By LAWRENCE TAN
Man has been building towards the skies since the dawn of
civilization. But until Dubai upstages the latest in its own collection of
architectural wonders, the more-than-one-kilometer-high Nakheel Tower will
stand as the world’s tallest building when it is completed in 2018.
Dubai developer Nakheel, the same company that created the
Palm Jumeirah and the World, will now attempt to reach the heavens in the
modern day version of Babel.
The tower is the centerpiece of a 270-hectare multi-billion
dollar development that includes an inner-city harbor, and is designed by
architectural firm Woods Bagot.
Speaking at the launch of the project at the Cityscape real
estate fair in Dubai, His Excellency Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem said: “Nakheel
Harbor & Tower is located in the heart of ‘new Dubai’, where we have
focused on creating a true community, a location for living, working, relaxing
and entertaining, for art and culture.”
According to Nakheel, the tower draws inspiration from
iconic Islamic cities of the past. For example, the tower’s base features a
podium in the shape of a crescent – a distinctive Islamic symbol.
The tower will house four individual towers under one roof,
in what the company describes as a “groundbreaking engineering feat”.
There are plans to set aside 250,000m2 for hotels
and hospitality space, 100,000 m2 for shopping malls, as well as
offices, residences and green spaces.
Together with the harbor, and a blueprint for an
eco-friendly transportation network, the entire development is poised to become
the unofficial capital of the cash-rich emirate.
www.nakheel.com