Dubai brings extraordinary ambition in the form of exciting architectural fetes and structural engineering not seen in other parts of the world. When money does not preclude the realization of imagination, the only thing stopping the construction of a building is sheer physics.
Burj Al Arab taken from The Madinat
But moreover, the aesthetic component of good design should fit hand in glove with execution. Look how the magnificent modern white sail of the Burj Al Arab harmonizes so sympathetically with its surroundings: a contemporary yet timeless urban rendition on an Arabian city complete with waterways and swaying palm trees: The Madinat.
Burj Al Arab taken from the Arabian Gulf
Burj Al Arab. Tower of the Arabs. This iconic structure stands on an artificial island 280 metres out from Jumeirah Beach, and is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. Designed by Tom Wright of WS Atkins, construction began in 1994. The Burj Al Arab was built to resemble the sail of a dhow, a type of Arabian vessel. Two “wings” spread in a V to form a vast mast, while the space between them is enclosed in a massive atrium.
Burj Al Arab taken from Al Qasr
A Teflon-coated fiberglass sail curves across the front of the building’s exoskeleton creating an atrium inside. The sail is made of a material called Dyneon, spanning over 15,000 m², consists of two layers, and is divided into twelve panels. The fabric is coated with DuPont Teflon to protect it from harsh desert heat and wind.
During the day, the white fabric allows a soft, milky light to infuse inside the hotel. Were it a clear glass front on the other hand, a blinding amounts of glare would have been produced, soaring temperatures heating up the interior.
Burj Al Arab taken from Pier Chic
Just as Sydney has its Opera House and Paris its Eiffel Tower, Dubai proudly boasts the Burj Al Arab, an iconic symbolic statement of this city built on sand and tumbling into the Arabian Gulf. Water and Sand and seven star glamour – elements synonymous with the name of the country – the UAE.
