What is the Burj Khalifa building? Tower of Babel. Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo

The Burj Khalifa Tower in Dubai, shaped like a stalagmite, is the tallest skyscraper in the world. During construction, the height of this skyscraper was kept secret. This was due to two main reasons. The first reason is during construction work It turned out that the height of the building could be increased. The second is the possibility of making adjustments during construction in case it turns out that a taller skyscraper is being built somewhere.

See also: Dancing and singing fountains in Dubai - this wonder of the world is located right under the skyscraper.

The height of the tower became known only on January 4, 2010 during the opening ceremony. It was announced that the tower exceeds all skyscrapers known to date, and its height is 828 meters. Since its opening, the Dubai Tower "Burj Dubai" has been called the Khalifa Tower - "Burj Khalifa" in honor of the country's president.

One of the authors of the project is the American architect Adrian Smith, who has repeatedly designed famous skyscrapers, in particular the Chinese Jin-Mao skyscraper. The Burj Khalifa skyscraper was created as a kind of city with its own boulevards, lawns and parks. The 37 lower floors of the tower are dedicated to the Armani Hotel, named after its designer Giorgio Armani, and 900 luxury apartments are located from the 44th to 108th floors. The hundredth floor of the building is owned by B. R. Shetty, an Indian billionaire who has three huge apartments, and on the 43rd and 76th floors you can relax in the pool, gym, or admire the panorama of the city from the observation deck. Highest Observation deck, most of which is glazed, is located on the 124th floor of the skyscraper at an altitude of 472 m. Here you can use an electronic telescope for a better view of the city. At the highest altitude in the world, on the 122nd floor of a skyscraper, the Atmosphere restaurant is located. Most of the other floors of the tower are office spaces.

Construction work, which began in 2004, proceeded at a fairly high pace: 1-2 floors per week. The 160 floors were built using concrete work, and the 180-meter spire was created using metal structures. During construction, certain grades of concrete were used that can withstand temperatures up to 50 degrees, and the concrete was laid at night.

The climatic features of the UAE were taken into account not only during construction work. To reduce the effect of swaying in the wind, the tower was given an asymmetrical shape. Glass was used for the building so that it would not allow dust to pass through and would reflect the sun's rays. Special membranes in the floor cool and aromatize the indoor air. All this made it possible to maintain a comfortable temperature inside the building, despite the scorching heat outside.

The tower's solar panels and wind-driven turbine generate autonomous electricity, and the fire safety system makes it possible to evacuate the tower's inhabitants in 32 minutes. 57 elevators operate for visitors to the tower and move at a speed of 10 m/s.

The Dubai press dubbed the skyscraper the “Tower of Pride”, taking into account the fact that it is the tallest structure created in the entire history of construction.

New Year's fireworks from Burj Khalifa in Dubai 2013 HD

Dubai is the most Big city United United Arab Emirates, it is also the administrative center of the emirate of Dubai with a population of more than 2 million people. Located on the shores of the Persian Gulf, 130 kilometers north of the capital state - Abu Dhabi. Dubai is the largest business and tourist centre east. Two sea ports and the airport make the city easily accessible for entry, and a well-developed network of hotels and shopping centers makes living and doing business as pleasant and comfortable as possible. Dubai is famous for its modern hotel buildings and business centers. But which of the buildings in Dubai are the tallest? This will be discussed further.

1. Burj Khalifa 828 m - the tallest building in the world

The Burj Khalifa skyscraper (Dubai Tower) is the most tall building of our planet. The height of the skyscraper is almost 828 meters, and the building has a total of 162 floors. Yes, it's expensive. The cost of construction was more than 4 billion US dollars. The building project was created by the American company Skidmore. Owinhs amd Merill" in collaboration (until 2006) with the architect Adrian Smith. The special Y-shape allowed an open view of the Persian Gulf from most skyscraper windows. The building's mirror glass, made in Syria, can withstand high temperatures Dubai and do not allow too much heat inside. Samsung, which built the skyscraper, previously built the Petronas Towers in Malaysia and many other tall buildings.

On January 17, 2009, the building reached its design height of 828 meters, and on January 4, 2010, this majestic Burj Khalifa tower was inaugurated. The building is famous for its high-speed elevators and unique electrical and water supply systems, thanks to which it is warm and cozy even on the upper floors of the skyscraper. The hotel located in the tower was designed by Giorgio Armani. The project provides that up to 12,000 people can live and work in the building.

