Sunday, February 8, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Game over for Nakheel Harbour Tower
It's now game over for Nakheel Harbour Tower, office has been removed and all work has stopped, rumor has it Nakheel will never return to this location...
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Removig the Nakheel site office has begun
Nakheel Harbour Tower
bad news, removig the Nakheel site office has begun
good news, SB is there and still working
bad news, removig the Nakheel site office has begun
good news, SB is there and still working
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Work continues at Nakheel Harbour & Tower site
Nakheel Harbour Tower construction site photos taken January 20th 2009.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Dubai halts work on new tallest skyscraper
The developer of potentially the world's tallest skyscraper is halting work on the project for a year as the Middle East's business and entertainment capital grapples with the financial crisis.
State-owned builder Nakheel's decision to shelve the landmark development - which it unveiled only in October - came as a leading credit rating firm warned that falling real estate prices will likely hurt banks in Dubai and elsewhere in the United Arab Emirates.
Home values in the emirate tumbled 8 percent in the last three months from the previous quarter, a report said, marking what analysts say is the first such decline in years.
This is an artist impression of Nakheel's new skyscraper in Dubai that, when built, could become the world's tallest building - but for now construction has been put on hold
The halted skyscraper was planned to soar the length of more than 10 American football fields. Analysts said its unveiling late last year showed a lot of confidence amid the souring global economy.
State-owned Nakheel said in a brief statement that 'further work' on its building's foundations '[would] commence in 12 months'.
The developer did not say how much work, if any, had already been completed.
'This is part of our readjustment of our immediate business plans to better reflect the current market trends and match supply with demand,' the company said.
Nakheel is also responsible for the development of Jumeira Palm Island in Dubai
The skyscraper - billed as nearly two-thirds of a mile (one kilometer) tall or more, or the height of more than three of New York's Chrysler Buildings stacked end to end - was designed to top a Dubai rival's nearly complete tower that already is the world's highest.
Nakheel's chief competitor, Emaar Properties, has kept the final height of the silvery steel-and-glass Burj Dubai, or Dubai Tower in Arabic, a closely guarded secret.
The company said late last month the building, which is still under construction, had reached a height of 780 meters (2,559 feet) and has more than 160 stories.
The final height of Nakheel's proposed tower is likewise a secret, as is the price tag.
Skyscraper city: The Burj Dubai - the other world's tallest building - is being built by Emaar Properties, Nakheel's chief competitor
As part of government-run conglomerate Dubai World, Nakheel has played a major role in creating modern-day Dubai, a city that has blossomed from a tiny Persian Gulf fishing and pearling village into a major business and tourism hub in a matter of decades.
Nakheel is best known for Dubai's growing archipelago of man-made islands. The new tower would be located in the rapidly growing "New Dubai" section between two of the islands.
Today's disclosure is only the latest setback for the company.
The developer last month cut 15 per cent of its staff and said it was scaling back work on some of its ambitious island-building projects. It also delayed a much-publicised luxury hotel being built with Donald Trump.
A number of other developers are also scrambling to cope with the swift change in fortunes.
Several real estate and construction companies have been laying off staff, and a new government-backed developer that unveiled a $95 billion project around the same time of the Nakheel Harbor launch, said it was reviewing its plans now that investor demands had changed.
Meanwhile, credit rating firm Moody's Investors Service said falling real estate prices means the outlook is negative for banks in Dubai and elsewhere in the United Arab Emirates.
The firm cited concern about loans given to 'opportunistic' property developers in light of falling real estate prices.
Other worrying signs include tighter liquidity, falling equity values, and the steep drop in oil prices, Moody's said.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Nakheel Tower work halted for year
DUBAI // Construction work on the Nakheel Tower – a building that would soar more than 1km high to be the world’s tallest when completed – has been stopped for a year.
“Further work on the foundations of Nakheel Harbour and Tower will commence in 12 months,” said a Nakheel spokesman. “The foundation works are likely to take approximately three years to complete.”
A senior project manager said several employees working on the Dubai project had been laid off because “work has stopped until further notice”.
The stalling of the tower is the latest in a string of delays on Nakheel’s most prominent projects as a result of the slowdown in the property market.
