Building a Replica of the Tower of Burj Al Arab - Assignment Example

From the outset, we decided on a leader and set about delegating tasks and dividing labour to be more productive (Murphy, pg.12). Someone was assigned to draw the schematic that we were to follow. Another pair was assigned to make the measurements and do adequate research to ensure accurate replication. Moreover, assignments were made to ensure that there were a few people that were dedicated solely to the actual building of the tower, while someone was delegated the task of painting the tower, and finally, the most diligent of us all was selected to make final measurements and check to see whether everything has been up to par.

Delegation of tasks helped us save time while allowing each individual to focus on one task, making the whole project efficiently done throughout (Lussier & Achua, pg. 194). We started by drawing out a schematic picture of the tower, as we wanted to build it. This stage involved a lot of work as every line and angle had to be accurately drawn, as it would be the blueprint we would be working against. Pictures of the tower were downloaded, and much research was done to get images of the inside of the tower, with its floors, ceilings, and curvatures.

Those of our team that were the best with a pencil got to work, and drew a good, detailed and revealing picture of the tower, with exact dimensions and angles. We used rulers, set squares, and many protractors while building the erect tower. The base of the hotel was built using plaster of Paris hard clay that was left to dry overnight to give the model a hard, sturdy texture. The plaster was shaped into the curved "sail" that the hotel is often compared to by building it upright by adding layer upon layer of the plaster and making minute changes as it grew taller and took on its final shape.

The final, topmost portion of the tower, which was pointy was the hardest bit and was made using a blade and a softer plaster to allow for more delicate finesse. Finally, after leaving the figure to dry, the rough edges of the top layer of the tower were scraped off with a blade, leaving a smooth, tall tower behind, that appeared majestic, even without being coloured into. Once the base of the tower and the building itself had been made, the painter got to work by painting the tower, adding details such as windows and lights that gave the tower a realistic look.

To ensure the colours were close to the actual building, we used colour charts and different shades of paint. Finally, the last measurements were made using the finest of rulers and vernier calipers to check whether the plan was adequately followed, and that the tower was a miniature version of the hotel we had set out to replicate. Even though this was a very hard project, we were pleased with what we had achieved, although it was not without challenges. For example, during our planning stages, we had not allowed enough time for the Plaster to dry up and harden, and so, once we continued to mould it after letting it stand for a few hours, we felt it give.