The Burj Khalifa was installed during construction several world records:

How to build with the most big amount floors;
As the tallest building in the world;
Like the tallest building that stands free;
Like a building for which the concrete mixture was pumped to the greatest height.

In the next 10 years, such a large and tall building will not be built in the world.

2. Diamond Tower - Almas 360 m.

Almas Tower (in Arabic - Diamond Tower) is a 68-story skyscraper with a height of 360 meters on an artificial island near Lake Emiraikh. Construction of the building began in 2005 and ended in 2008. Before the construction of the Burj Khalifa, the Almas Tower was the tallest skyscraper in Dubai. The project was developed by Attkins Middle East, which designed the entire island complex. Almas Tower was built by the Japanese Thaisei Corporation in collaboration with an Arab structures company. The Dubai Commodity Center, which commissioned the construction of the skyscraper, moved into the unfinished building on November 15, 2008.

Later, the Dubai Diamond Exchange, Dubai Gem Club, Dubai Diamond Exchanger and many other companies related to the production, sale and exchange of precious stones moved their offices to the building. Due to the special nature of the transactions taking place in the building, a special security system was installed and a high level of security was established. Almas Tower takes 8th place in the list of skyscrapers "Emporis awards".

3. Emirates Office Tower - 354.6 m.

The Emirates Office Tower, also known online as Emirates Tower 1, is a tall 54-storey building on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. Connected to the 56-storey Emirati hotel with which it forms the Emirati Towers complex. Even though the office tower is taller, it has 2 floors less than the hotel. The building reaches a height of 354.6 meters and has a roof height of 311 meters. Construction of the skyscraper began in 1996 and was completed on November 3, 1999. In total, design and construction lasted 52 months. The Emirates Office Tower is located in the financial center of Dubai. Developed by NORR and representing modern business architecture. During the design, NORR engineers consulted with architects from the UK, Australia and Canada.

The complex of Emirati towers was designed in the form of two equilateral triangles. The wall, curved to the full height of the building, offers views of the city. The towers are covered in special mirrored anti-reflective glass. A complex of special lighting makes buildings look like lightning during twilight. There is a shopping center and cafe on the ground floors of both towers. On the upper floors of the building there are offices of such famous companies as: Cartier, Rolls Royce, BMW and many others. Also located in the tower is the office of His Highness Sheikh Majid bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The Emirates Office Tower is the 23rd building on the list of the most tall skyscrapers peace.

4. Rose Tower - 333 m.

The Rose Tower, also known as the Rose Rayhan Rotana Hotel, is a 72-storey skyscraper with a height of 333 meters, located on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. From 2009 to 2012 it was considered the tallest hotel in the world. Its construction began in 2004 and was completed in 2007. On October 24, the design height was reached. With its spire, the Rose Tower is 22 meters higher than the Burj Al Arab.

Despite the fact that the decoration and equipment of the building were completed in 2007, the grand opening took place only on December 23, 2009. The customer was the international investment group Bonyan, which invested about 180 million US dollars in the building. The Rosa Rayhan Rotana Hotel was one of the first hotels in Dubai where you can drink alcohol freely. The hotel has 2 restaurants and a 24-hour café. In total, the building has 482 rooms, suites and penthouses. The Rose Tower is one of the largest and most comfortable hotels in the world.

5. Burj Al Arab - 321 m.

Another skyscraper in Dubai - Burj Al Arab (from Arabic - Tower of the Arabs) is a luxury sail-shaped hotel in Dubai. NOT the tallest, but practically the most famous - has long been business card of this city. Was named " the world's only 7 star hotel"and the fourth tallest hotel in the world. Burj Al Arab stands on an artificial island 280 meters from Jumeirah Beach and is connected to the city by a bridge. The shape of the building resembles the sail of an Arabian yacht. Located at an altitude of 210 meters Helipad. The place where the hotel is located was called Chicago Beach. This name comes from the name of the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company, which operated an iron oil storage facility on the site of the hotel. The old name was changed in 1997 when Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced a new one during construction. The Burj Al Arab was designed by architect Thomas Wright of WKK Architekts.