Other developments that have been affected include the Trump International Hotel and Tower, Frond N villas, and Gateway Towers, as well as parts of the Waterfront and Palm Deira.
In late November, the company laid off 500 employees, about 15 per cent of its labour force, “in light of the current global market conditions”.
Developers across the UAE have said they were reviewing their projects and retrenching staff because of the sharp drop in sales. Residential property prices dipped 8 per cent in the fourth quarter of last year, according to Colliers International. Ian Albert, the consultancy’s regional director, said “tighter liquidity, selective lending and growing negative sentiment are all bringing about these changes”.
Dubai was not the only affected emirate. Aldar Laing O’Rourke, a joint venture between Abu Dhabi’s largest developer and a British construction company, announced last week it was cutting between 200 and 250 of its 1,900 professional employees because of the changed economic environment.
Under Nakheel’s plan, which was launched with a flashy ceremony at Cityscape Dubai in October, the multibillion-dirham tower would be the centrepiece of a 270-hectare marina development called Nakheel Harbour and Tower near Ibn Battuta Mall and the Arabian Canal.
The tower would have 200 floors and 150 lifts. It would have been surrounded by as many as 40 other buildings, ranging from 20 to 90 floors. The area would be home to 55,000 people and have enough offices for 45,000 people.
Nakheel officials said at the launching ceremony that the entire Nakheel Harbour and Tower project would take 10 years to complete in phases and require 30,000 labourers.
“Further work on the foundations of Nakheel Harbour and Tower will commence in 12 months,” said a Nakheel spokesman. “The foundation works are likely to take approximately three years to complete.”
A senior project manager said several employees working on the Dubai project had been laid off because “work has stopped until further notice”.
The stalling of the tower is the latest in a string of delays on Nakheel’s most prominent projects as a result of the slowdown in the property market.
Other developments that have been affected include the Trump International Hotel and Tower, Frond N villas, and Gateway Towers, as well as parts of the Waterfront and Palm Deira.
In late November, the company laid off 500 employees, about 15 per cent of its labour force, “in light of the current global market conditions”.
Developers across the UAE have said they were reviewing their projects and retrenching staff because of the sharp drop in sales. Residential property prices dipped 8 per cent in the fourth quarter of last year, according to Colliers International. Ian Albert, the consultancy’s regional director, said “tighter liquidity, selective lending and growing negative sentiment are all bringing about these changes”.
Dubai was not the only affected emirate. Aldar Laing O’Rourke, a joint venture between Abu Dhabi’s largest developer and a British construction company, announced last week it was cutting between 200 and 250 of its 1,900 professional employees because of the changed economic environment.
Under Nakheel’s plan, which was launched with a flashy ceremony at Cityscape Dubai in October, the multibillion-dirham tower would be the centrepiece of a 270-hectare marina development called Nakheel Harbour and Tower near Ibn Battuta Mall and the Arabian Canal.
The tower would have 200 floors and 150 lifts. It would have been surrounded by as many as 40 other buildings, ranging from 20 to 90 floors. The area would be home to 55,000 people and have enough offices for 45,000 people.
Nakheel officials said at the launching ceremony that the entire Nakheel Harbour and Tower project would take 10 years to complete in phases and require 30,000 labourers.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Nakheel Harbour & Tower Photos December 19th 2008
Nakheel Harbour & Tower Photos December 19th 2008 photo update.. Foundation work conintues at a fast pace, but dont get excited yet.. the foundations wont be completed until late 2010.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Portland masterplans retail space in 1km-tall Dubai tower
Portland Design is masterplanning the 70 000m2 retail area in Dubai's proposed 1km-tall Nakheel Tower (concept image pictured).
Property developer Nakheel, which is also responsible for Dubai's Palm Islands project, appointed the consultancy in July, six months after Portland approached the developer about the project.
Portland reports that in the build-up to the tower's completion in 2012, Nakheel will be seeking lighting and wayfinding designers, among other design specialists.
'We intend to compete for the wayfinding contract when that comes along', says Portland general manager, United Arab Emirates, Stephen Walsh, wondering at the 'challenge of lighting a 1km-high building'.
