English Project

Modern Architecture

By
Ftu Adrian, Simona Joghiu, Alexandra
Nastas

Burj Khalifa, is
askyscraperinDubai,United Arab
Emirates. It is thetallest man-made
structure in the world, standing at
829.8m.

Construction began on 21 September 2004, with

the exterior of the structure completed on 1
October 2009. The building officially
opened on 4 January 2010, and is part of the
new 2km2development called
Downtown
Dubaiof Sheikh Zayed
Road

The
tower's
architecture
and
engineering
were
performed
bySkidmore, Owings
and
MerrillofChicago,
withAdrian Smithas
chief
architect,
andBill
Bakeras
chief
structural
engineer.
The
primary
contractor
wasSamsung

Burj Khalifa was designed to be the

centerpiece of a large-scale, mixed-use
development that would include 30,000 homes,
nine hotels, 3 hectares of parkland, at least 19
residential towers, theDubai Mall, and the 12hectare man-made Burj Khalifa Lake.

The decision to
build Burj Khalifa is
reportedly based on
the
government's
decision to diversify
from an oil based
economy to one
that is service and
tourism
based.
According
to
officials,
it
is
necessary
for
projects like Burj
Khalifa to be built in
the city to garner
more international

designed
theWillis
TowerinChicagoand
the newOne World
Trade Centerin New
York City. Burj Khalifa
uses the bundledtube
design. Proportionally,
the design uses half
the amount of steel
used
in
the
construction of the
Empire State Building
thanks to the tubular
system.Its design is
reminiscent ofFrank
Lloyd Wright's vision
forThe Illinois, a mile
high
skyscraper

patterning
systems
embodied
inIslamic
architecture.According to the structural engineer,
Bill Baker of SOM, the building's design incorporates
cultural and historical elements particular to the
region such as the spiral minaret. The spiral minaret
spirals and grows slender as it rises. The Y-shaped
plan is ideal for residential and hotel usage, with
the wings allowing maximum outward views and
inward natural light

Plumbing
system
The Burj Khalifa's water
system supplies an average
of 946,000L of water per
day through 100km of
pipes.An additional 213km
of piping serves the fire
emergency system, and
34km
supplies
chilled
water
for
the
air
conditioning
system.The
waste water system uses
gravity to discharge water
from plumbing fixtures,
floor drains, mechanical
equipment
and
storm
water, to the city municipal
sewer.

on the ground. At peak

Air
conditioning
cooling
times, the tower's
cooling is equivalent to
that provided by 13,000
short tons of melting ice in
one day. The condensate
collection system, which
uses the hot and humid
outside air, combined with
the cooling requirements
of the building, results in a
significant
amount
of
condensation of moisture
from
the
air.
The
condensed
water
is
collected and drained into
a holding tank located in
the basement car park;

To wash the 24,348 windows, totaling 120,000m2 of

glass,a horizontal track has been installed on the
exterior of Burj Khalifa at levels 40, 73, and 109. Each
track holds a 1,500kg bucket machine which moves
horizontally and then vertically using heavy cables.
Above level 109, up to tier 27 traditional cradles
fromdavits are used. The top of the spire, however, is
reserved for specialist window cleaners, who brave the
heights and high winds, dangling on ropes to clean and
inspect the top of the pinnacle. The cleaning system was
developed in Melbourne, Australia at a cost of $8 million.

The Interior
The interior design of Burj Khalifa public
areas was also done by the Chicago office of
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP and was led by
award-winning designer Nada Andric. It features
glass, stainless steel and polished dark stones,
together with silver travertine flooring, Venetian
stucco walls, handmade rugs and stone
flooring. The interiors were inspired by local
culture while staying mindful of the building's
status as a global icon and residence.

Real estate values

In March 2009,Mohamed Ali Alabbar, chairman of the
project's developer,said office space pricing at Burj
Khalifa reached US$4,000 per sq ft. He estimated the
total cost for the project to be about US$1.5billion.

Records

Tallest existing structure: 829.8m

Tallest structure ever built: 829.8m
Tallest freestanding structure: 829.8m
Tallest skyscraper to top of antenna: 829.8m
Building with mostfloors: 163
Building with world's highest occupied floor:
584.5m

Bibliograph
y
www.google.com/imag
es
www.burjkhalifa.ae
www.youtube.com
www.blogspot.com
www.wikipedia.com
www.flickr.com
www.facebook.com
www.booking.com
www.constructions.co
m