Last Updated on September 2, 2022 by Left Lane
Behold the awesome size of this man made behemoth. At the pinnacle of architectural engineering achievement. Lay your eyes on the Tallest Building in the World. Behold, the majesty of the Burj Khalifa.
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The Burj Khalifa is located in the country of the United Arab Emirates, or UAE. This country consists of seven Emirates, or territories. With the Burj Khalifa being located in the biggest city of the UAE, known as Dubai. Which is the capital city of the Emirate of Dubai.
The leader of the Emirate of Dubai is Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Who is also the Vice President, and Prime Minister of the UAE.
This building of monstrous proportions took nearly 6 years to complete. With all construction being finished by October of 2009. Mostly being constructed of reinforced concrete, steel, and aluminum.
The Architectural Mastermind
Adrian Smith is the architectural designer behind the Second Tallest building in Chicago. The Trump International Hotel and Tower. Which stands at 1,388 feet tall, and is currently the Seventh tallest building in the United States.
He’s the famous designer behind the over Half Mile Tall Burj Khalifa. Which comes in at a staggering 2,722 feet tall! There’s 5,280 feet in a mile, making a half mile at 2,640 feet. Coming in a whole 82 feet shy of the Burj Khalifa’s overall height.
This skyscraper of impressive proportions has 160 livable floors, excluding the maintenance floors. As impressive as this building is. Adrian Smith has started on a building, whose construction is actually planned to surpass the Burj Khalifa in height!
The construction is currently halted on this building known as the Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia. Whose finished height is rumored to be well pass the 3,200 foot mark.
Building Design
The design of this building was heavily influenced by regional architecture of the area. Deriving certain aspects of its helical design from buildings such as the Great Mosque of Samarra. It received its Y-shaped structure from a desert flower called the Hymenocallis.
It’s even been rumored that certain aspects of the Burj Khalifa’s design were influenced by the biblical Tower of Babel.
A Biblical Tale
If you’re unfamiliar with the story of the Tower of Babel. This story took place an estimated 4209 years ago, sometime around the year 2187 B.C.
It was said that the people living after the great flood of Noah’s day were given a command from God. To spread out across the globe, but a few families decided they wanted to stay put.
They instead opted to build a great tower for themselves, with it’s top reaching the sky. Being the tallest building on the planet during those times. Making it possible for them all to live in one place. To stop this construction, and get the people to spread out across the globe.
God was said to have confused the builders. Making it so they could no longer understand one another. According to this biblical account this is where all the languages of the Earth had their origin. This ancient biblical skyscraper purportedly stood somewhere within the present day country of Iraq.
The word Babel quite literally means “a scene of noise, or confusion”.
5 Interesting facts about the Burj Khalifa
1. This colossal building weighs 500,000 tonnes empty. That’s over 1.1 billion pounds!
2. There’s an observation deck on the 148th floor. At a height of 1,821 feet.
3. It has 57 elevators inside, capable of traveling 32’ feet per second. Making them some of the fastest in the world.
4. This building also houses the worlds highest restaurant at 1,446 feet high. Located on the 122nd floor. The restaurant is the At.mosphere.
5. It cost over 1.5 Billion dollars to build this monumental building.
Planning a visit to Dubai?
If you are planning a trip to the UAE, and want to plan visit the Burj Khalifa. You can book your very own tour HERE.
Want to check out another impressive landmark I visited? Check out my other article RIGHT HERE.
The Roving Gypsy
Thanks for reading my Travel Blog. I hope you enjoyed this little piece of architectural history as much as I did. Like what you read, and want more, or have a suggestion for me? Follow, Share, and Comment to let me know.
Wow, I hope y’all had a great time.