The tower is being designed by architect Woods Bagot, but the plan details remain a mystery, apparently to prevent other developers beating the tower's record-breaking scale.
Nevertheless, Portland reveals that the retail area will cover several levels in the base of the tower, the foundations for which are now complete. The building will feature several independent structures joining to create one.
Portland aims to differentiate the mall from the dozens of huge shopping centres in Dubai.
'We want to help create a neighbourhood for the wider community, and fully integrate landscaping and the public realm into the retail design. We also have to bear in mind, of course, that it will be a major tourist attraction,' says the group's creative head of developments, Markham Darbyshire.
Walsh would not reveal Portland's conclusions about the shape and size of the retail offer, but he describes the group's role on the project as 'looking at who the customers are, how much space can be supported by the customer base, how the space should be distributed across the site and how it should be allocated'.
Most of the mall's customers will be drawn from the new Nakheel Harbour development, which will include more than 19 000 residential apartments.
Property developer Nakheel, which is also responsible for Dubai's Palm Islands project, appointed the consultancy in July, six months after Portland approached the developer about the project.
Portland reports that in the build-up to the tower's completion in 2012, Nakheel will be seeking lighting and wayfinding designers, among other design specialists.
The tower is being designed by architect Woods Bagot, but the plan details remain a mystery, apparently to prevent other developers beating the tower's record-breaking scale.
Nevertheless, Portland reveals that the retail area will cover several levels in the base of the tower, the foundations for which are now complete. The building will feature several independent structures joining to create one.
Portland aims to differentiate the mall from the dozens of huge shopping centres in Dubai.
'We want to help create a neighbourhood for the wider community, and fully integrate landscaping and the public realm into the retail design. We also have to bear in mind, of course, that it will be a major tourist attraction,' says the group's creative head of developments, Markham Darbyshire.
Walsh would not reveal Portland's conclusions about the shape and size of the retail offer, but he describes the group's role on the project as 'looking at who the customers are, how much space can be supported by the customer base, how the space should be distributed across the site and how it should be allocated'.
Most of the mall's customers will be drawn from the new Nakheel Harbour development, which will include more than 19 000 residential apartments.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Nakheel Harbour and Tower from Google Earth
Nakheel Harbour and Tower from Google Earth (updated Dubai version):
the circle is 130 m in diameter... more than 13,000 sqm!
the circle is 130 m in diameter... more than 13,000 sqm!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Nakheel receives bids for Tall Tower
Published: 12 December 2008 12:48 GMT Author: Colin Foreman More by this Author Last Updated: 12 December 2008 12:48
Three groups submit proposals for 10-year project to build AED30bn landmark skyscraper in Dubai.
Local developer Nakheel has received proposals from three groups for the contract to build the tower at the AED140bn ($38bn) Nakheel Harbour and Tower development in Dubai.
The bidders are a joint venture of the local/Australian Al-Habtoor Leighton, South Africa's Murray & Roberts Contractors (Middle East) and Japan's Takenaka Corporation; the UK's Laing O'Rourke in joint venture with Japan's Taisei Corporation; and South Korea's Samsung Corporation (MEED 18:11:08).
Samsung is also part of a joint venture that is building the Burj Dubai, along with the local/Belgian Bel Hasa Six Construct and the local Arabtec Construction.
The AED30bn Nakheel tower will be developed over 10 years. The client plans to shortlist two groups by the end of the year and select one to provide pre-construction services by early 2009. The pre-construction period is expected to last at least one year. Enabling works on the development, which are scheduled to be completed in October 2010, are being executed by France's Soletanche Bachy. Work on the tower's superstructure is expected to follow shortly after.
In June, sources close to the project said the tower had been designed to be 1.4 kilometres tall. However, Nakheel has only confirmed that it will be more than 1km high. Even so, once finished, it will be taller than the Burj Dubai, which is expected to be about 820 metres high when completed in 2009.
The Nakheel tower was originally called the Pinnacle and was to be located on the Palm Jumeirah, before becoming part of the Dubai Waterfront scheme, when it was renamed Al-Burj. It is now known as the Tall Tower.
The consultancy team for the tower includes UK-based WSP, US-based Leslie E Robertson Associates and Australia's Woods Bagot.