Design and construction were carried out under the direction of Canadian engineer Rick Gregory from WS Atkins. The filling of the island began in 1994. Tom Wright said:

“The client wanted the building to become one of the symbols of Dubai. This hotel will be like Sydney with its opera, London with Big Ben, Paris with Eiffel Tower simultaneously. This is necessary for the skyscraper to become synonymous with the name of the country.”

To ensure the stability of the building, 230 40-meter iron piles were driven into the sand. 70,000 cubic meters of concrete and 9,000 tons of steel were spent on construction. The Burj Al Arab is the third tallest hotel in the world (not counting mixed-use buildings). Despite its size, the hotel has only 28 floors with 202 rooms, the smallest of which occupies an area of 169 m2, and the largest 780 m2. At $18,716 per night, the Royal Suite ranks 12th on the list of the top 15 expensive apartments peace. While the hotel is called a "7-star hotel", its management says it has never called itself that. According to the press secretary of the Jumeirah Group, under whose leadership the Burj Al Arab is located, the name “7-star hotel” was invented by a British journalist who visited the hotel during a press trip before the opening. The only certified 7-star hotel in the world is located in Milan (Italy). But even though the Burj Al Arab is officially certified only as a 5 star hotel, it was and remains one of the most beautiful and luxurious hotels in the world.

Dubai is a symbol of bringing business to beauty. The skyscrapers of this city are famous all over the world for their beautiful architecture, luxury and height. With their uniqueness they attract millions of tourists. They house best hotels and offices largest companies. Owning real estate in Dubai is not only profitable, but also very prestigious. Thanks to smart investment in urban development, Dubai is gradually becoming the business capital of the world.

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The Burj Khalifa Tower is the landmark that absolutely all tourists arriving in Dubai see. The fact is that the highest this moment building in the world is visible from anywhere in Dubai, so it is simply impossible not to see it.

We dedicate this huge article to the most iconic building in Dubai. But before moving on to the story of this building, we will present to you the basic facts about the Burj Khalifa tower.

Facts about Burj Khalifa:

Cost: $1.5 billion

Developer: EmaarProperties

Design: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

Type: Skyscraper

Height: 829.84 meters

How many floors: 162

Construction of the Burj Khalifa tower

Burj Khalifa, formerly known as Burj Dubai, is located in the center of Dubai, UAE and has a height of 829.84 meters. It is the tallest man-made structure in the world. The Burj Khalifa is a stunning work of art and an incomparable feat of engineering.

Burj Khalifa is part of a new development called Downtown Dubai. It is located on Sheikh Zayed Road, very close to Dubai's main business district. The developer of this tower is Emaar Properties, and the construction of the tower was carried out by Skidmore and Owings & Merrill. Samsung C&T company from South Korea, which also built the Taipei 101 and Petronas Twin Towers, was the main contractor for the project. The Belgian group Besix and the UAE company Arabtec were the main subcontractors.

Construction of the project began on September 21, 2004. The $1.5 billion tower has been renamed Burj Khalifa, in honor of the UAE's critically supportive President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Excavation work on the Burj Khalifa began in January 2004, and within 1,325 days of the start of excavation work, the Burj Khalifa became the tallest structure in the world.

More than 45,000 cubic meters of concrete weighing more than 110,000 tons were used to build the foundation, which has 192 piles buried to a depth of more than 50 meters. Construction of the Burj Khalifa required more than 22 million man-hours, 380 skilled engineers, more than 330,000 cubic meters of concrete and 39,000 tons of steel reinforcement.

The construction of the Burj Khalifa was carried out using special mixtures of concrete so that the building could withstand extreme loads. The consistency of the concrete used in the project was a very important aspect, since it was impossible to forget about the high temperatures that are observed in the UAE in the summer, when the thermometer sometimes creeps up to 50° C. Therefore, the concrete could not be poured during the day - it was necessary to wait until the night, when the air became cooler and the humidity became slightly higher.

World records of the Burj Khalifa tower

The Burj Khalifa has set a number of world records. In July 2007, upon completion of the 141st floor, the tower was named the tallest building in the world, while in September 2007, upon completion of the 150th floor, it was named the tallest free-standing structure in the world. After this, in April 2008, upon completion of the 160th floor, the tower was named the tallest man-made structure in the world, and in January 2009, the construction of the Burj Khalifa was completed with the installation of a spire.

Although the tower was completed in January 2009, work on the external cladding took almost another year, so the official opening ceremony of the tower took place only in January 2010.

