Vertigo...

This was floating around work today from one of staff that frequents Dubai. It's a view from the top of the Burj Dubai, now the world's tallest building. It came with the following:

The attached photograph was taken from one of the tower crane platforms above the Burj Dubai this month. The Burj Dubai is still under construction and this photo shows it at a height of approximately 630 meters (2070 feet). Supposedly, it takes about 27 minutes travel time for a construction crane to hoist material from ground level to the top of present construction level.

It's probably one of the most talked about buildings in Dubai so I typically refrain from posting any additional details, but this vantage point was too difficult to resist.

Have a great weekend!

The party is almost over...

Still on vacation, so here's a video animation of the Burj Dubai to tide you over. Be back soon!

Their taxis have masseuses...

What's the coolest (sorry) thing about the Wild Wadi Water Park in Dubai? As you can see from the picture below, it's definitely not the design. So what is it? The 33 metre high Jumeirah Sceirah water ride? Their Flowrider surfable wave? The Master Blaster uphill water roller coaster?

Nope. It's the air conditioned bus stop outside.

With more than 500 of them planned for the architecture-crazy city, everyone is crying environmental foul. Poppycock.

Numero Uno: Summer averages dance in triple digits, with the August record pushing 120 degrees! I think that would justify a need for air conditioning.

Numero Dos: They're installing these to help the environment.

What?

Yep. Help the environment. Think about it. How many bus takers are going to wake up, put on their kandura, and wait for 30 minutes in 112 degree weather? Not to mention, traffic jams are already commonplace in Dubai. Just last year, the situation was so bad that they started using satellites to monitor the city streets. And while a new interchange for the Dubai Marina and Emirates Hills is alleviating a portion of the problem, the city continues to expand at more-than-rapid pace.

The Jumeriah Beach Residence has more than 6,000 residential units and the Jumeirah Lake Towers are on the other side of Sheikh Zayed Road. The Palm Jumeriah has 3,000 villas. There's 50+ story residences like the 21st Century Tower. You've got the Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel. There's tourism at the Burj and plenty of other people staying at one of the many 1,000 unit 5-star hotels. Hoardes of people working and living in 60+ story buildings, like the Rose Tower, Al Yaquob Tower, and the HHH Tower.

That's a lot of people in one place.

The Salik road tolls are in place and, as mentioned, the interchange is alleviating some problems. But the Dubai Metro ($3.89 Billion!), the abras, and the city streets are only going to be able to handle so much. The more people on the bus, the better.

We need to score some design Methadone for Dubai ...

Somebody needs to sit down with Dubai and have an intervention...

I, like everyone else, was amused at the picture of Tiger Woods hitting a golf ball atop the Burj al Arab.

Then I flinched at the 800m estimation of the Burj Dubai.

Then came the queasiness of the man-made Palm Island and Dubai World Islands.

Then Hydropolis, the Burj al Alam, Dubai Towers, and O-14 Tower induced a little bit of architectural nausea.

The list goes on and on and on and on.

Now, a bar made out of ice in 111 degree heat that serves cocktails in a predominantly Muslim country?

Why not?

Story here.




Sheesh.

The Great Design Depression...looming?

Icon Magazine has some sobering words for the design community (and by sobering, I mean brave).

Why Design Needs a Recession.

I can't say that I agree with all of them given my non-industry administrative monkeyism, however I can comment as far as internet hype.

Their exploratory thoughts on Children's Furniture, Authenticity, Magazines, Regeneration of living spaces (especially the 3000 conversions in Columbus alone), Affluenza, spectacle (see diamond encrusted skull art), and - dare I say it? - Dubai Hype, are all dead on.

The green revolution is not only televised, it's saturated in sponsorship. I won't go as far to say I have the classroom hours to agree or disagree with Icon's words, but I do think they're traveling with some weight....be it diesel, biodiesel, or Ferrari grade high octane.

While you're at it, check out this original piece: 50 Manifestos of the Design Community. (Speaking of hype, it features the internet idol Zaha Hadid. She's practically taking over the intertubes with accolades).