The development will be built alongside the proposed Arabian Canal next to Ibn Battuta Mall and Jumeirah islands.
It will cover an area of 2.7 square kilometres and will be home to more than 55,000 people. The development will also include 250,000 sq m of hotel and hospitality space, and 100,000 sq m of retail space.
The scheme was launched in October 2008 but, given the global economic climate, doubts soon surfaced over whether it would move ahead. Nakheel has already begun to delay work on some of its other projects, such as Palm Deira and Dubai Waterfront, Gateway Towers and Trump International Hotel and Tower.
However, the developer's decision to move ahead with the Tall Tower is the latest sign that some major schemes will proceed.
The Al-Habtoor/Murray & Roberts/Takaneka joint venture was recently awarded the AED4.9bn ($1.3bn) contract to build Concourse 3 at Dubai International airport (MEED 8:12:08).
Three groups submit proposals for 10-year project to build AED30bn landmark skyscraper in Dubai.
Local developer Nakheel has received proposals from three groups for the contract to build the tower at the AED140bn ($38bn) Nakheel Harbour and Tower development in Dubai.
The bidders are a joint venture of the local/Australian Al-Habtoor Leighton, South Africa's Murray & Roberts Contractors (Middle East) and Japan's Takenaka Corporation; the UK's Laing O'Rourke in joint venture with Japan's Taisei Corporation; and South Korea's Samsung Corporation (MEED 18:11:08).
Samsung is also part of a joint venture that is building the Burj Dubai, along with the local/Belgian Bel Hasa Six Construct and the local Arabtec Construction.
The AED30bn Nakheel tower will be developed over 10 years. The client plans to shortlist two groups by the end of the year and select one to provide pre-construction services by early 2009. The pre-construction period is expected to last at least one year. Enabling works on the development, which are scheduled to be completed in October 2010, are being executed by France's Soletanche Bachy. Work on the tower's superstructure is expected to follow shortly after.
In June, sources close to the project said the tower had been designed to be 1.4 kilometres tall. However, Nakheel has only confirmed that it will be more than 1km high. Even so, once finished, it will be taller than the Burj Dubai, which is expected to be about 820 metres high when completed in 2009.
The Nakheel tower was originally called the Pinnacle and was to be located on the Palm Jumeirah, before becoming part of the Dubai Waterfront scheme, when it was renamed Al-Burj. It is now known as the Tall Tower.
The consultancy team for the tower includes UK-based WSP, US-based Leslie E Robertson Associates and Australia's Woods Bagot.
The development will be built alongside the proposed Arabian Canal next to Ibn Battuta Mall and Jumeirah islands.
It will cover an area of 2.7 square kilometres and will be home to more than 55,000 people. The development will also include 250,000 sq m of hotel and hospitality space, and 100,000 sq m of retail space.
The scheme was launched in October 2008 but, given the global economic climate, doubts soon surfaced over whether it would move ahead. Nakheel has already begun to delay work on some of its other projects, such as Palm Deira and Dubai Waterfront, Gateway Towers and Trump International Hotel and Tower.
However, the developer's decision to move ahead with the Tall Tower is the latest sign that some major schemes will proceed.
The Al-Habtoor/Murray & Roberts/Takaneka joint venture was recently awarded the AED4.9bn ($1.3bn) contract to build Concourse 3 at Dubai International airport (MEED 8:12:08).
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Construction giants vie for Nakheel Tower deal
TOWER DEAL: Three major construction players are vying for pre-construction contract for Nakheel's 1km-plus tower. (Supplied)
Al-Habtoor Leighton, Murray & Roberts and Al Naboodah Laing O’Rourke are among the contractors which have bid for the pre-construction phase of work on the 1 kilometre-plus tower planned by Nakheel.
The three construction firms confirmed to Arabian Business on Wednesday they placed bids before last week’s deadline for the contract which involves preliminary non-construction work on the mega-project including programme costing.
The master developer is expected to compile a shortlist of contractors by the end of the year before selecting one company by early 2009 to provide pre-construction services for the structure, which is planned to be the tallest tower in the world.
The pre-construction period is expected to last for around a year, with the tower developed over 10 years.