Burj Khalifa also has several other world records to its credit, such as "tallest glass facade installation", "highest floor in the world", "highest outdoor observation deck in the world", "elevator with the highest long distance ways in the world."

Burj Khalifa has the world's tallest outdoor observation deck, the world's tallest mosque, the world's tallest night club, the world's highest restaurant and the second largest swimming pool in the world.

The Burj Khalifa Tower has numerous awards to its name, such as "Best High-Rise Building in the Middle East and Africa" and "Best Project of the Year in the Middle East".

Residences at Burj Khalifa

Residences at Burj Khalifa are one of the most prestigious types of real estate. This tower has more than 900 residences, including studios, one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments.

The residences are located on floors 19 to 108 and offer a rich range of amenities. For example, there is a huge fitness room, indoor/ open pool s, Jacuzzi, lounge for meetings and events, resident library, cigar club, gourmet market, gourmet store, meeting place for residents and valet parking for guests and visitors. Residences at Burj Khalifa offer an experience of city life in at its best. They offer all the amenities of a metropolis, complemented by the amenities and security of an exclusive community.

The Burj Khalifa fitness club is open not only to residents of the residences, but also to the general public. The four-story fitness club includes amenities such as two luxurious swimming pools (indoor and outdoor), two gyms, and a women's only facility. Gym and a modern spa.

Each suite at Burj Khalifa is equipped with the most advanced digital and telecommunications amenities. There are special fiber optic lines here that can offer Internet access speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second. Additionally, visitors can expect uninterrupted cellular service even while riding the elevator.

Security at Burj Khalifa

The Burj Khalifa Tower is protected by a proprietary security system and a team of highly trained security professionals who are ready to ensure security, privacy and peace of mind. Security managers and security guards patrol the floors of the building and the streets around it around the clock. Thanks to security technology, access to elevators is sometimes limited.

Additionally, Burj Khalifa has a home automation system that allows residents to access an automated environment for home lighting, temperature, security and more. The system helps you access a variety of services, view account statements and pay for services.

Downtown Dubai

The world's tallest building, Burj Khalifa, is located among Emaar's flagship community in Dubai, namely Downtown Dubai.

Downtown Dubai, located on Sheikh Zayed Road, close to the Toyota Flyover building, offers an unparalleled lifestyle for guests and local residents with various shopping facilities ranging from the world's largest shopping and entertainment center Dubai Mall and ending with the atmospheric Souq Al Bahar. Overall, Downtown Dubai is a lifestyle destination with a great mix of traditional and modern facilities.

Visitors can use the Dubai Metro or taxi to reach the city center. The period from November to March is best time to visit Downtown Dubai as the weather is more pleasant at this time. However, if you decide to head here during the hot summer months, there is air conditioning on almost every corner, and even on the buses.

Main attractions near Burj Khalifa

Burj Khalifa Park

Designed by leading architects SWA Group, the park features six water features, palm tree walkways, gardens and flowering trees. The Burj Khalifa tower is located at the very center of this park, and at the base of this tower you will see a series of pools and fountains. All the railings, benches and signs depict images of the Burj Khalifa and the desert flower.

Plants and shrubs in the park are watered by a condensation collection system that the building uses for its cooling system. Hot and humid air during cooling forms water, which is stored in the basement of the parking lot. In a year, almost 15 million gallons of water are produced from the air, which is equivalent to the volume of water in 20 Olympic swimming pools.

Within the Burj Khalifa Park you will also find two tennis courts, a splash pool and a children's playground.

Dubai Mall

Dubai Mall is the largest shopping center in the world total area, but is also the fifth largest shopping center in terms of total leasable area. Part of the Burj Khalifa complex, the shopping center offers 1,200 stores. Among the attractions that can be found in this shopping center are the world's largest Gold Market with more than 220 shops, Galeries Lafayette, interesting waterfall, indoor theme park SEGA, 22-screen Cineplex, which is the largest in Dubai, retractable roof and much more. The shopping center also includes a 250-room luxury hotel, 120 restaurants and cafes and 14,000 parking spaces.

Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo

Strategically located in the heart of the Dubai Mall, the Dubai Aquarium is one of the largest indoor aquariums of its kind in the world. It was even officially included in the Guinness Book of Records, as it has the largest acrylic panel in the world.

