This is from 7 Day - hahaha
Permanent link | no responses | Published on: Thursday, 11th January, 2007
Just when you thought Dubai’s skyline had reached its quota of bizarre ideas, along comes another radical design - the world’s largest concrete and glass, human-shaped building, complete with fabric kandura.
The dhs500 million 140-metre Burj Al Arabi building, shaped like a traditionally dressed Gulf national, will join an iPod, world-shaped islands, the elusive underwater Hydropolis hotel and the world’s next tallest building - the Burj Dubai - on the emirate’s rapidly expanding, and very unique, skyline.
The latest design concept has left many wondering, ‘What next?’ for a city where anything seems possible. Speaking about the endless possibilities open to architects in Dubai, James Turford, assistant architect at Aedas, said : “There is the potential to create a truly incredible city, with the vast amount of money and space available here. “It’s really a playground of ideas, where anything - within reason - goes.”
The Burj Al Arabi building is the brainchild of AAA Group chairman Mohammed Al Syoufi, who wanted to create a concept representing national culture and identity. He said: “It will rank alongside the Burj Al Arab and similar projects as an icon reflecting both Islamic and Arabic history, something not done before.” The hotel, which will boast 35 floors of commercial offices, will also feature seven horses on a podium, representing the seven emirates and laid in the shape of the UAE .
The kandura will be made from a special fabric that allows light to permeate through and at the very top will be a boardroom for meetings - in the ‘brain’ of the building. Construction is expected to start in the first quarter of this year but it has not been launched for sale yet.