Nakheel chief executive Chris O’Donnell said last month funding for the $38.12 billion project, unveiled in October, would be secured by the sale of land around the tower to other developers.
The tower is part of the Nakheel Harbour & Tower development in Dubai, which will cover an area of 2.7km and be built alongside the proposed Arabian Canal.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Nakheel Harbour & Tower Photos December 6th 2008
lots of activities at the Nakheel Harbour & Tower site but it's difficult to see anything from the outside...
Thursday, November 27, 2008
World's tallest tower plan 'will not be delayed
Nakheel’s plans to build the tallest tower in the world will not be stalled by a slowdown in the property market in Dubai, but the master developer has put on hold taking on new projects for the time being, chief executive Chris O’Donnell said.
With foundation work on the 1.4km-high skyscraper underway, the property market would be “moving positively” again by the time the foundations were complete within two to three years, O’Donnell told Arabian Business.
He said funding for the $38.12 billion project, unveiled last month, would be secured by the sale of land around the tower to other developers.
“We indicated when we launched that we would do the foundation work and that is underway and will take two or three years. My view is that within two or three years you will find the Dubai market well and truly moving positively.
"So we think that’s the right thing to do,” he said on Wednesday evening ahead of Nakheel taking delivery of the QE2, which it plans to transform into a hotel and tourist attraction off the eastern trunk side of Palm Jumeirah.
In response to a question of whether Nakheel was considering cutting jobs, O’Donnell said the Dubai-based firm was assessing the impact of the global financial crisis on its operations to “match resources to meet its workload.”
“We are reviewing the situation,” he said. “The world economic crisis is having an affect on Dubai and we are assessing what the impact is and what we are looking to do in the future is to match supply with demand. We will match our resources to meet the workload.”
Emaar Properties, another Dubai master developer, said on Monday it may consider making staff redundant due to the downturn in the local real estate market, while Omniyat Properties could cut up to 100 jobs and Dubai developer Damac has said that it planned to lay off 200 employees.
O’Donnell said following launches in the last year and a half of the Universe, Mina Rashid and Nakheel Tower, it was not taking on any new projects for the time being.
“We are delivering over 50 percent of everything that will be delivered in Dubai over the next ten years. We are managing sub-projects within our projects, so smaller projects within Palm Deira and Palm Jumeirah and the Waterfront,” he said.
He said $80 billion was the last figure Nakheel had given for the value of its projects including international assets and as this was a conservative estimate the amount was still correct despite the global financial crisis.
O’Donnell firmly denied there were any plans for a merger between Nakheel and Emaar.
“The government has come out and confirmed that is not the case, so there’s definitely no Nakheel and Emaar merger that’s being considered,” he said.
It follows a comment on Monday by Emaar chairman Mohamed Ali Alabbar saying he would welcome a merger with Nakheel if the opportunity arose.
Nakheel, part of state-owned conglomerate Dubai World, is building three palm-shaped islands off the Dubai coast, as well as an archipelago in the shape of the world.
The financial crisis has hit demand for real estate in Dubai from foreign investors, which make up a large percentage of buyers, while tightening liquidity has made home financing more difficult.
With foundation work on the 1.4km-high skyscraper underway, the property market would be “moving positively” again by the time the foundations were complete within two to three years, O’Donnell told Arabian Business.
He said funding for the $38.12 billion project, unveiled last month, would be secured by the sale of land around the tower to other developers.
“We indicated when we launched that we would do the foundation work and that is underway and will take two or three years. My view is that within two or three years you will find the Dubai market well and truly moving positively.
"So we think that’s the right thing to do,” he said on Wednesday evening ahead of Nakheel taking delivery of the QE2, which it plans to transform into a hotel and tourist attraction off the eastern trunk side of Palm Jumeirah.
In response to a question of whether Nakheel was considering cutting jobs, O’Donnell said the Dubai-based firm was assessing the impact of the global financial crisis on its operations to “match resources to meet its workload.”
“We are reviewing the situation,” he said. “The world economic crisis is having an affect on Dubai and we are assessing what the impact is and what we are looking to do in the future is to match supply with demand. We will match our resources to meet the workload.”