The Underwater Zoo at The Dubai Mall offers visitors the opportunity to see one of the most diverse collections of marine life in the world. The Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo has over 33,000 aquatic animals, including many sharks and rays.

Dubai Ice Rink

The Olympic size skating rink at The Dubai Mall is a multi-purpose venue that can accommodate over 2,000 guests. There is even an ice skating accessories store next to this skating rink.

SEGA Republic

SEGA Republic is Dubai's first indoor theme park located inside shopping center Dubai Mall. The sprawling theme park offers attractions such as the Sonic Bunker, Free Fall and over 150 attractions and games spread across five themed zones namely Adventure Zone, Speed Zone, Sports Zone, Redemption Zone and Cyberpop Zone.

Developed by Emaar Retail and SEGA Corporation, the SEGA Republic theme park offers visitors an exciting and unforgettable experience. It is located on the 2nd floor, between Reel Cinemas and Kidzania, and is open from 10am to 1am.

Kidzania

Kidzania is an educational and entertainment center that offers children aged 4 to 15 years of age fun in this mini-city, which has an area of about 80,000 sq.m. There are real streets, shops, buildings in which children can live their dreams. They can choose one of 70 professions, such as race car driver, pilot, policeman, firefighter, doctor, etc.

In other words, Kidzania is a small copy of a real city for children.

Cinemas

The 22-screen cinema complex at The Dubai Mall is one of the largest in Dubai. Here you can see a number of the latest international blockbusters, including 3D films.

As one of the largest THX-certified cinema complexes in the UAE, The Dubai Mall Cinema Complex offers visitors a next-dimensional cinema experience. In addition, it has a special room where you will find luxurious seating.

Hotels near Burj Khalifa

In addition to the ultra-luxurious Armani Hotel in the Burj Khalifa, you will find several other excellent hotels near the tower. All of these hotels offer the necessary amenities for meetings and event planning.

Armani Hotel

Situated in the world's tallest building, the iconic Burj Khalifa, high above Downtown Dubai, the Armani Hotel is the world's first hotel to be designed by Giorgio Armani.

Every detail in the hotel bears the Armani signature. The hotel is located in the famous Burj Khalifa skyscraper and occupies the 8th, 38th and 39th floors. The Armani Hotel in Dubai offers stunning views of the city. This hotel is easy to reach as it offers its own dedicated tower entrance and is within walking distance of the largest shopping mall in the world.

The Armani Hotel offers its clients eight restaurants with a wide range of world cuisines: from Indian and Japanese cuisine to authentic Italian cuisine. In addition, in this hotel you will find a large and very famous spa center that offers a unique and excellent service for personalized treatment, personal trainer services and many other services and amenities.

Address Downtown Dubai

Address Downtown Dubai is a five-star hotel located close to the Burj Khalifa, the stunning fountain and the famous Dubai Mall.

Address Downtown Dubai offers 196 rooms, 626 serviced apartments and 25 suites across its 63 floors. In addition, this Burj Khalifa hotel offers a wide range of fine dining options, modern meeting facilities, a fully equipped fitness center, swimming pools, a health club and many other amenities.

The Palace

The Palace Hotel is located in close proximity to the Dubai Fountains and Burj Khalifa. It has 242 rooms, 3 restaurants and bars serving regional and international cuisine. Managers in each restaurant hotel The Palace ensures guests' satisfaction and offers personalized services.

The Palace features a full-service spa, health club, outdoor pool, steam room and sauna, pool bar, fitness center and many other amenities.

Al Manzil

Located in the prestigious Downtown area, Al Manzil Hotel is popular place among business people who come to Dubai to do business. Al Manzil Hotel is located in the heart of Dubai, just a 5-10 minute walk from Burj Khalifa. It features several luxury restaurants, a Parisian-style boardwalk, an outdoor deck pool, a state-of-the-art fitness center and much more.

Qamardeen

Situated relatively close to the Burj Khalifa, the Qamardeen Hotel offers a wide range of amenities and entertainment for its guests, with 13 Executive Suites, 123 Queens and 48 double rooms. Qamardeen Hotel's facilities include TV and internet services, meeting rooms, fully equipped rooms and a 24-hour business centre.

On the leisure front, Qamardeen Hotel offers an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness centre, a bar and café, a rooftop terrace and a concierge desk.

