Design Trends of the Burj Khalifa Building - Essay Example

The Burj Khalifa Building: The recently designed building is the Burj Khalifa building found in Dubai. This building is considered as the tallest structure in the entire world, with an approximate height of 823 meters. This building has a whooping 163 floors, which can house more than 30,000 homes. The construction of this building began on the 21st of September 2004 (Goldsworthy, 8). On the 1st of October 2009, the structure of this building’s exterior was competed. On the 4th of January 2010, Burj Khalifa building was officially opened for use. This building is part of a 2km development initiative of the Dubai central business district (Galindo, 23). It is always referred to as the Downtown Dubai, and it is found along the Sheikh Zayed Road. The architectural drawings and designs of this building were performed by Adrian Smith, as the lead architect, Bill Baker as the lead structural engineer, Skidmore, and Owings and Merrill. The main contractor of this building was Samsung Company, through its department of construction and technology. Samsung is a South Korean company that has interests in the construction and the electronics industry. The design of Burj Khalifa was meant to be a centerpiece for a variety of uses, which includes residential homes, offices, hospitals, shopping malls. Its design was able to carter for an approximate number of 30,000 homes, and nine international hotel chains. This building has an approximate number of 7.4 acres of parkland lands, and 19 residential towers. It has a very big mall that carter for the shopping needs of its residents, and 30 acres of manmade lake. This lake is referred to as the Burji Khalifa Lake. Courtesy of this building, it is possible to denote that the honor of having the tallest structure in the globe has returned to the Middle East. This is after the construction of the Lincoln Cathedral in England surpassed the pyramids of Gaza as the largest free standing structure. The Lincoln cathedral was built in 1311. In building the Burj Khalifa, the government’s main aim was to diversify the structure of its economy, from dependence on oil revenue, to the tourism and the service sector (Galindo, 21). On this basis, designing a structure like the Burj Khalifa was aimed at garnering international attention and recognition, and hence attracting visitors to Dubai. This in turn will promote tourism and thus the development of the Dubai economy. Currently, the building stands at around 823 meters. However, this is not the original height as per according to the initial designs and architectural drawings. The building was to stand at about 560 meters. However, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill re-designed the building in 2006, at placed it at a height of around 808 meters. Smith, who was the design architect, felt that this height made it impossible for the upper most section of the Burj Khalifa building to elegantly culminate with the rest of the structure. On this basis, he sought permission to increase the structure of this building to 823 meters. However, it is important to denote that these changes in height did not encompass a change in the addition of the buildings floors. On this basis, the intention of Smith was to make the building a little bit slender and thin. It is also important to denote that this building experienced a lot of challenges, and one of the challenges were delays in its construction and development. For example in 2008, the contractors of this building denoted that its construction was delayed because of the upgraded finishes. On this basis, the building will be completed in the periods of September 2009. According to Emaar properties, part of the owners of the building denoted that the original plan was to install luxurious finishes within the building. This was contained in the 2004 architectural design and drawings of the building. However, in 2008, the designers of the building decided to upgrade these finishes, and that was the reasons for the delay in completion of the project. The architectural designs of the apartments in Bhurj Khalifa have been used to make them functionally superior, and aesthetically attractive (Goldsworthy, 29). The designs of the apartments have made them very beautiful, and a pleasant place to be in. This is because of the use of highly sophisticated tiles and upgraded finishes that improved their aesthetic values. For example, the designers and architects of this building used more than one thousand pieces of art to decorate the interiors of the building (Goldsworthy, 19). The decorations include pieces of bronze, and alloy brass. This made the interiors very beautiful, and an attractive site to behold. In designing this building, the designers used some pattern of the Islamic architecture. This symbolized the main religion found in Dubai that is Islam. On this basis, the design of this building incorporated the historic and cultural elements of Middle East, particularly that of Dubai. For example, the designers used the spiral minaret which when it rises, it grew slender. This is an Islamic architectural design, and is mostly depicted on the various mosques and Islamic places of worship (Goldsworthy, 33). The completion of this building was announced on the 2nd of December 2009; however, this building was opened in the 4th of January 2010. One month after the annunciation of its completion. The design of this building truly reflects the current trends in the field of design. The current trends in the field of design are shaped by economic, social, cultural and symbolic interests. For example, while designing and developing the Bhurj Khalifa building, the government of Dubai was mainly concerned with economic interests (Hurley, 41). The country wanted to diversify its economy from relying on oil, to the service and the tourism sector. On this basis, the building was to be designed in a manner that would attract the attention of the world, and hence encourage tourism within the city. For example, the building has a magnificent manmade lake, referred to as the Bhurj Khalifa Lake (Goldsworthy, 34). Also in decorating the interiors, designers of the building used 196 pieces of bronze and brass alloys. This symbolized the 196 countries of the world, in which the government hoped that their residents might find time to visit Dubai (Hurley, 24). On this basis, the design of this building was developed for purposes of satisfying the economic interests of Dubai. It is important to denote that the country achieved success in this aim. This is because the building has received numerous media coverage all over the world. Due to this coverage, millions have flocked into Dubai to view the building under consideration. In terms of social trends, most designs are developed for purposes of improving the socialization process of individuals. Bhurj Khalifa building has numerous social facilities. It has a shopping mall, academic institutions, resident homes, hotels etc (Goldsworthy, 28). It is important to denote that the building has the capability of hosting more than 30,000 people at any given time, and hence these facilities are very essential in promoting the socialization process within the country (Hurley, 16). Virtually, the modern trend designs are always aimed at facilitating the socialization process of an individual. Take for instance the development of Apples products such iPods, iTunes, etc. These facilities are aimed at improving efficiency in communication, and therefore facilitating the emergence of socialization. This building also satisfies the cultural element in the design process. It is important to denote that culture plays an important role in the field of design. Almost all successful designers have incorporated some specific elements of culture in their designs. For instance Steve Jobs used the popular culture to develop products of Apple (Hurley, 36). The Burj Khalifa therefore depicts the Islamic culture in its development and construction. For instance, the spiral miramet used to construct the building is a perfect example of an Islamic cultural design. Designs in the current trends are also used to symbolize a particular phenomenon or occurrence. For example, some clothes might be designed to symbolize elegance. The Burj Khalifa building acts a symbol of human achievement and intention of pursuing power (Goldsworthy, 32). On this basis, with the intention of symbolizing strength and power, the government of UAE decided to build the Burj Khalifa. On this basis, the Burj Khalifa cannot be viewed only as a structural piece of art, but also as a monument that depicts the technological progress of mankind. In conclusion, the Burj Khalifa building is a very important building that depicts the current trends in the field of design. The cost of constructing this building was very high, and it depicts an economic revolution in the UAE. The government used more than 20 billion US dollars to construct this building. However, the social benefit that this building brings into Dubai and in the field of design is great. For instance, from the designs of this building, we are able to learn how culture can be used to develop a building that has the capability of attracting millions and millions of people. For example, this building was developed by the use of the Islamic culture. By integrating Islamic culture in developing this building, the designers managed to come up with a masterpiece of art which is very beautiful, and symbolizes elegance and power. Works Cited: Galindo, Michelle. Asian architecture. Salenstein, Switzerland: Braun, 2010. Print. Goldsworthy, Kaite. Burj Khalifa. New York, NY: Weigl Publishers, 2013. Print. Hurley, Michael. The world's most amazing skyscrapers. Chicago, Ill.: Raintree, 2012. Print. Read More