Best Tall Building Overall, by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH).

It is one of the tallest skyscrapers in the world, 492.0 meters (1,614.2 ft) tall. It is currently the world's tallest completed building by roof.

The aperture at the peak was originally circular. But this changed because on the one hand it was difficult to build and on the hand it was too similar to the rising sun of their economic rival's flag: Japan. Finally, they decided chose a trapezoidal hold. Some people say that it looks like a giant bottle opener. In my opinion, it´s a really elegant and supertall skyscraper.

Its construction began on 1997 but was it interrupted by the Asian Financial crisis. Finally, the construction restarted on 2003 and it was inagurated on the 28th of August of 2008.

5 videos showing how it was constructed, 1 video showing the observatory nowadays and 1 video showing the 2 auto shock absorbers of the skyscraper.


Shangai World Financial Center 1/5



Shangai World Financial Center 2/5




Shangai World Financial Center 3/5




Shangai World Financial Center 4/5




Shangai World Financial Center 5/5




The observatory of the Shangai World Financial Center




The 2 auto shock absorbers of the SWFC



From: Youtube and wikipedia

Burj Al Arab

The Burj Al Arab is the most luxurious hotel, the only one in the world which holds 7 stars. It´s located in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum wanted it to be the symbol of Dubai. The designer was the British Architect, Tom Wright. He took the inspiration from the sail of a boat. That´s why it´s located in the sea on an artificial island 280 metres (919 ft) out of the Jumeirah beach. It became the symbol of Dubai. Nowadays, I think that the Burj Dubai, The Palm Islands and The World islands are also symbols of Dubai.

The designers and engineers behind Burj Al Arab were Atkins. The interior of the building was designed by the chinese designer Khuan Chew.

It is actually the highest building used exclusively as hotel which is 321 meters (1,053 ft) tall. But when Rose Tower, 333 meters (1,093 ft) tall in Dubai and Ryuyong Hotel 330 meters (1,083 ft) tall in Pyongyang, North Korea will open their doors, it will become the third tallest hotel.

It has got 202 bedrooms, all of them suites, between 169 square meters (1,819 sq ft) and 780 square meters (8,396 sq ft). It also has two really special restaurants. The first one, Al Mahara (Arabic meaning "The Oyster") is a simulated submarine restaurant with a very big aquarium. The second one, Al Muntaha (Arabic meaning "Highest" or "Ultimate") is located 200 metres (660 ft) above the Persian Gulf.

Its construction began on 1994 and was inagurated on the 1st of December of 1999.

There are 5 videos that teach us how the Burj Al Arab was constructed.

Burj Al Arab - Megastructures 1/5




Burj Al Arab - Megastructures 2/5




Burj Al Arab - Megastructures 3/5




Burj Al Arab - Megastructures 4/5




Burj Al Arab - Megastructures 5/5



From: youtube and wikipedia

Hydropolis - Dubai

The Hydropolis is another fantastic building of Dubai. It´s the world's first underwater luxury resort and it´s going to have 220 guest suites. It has been designed by the German architect Joachim Hauser, inspired by the Jules Verne tale 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. The land belongs to His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.

This project is now under construction.

Photos and a short video of the construction.

From: www.dailymotion.com, official website