Enchanting Egypt awaits, book your Christmas now!
Burj Khalifa represents a bold architectural project example. The building owns a number of prizes and has some interesting facts. It not only is impressive because of its size, it also offers a number of entertaining activities to all tastes. If you are considering visiting Dubai, there are few things you should know before about this amazing structure in order to enjoy the best of it.
Also known as Burj Dubai, the Burj Khalifa is a skyscraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It currently is the tallest structure in the world. It heights 829.8 meters.
When was the Burj Khalifa built?
The constructions began in 2004 and were completed in 2009. The government wanted to help Dubai gaining international recognition and the building would be an addition to it. It blends residential, commercial and cultural use. Its name was not always Burj Khalifa though. Initially named Burj Dubai, it was renamed after Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the United Arab Emirates. Due the high investment required to build such structure, the original developers faced financial issues at some point, and Sheikh Khalifa granted the necessary funds and monetary support to finish the works.
What are the characteristics of the Burj Khalifa?
The building was designed by the same firm that designed the One World Trade Center, and the chosen design was based on Islamic architecture yet adding modern elements that would reflect the international community it is inserted in.
During the design phase, one of the most important points to be taken into consideration was the wind's direction. It is due respect to the wind that the building was shaped and orientated the way we see it. Therefore, several wind tunnels tests were performed until reaching the final and bests results.
Another important factor to think about was Dubai's high summer temperatures, that can be unbearable. You will notice that the exterior cladding is not by coincidence covered by aluminium and textured stainless steel panels; these use a low E-glass aiming to provide thermal insulation.
The project has also proved to be profitable and beneficial to its surroundings, increasing the landmark's value. Since Burj Khalifa's construction many developments and malls were built around it and have generated high revenue since.
The building has received several awards. It is the tallest, has the highest occupied floor, the highest observation deck, and the tallest elevator service in the world - longest travel distance too. To give an idea of the dimensions of Burj Khalifa, the building has 8 escalators and 57 elevators.
The building broke numerous records, but not just. It also serves as a model for future architecture projects in modern urban centres, translating to global movements and representing advanced cutting-edge technologies at the same time that does not forget different cultural influences.
The high and unique height of the building meant everything should be innovative, from design techniques to engineering practices, therefore creating new applications from scratch, thinking about how to design a support to efficiently support such structure. Choosing a vertical design enabled a perfect system in which Burj Khalifa can support lateral loads and gravity efficiently.
Last but not least, the building is also a study case on how to build great structures and think about sustainability and the impact it has to the surroundings. It was design to require less energy for ventilation, humidification and air conditioning when air circulates at the top. When the matter is water, Burj Khalifa presents an excellent condensate recovery system, one of the largest in the world. It condensates the air conditioning water discharges and focus on reducing municipal portable water consumption.
What are the highlights of the Burj Khalifa?
There is a lot to see and to do at Burj Khalifa. The first highlight is the Burj Khalifa Park, that has beautiful palm-lined walkways, flowering trees, gardens and impressive six water features. The water room at the center features several pools and water jet fountains that provide a water light show.
For those who want to do some shopping, the Dubai Mall offers everything you need in Dubai, especially if you wish to buy golden jeweler: it has the world's largest gold market in the world (over 220 retailers). The mall offers a variety of shops, more than 100 cafes and restaurants, 22 cinema screens, and its own Galleries Lafayette department store. Amongst the parks, kids will love Kidzania and SEGA's indoor themed park.
Another memorable highlight is the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo. The aquarium is the largest indoor aquarium that exists and showcases more than 33 thousand aquatic animals, more than 220 species, sharks and stingrays among.
And do not think that it is because Dubai is a place with hot temperatures that you might not feel cold. This is because the Dubai Mall at Burj Khalifa has its own Dubai Ice Rink. The Olympic-sized venue can host up to 2000 people and is a great entertainment to all ages.
Visiting the Burj Khalifa
There is a lot to see at Burk Khalifa, and you can easily spend a day or more there depending on your preferences. Now that you know everything the place offers, plan your trip accordingly and have a great time!