Emaar Properties, another Dubai master developer, said on Monday it may consider making staff redundant due to the downturn in the local real estate market, while Omniyat Properties could cut up to 100 jobs and Dubai developer Damac has said that it planned to lay off 200 employees.
O’Donnell said following launches in the last year and a half of the Universe, Mina Rashid and Nakheel Tower, it was not taking on any new projects for the time being.
“We are delivering over 50 percent of everything that will be delivered in Dubai over the next ten years. We are managing sub-projects within our projects, so smaller projects within Palm Deira and Palm Jumeirah and the Waterfront,” he said.
He said $80 billion was the last figure Nakheel had given for the value of its projects including international assets and as this was a conservative estimate the amount was still correct despite the global financial crisis.
O’Donnell firmly denied there were any plans for a merger between Nakheel and Emaar.
“The government has come out and confirmed that is not the case, so there’s definitely no Nakheel and Emaar merger that’s being considered,” he said.
It follows a comment on Monday by Emaar chairman Mohamed Ali Alabbar saying he would welcome a merger with Nakheel if the opportunity arose.
Nakheel, part of state-owned conglomerate Dubai World, is building three palm-shaped islands off the Dubai coast, as well as an archipelago in the shape of the world.
The financial crisis has hit demand for real estate in Dubai from foreign investors, which make up a large percentage of buyers, while tightening liquidity has made home financing more difficult.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Behind the scenes: Nakheel's tallest tower plan
Developer Nakheel is to trump rival Emaar Properties in the contest to build the world's tallest building, with the Dubai-owned developer unveiling plans for a tower that will dwarf the Burj Dubai.
Nakheel is poised to build Nakheel Harbour and Tower that will be more than one kilometre high, as part of a $38.12 billion project that will include the world’s first inner city harbour.
This video gives you the behind the scenes story of the project with interviews with CEO Chris O'Donnell, a look at the company's launch night for the ambitious development which was held at the Atlantis resort in Dubai and attended by Hollywood couple Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jone plus there's a 3D view of how the tower will look when complete.
The project will take more than 10 years to complete, but with some stages coming on line much earlier.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Nakheel extends closing date for tower proposals
The closing date for preliminary proposals for the 1 kilometre-plus tower planned by the UAE's Nakheel has been extended to 4 December. The tower is part of the AED140bn ($38bn) Nakheel Harbour & Tower development in Dubai.
The companies invited to bid for the tower are the local/Australian Al-Habtoor Leighton, the local/UK Al-Naboodah Laing O'Rourke, South Africa's Murray & Roberts Construction (Middle East), South Korea's Samsung Corporation, Japan's Taisei Corporation and France's Vinci Construction Grand Projets.
The AED30bn tower will be developed over 10 years. The client plans to shortlist two groups by the end of 2008 and select one group to provide pre-construction services by early 2009. The pre-construction period is expected to last for at least a year.
Enabling works on the development are being carried out by France's Soletanche Bachy. The package is scheduled for completion in October 2010, and work on the tower's superstructure is expected to follow shortly after.
In June, sources close to the project said the tower had been designed to be 1.4 km high. However, Nakheel has only confirmed that it will be more than 1km high. Once finished, it will be taller than the Burj Dubai, which is expected to be about 820 metres high when completed in 2009.
The consultancy team for the tower includes UK-based WSP, US-based Leslie E Robertson Associates and Australia's Woods Bagot.
The development will be built alongside the proposed Arabian Canal and next to Ibn Battuta Mall and Jumeirah islands. It will cover an area of 2.7km and will be home to more than 55,000 people (MEED 31:10:08).
The companies invited to bid for the tower are the local/Australian Al-Habtoor Leighton, the local/UK Al-Naboodah Laing O'Rourke, South Africa's Murray & Roberts Construction (Middle East), South Korea's Samsung Corporation, Japan's Taisei Corporation and France's Vinci Construction Grand Projets.
The AED30bn tower will be developed over 10 years. The client plans to shortlist two groups by the end of 2008 and select one group to provide pre-construction services by early 2009. The pre-construction period is expected to last for at least a year.
Enabling works on the development are being carried out by France's Soletanche Bachy. The package is scheduled for completion in October 2010, and work on the tower's superstructure is expected to follow shortly after.