Burj Khalifa Observation Deck

The outdoor observation deck, called At the Top, was opened on January 5, 2010 on the 124th floor of the Burj Khalifa skyscraper. This is the third highest open observation deck in the world, located at an altitude of 452 meters. You will probably ask why we said at the beginning of the article that the tower has the highest observation deck? The fact is that there really is such a platform in the Burj Khalifa tower. It was opened relatively recently on the 148th floor. The height of this site is 555 meters, making it the highest in the world.

The observation deck of the Burj Khalifa tower has a telescope, complemented by a special device that allows visitors not only to look at the surrounding landscape in real time, but also to view previously saved images.

The journey to the observation deck begins on the first level of the Dubai Mall. Throughout the journey, visitors will be able to watch a multimedia presentation of the history of Dubai and the marvelous Burj Khalifa. A typical visit to the site lasts almost an hour, so you have plenty of time to enjoy the views of the surrounding area.

Visitors can purchase tickets in advance for a specific date and time and receive discounts. The observation deck is open from 10am to 10pm from Sunday to Wednesday and from 10am to midnight from Thursday to Saturday.

Fountains near Burj Khalifa

The world famous fountains are located right in the large artificial lake near the Burj Khalifa. Designed by Californian company WET Design, the fountains cost Dh800 million. They are illuminated with 6,600 lights and 50 color spotlights. During the fountain show, jets of water here can soar to a height of over 200 meters. These fountain "dances" are accompanied by classical, modern or Arabic music.

The world's largest fountains at the Burj Khalifa have attracted more than 50 million visitors since their launch in May 2009. The Dubai Fountain can spray about 22,000 gallons of water into the air at one time. The main control room of the Dubai Fountains is located on the upper level of the adjacent Dubai Mall.

Fountain shows usually take place at 13:00 and 13:30, and every 30 minutes from 18:00 to 22:00 on weekdays and from 18:00 to 23:00 on weekends (Thursday, Friday and Saturday).

Faktrum tells Interesting Facts about Burj Khalifa.

1. Tallest building in the world

The height of the Burj Khalifa is 828 meters, and the height of the second tallest building in the world (Shanghai Tower) is 632 meters. The difference is more than obvious. Also, Burj Khalifa is three times taller than the Eiffel Tower.

Photos: Novate.ru

2. Inside the building

Those who think that the Burj Khalifa is very impressive from the outside have simply never been inside the skyscraper. The highest observation deck is at an altitude of 452 meters. The building has a total of 164 floors, 1 of which is underground, and as many as 58 elevators that travel at a speed of 10 meters per second (these are some of the fastest elevators in the world). Burj Khalifa also has 2,957 parking spaces, 304 hotels and 904 apartments.

3. The skyscraper was designed by Americans and built by a South Korean company

While the Burj Khalifa is located in Dubai (the skyscraper's original name was Burj Dubai), the building was designed by the American firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. Engineers from Chicago have created a special support structure that resembles a three-rayed star. The construction of the building was entrusted to the South Korean company Samsung Engineering and Construction.

4. Several records

It is the tallest free-standing building, the building with the highest residential floor, the building with the largest number floors, a building equipped with the highest elevators and the second highest observation deck (the highest observation deck is located in the Canton TV Tower).

5. What was needed for construction

In order to build such a titanic building, it took a lot of time and effort (namely, 6 years and 22 million man-hours). On especially busy days, more than 12,000 workers were on the construction site at one time.

6. Huge weight

An incredible amount of materials were required to construct the building. So much aluminum was used that it would be enough to create 5 Airbus A380s. 55,000 tons of reinforcing steel and 110,000 tons of concrete were also used. This is approximately equal to the weight of 100,000 elephants. And if you take and stack the reinforcement from a building in a row, it would stretch over a quarter of the Earth.

7. Heat resistance

Dubai is very hot in the summer average temperature here it is 41 degrees. Naturally, a building built in this country must withstand extreme temperature changes. That's why more than 300 Chinese experts were hired to develop a cladding system that could protect against local temperatures.

8. Energy consumption

Naturally, living in such a huge building requires a monstrous amount of resources. For example, Burj Khalifa uses about 950,000 liters of water every day. The building also consumes great amount electricity (about as much as 360,000 hundred-watt light bulbs “eat”).

9. Skyscraper washing

How do you clean and wash 26,000 glass panels that always look perfect? This is done by 12 machines, each weighing about 13 tons, moving along special rails on the outside of the building. The cars are serviced by 36 people.

10. Floral design

The Burj Khalifa's design was inspired by the Hymenocallis, a flower that has long petals radiating out from the center. The three wings of the Burj Khalifa spread out to the sides like these petals.

Burj Khalifa at sunset

The construction of the skyscraper took place from 2004 to 2010. The Prime Minister of the UAE, who conducted the official opening, decided to dedicate the building to the President of the state, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan. Therefore, the original name of the Burj Dubai structure was changed to Burj Khalifa, which translates to Khalifa Tower.

The building project was developed by the American bureau Skidmore. Its author is Adrian Smith, who previously participated in the creation of the Chinese skyscraper Jin Mao. The general contractor was Samsung from South Korea.

According to the plans of the customers and architects, the tower was to become the tallest building in the world, so its design height was kept secret and changed several times in connection with the opening of other similar objects.

Construction of the Burj Khalifa skyscraper proceeded at a record pace - 1-2 floors per week. About 12,000 workers were involved in the work every day. The total cost of the facility exceeded 4 billion US dollars.

Architecture Features

The height of the Burj Khalifa skyscraper, announced at the time of opening, was 828 m (163 floors), although, according to rumors, the developers' plans included 940 m. Externally, the building resembles a giant stalagmite with a spire pointing skyward. The asymmetry of the lines is not only the architect’s idea, but also a technical move designed to reduce the impact of winds on the construction.

Another feature of the skyscraper is the lack of anchorage in the rocky ground. To create the foundation, suspended piles (two hundred units) 45 m long and 1.5 m wide were used. During the construction of the building, a special type of concrete was developed that has the ability to withstand high temperatures and loads.

Internal layout

In addition to technical floors and parking for 3,000 cars, the Burj Khalifa skyscraper contains: a hotel with 304 rooms (from the 1st to the 39th floor), designed by Armani himself; office premises (111-121, 125-135 and 139-154 floors); 900 apartments (44-72 and 77-108 floors); shopping centers, shops, observation decks, cafes, nightclubs, swimming pools, observatory, mosque and so on. For convenience, the building is equipped with three independent entrances.

Floor number 100 is entirely owned by billionaire Shetty from India; there are three apartments on it, the average area of each of them is 500 sq.m. The last tiers are dedicated to telecommunications equipment.

The 122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa skyscraper is occupied by the Atmosphere restaurant, which can accommodate up to 80 visitors. It is considered the highest located on the planet.

On the 148th floor there is the highest (555 m) observation deck in the world. In order to get there and enjoy the panorama of the city, you need to purchase a ticket (cost for an adult is 125 dirhams).

In front of the skyscraper there is an artificial lake with a unique fountain. The area of the reservoir is 12 hectares. More than 6,000 light sources are used to illuminate the fountain, including colored spotlights, and its jets rise 150 m in height. All this is accompanied by national and world musical works.

Book a room in Burj Khalifa (Armani Hotel Dubai)

Technical equipment

Fireworks straight from a skyscraper

The technical equipment of the Khalifa Tower meets all modern standards and even surpasses them.

Passage from the skyscraper shopping center to the Armani Hotel

When glazing the building, special panels (26,000 pieces) were used that can reflect the sun's rays, keep out dust and prevent heating of the interior.

Air conditioning is carried out according to a special scheme: air is driven from bottom to top along the entire height of the structure, using underground cooling modules and sea water. As a result, the internal temperature is maintained at +18 °C. Simultaneously with ventilation, the air is aromatized; for this purpose, membranes in the air conditioning system and an exclusive perfume created for the Burj Khalifa are used.

Inside the elevator

A skyscraper is an energy-independent object. Complete self-sufficiency in electricity is achieved through the operation of solar panels on the walls of the tower and a 61-meter turbine, which rotates thanks to the wind.

The 57 elevators installed in the tower operate at a speed of 10 m/s. But only one of them, the service one, runs the entire height of the building, so residents and visitors have to make transfers.

Hall

Despite the impressive dimensions of the Burj Khalifa, in case of danger, all people can be evacuated from it in just 32 minutes.

Burj Khalifa is a futuristic skyscraper that combines cutting-edge technology and unprecedented luxury. This building, which is a record holder in many respects, is a must-see for anyone who comes to Dubai, because from its windows you can see the entire city from a bird's eye view.