In June, sources close to the project said the tower had been designed to be 1.4 km high. However, Nakheel has only confirmed that it will be more than 1km high. Once finished, it will be taller than the Burj Dubai, which is expected to be about 820 metres high when completed in 2009.
The consultancy team for the tower includes UK-based WSP, US-based Leslie E Robertson Associates and Australia's Woods Bagot.
The development will be built alongside the proposed Arabian Canal and next to Ibn Battuta Mall and Jumeirah islands. It will cover an area of 2.7km and will be home to more than 55,000 people (MEED 31:10:08).
Monday, November 17, 2008
World's tallest tower secrets revealed
TOWER SECRETS: Architects have revealed how the world's tallest tower will cope with high winds. (Supplied)Architects behind the design of the Nakheel's one kilometre high Dubai tower have revealed the secrets of how it will cope with high winds.
Mark Mitcheson-Low, director in charge of the project and Woods Bagot Middle East managing director, said the cylindrical tower, which will be 95 metres in diameter, is in fact four towers encircling an internal void, linked at intervals by sky bridges.
This design, he said, would mitigate the effects of the wind load, allowing the air to pass freely through the building.
The individual quadrants of the building allow for structural rigidity against the strong winds usually experienced at the higher building levels.
Often limiting engineering possibilities beyond 500 metres, the wind will pass through vertical gills, which have been proven in wind tunnel testing to reduce the windload by three-fold.
At about every 25 levels, sky bridges will bind the building together to provide a structural integrity which, unlike any building before it, affords the tower greatly increased stability and the opportunity to build higher.
They will also house mechanical, electrical and plumbing services and would provide safe crossing points if one of the towers were disabled due to an emergency, Mitcheson-Low added.
He said: "The design is an example of the human ability to overcome the forces of nature and harness them to create a monument dedicated to past, present and future generations of the Gulf.
"Nakheel and Woods Bagot have pushed the design envelope with a project that will be central to the development of one of the world's most exciting cities."
When Nakheel announced the project prior to the Cityscape show in Dubai in September, it was said to become the world's tallest tower when complete but shortly afterwards, Saudi-based Kingdom Holding Company said it was planning to build the Kingdom Tower which would be more than 1km high.
Mark Mitcheson-Low, director in charge of the project and Woods Bagot Middle East managing director, said the cylindrical tower, which will be 95 metres in diameter, is in fact four towers encircling an internal void, linked at intervals by sky bridges.
This design, he said, would mitigate the effects of the wind load, allowing the air to pass freely through the building.
The individual quadrants of the building allow for structural rigidity against the strong winds usually experienced at the higher building levels.
Often limiting engineering possibilities beyond 500 metres, the wind will pass through vertical gills, which have been proven in wind tunnel testing to reduce the windload by three-fold.
At about every 25 levels, sky bridges will bind the building together to provide a structural integrity which, unlike any building before it, affords the tower greatly increased stability and the opportunity to build higher.
They will also house mechanical, electrical and plumbing services and would provide safe crossing points if one of the towers were disabled due to an emergency, Mitcheson-Low added.
He said: "The design is an example of the human ability to overcome the forces of nature and harness them to create a monument dedicated to past, present and future generations of the Gulf.
"Nakheel and Woods Bagot have pushed the design envelope with a project that will be central to the development of one of the world's most exciting cities."
When Nakheel announced the project prior to the Cityscape show in Dubai in September, it was said to become the world's tallest tower when complete but shortly afterwards, Saudi-based Kingdom Holding Company said it was planning to build the Kingdom Tower which would be more than 1km high.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Al Burj Building site photo
What a perfect place to take some great pictures of the al burj site. Can't believe we missed it..
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Norman Disney & Young to work on Nakheel Harbour & Tower
Leading engineering firm Norman Disney & Young (NDY) is expanding its global influence with the launch of its Dubai office and the announcement that it will work on the landmark Nakheel Harbour & Tower project in Dubai.
NDY will provide mechanical, electrical, fire and hydraulic services for the kilometre-high Tower, plans for which were unveiled this month. The Nakheel Tower will have more than 200 floors, 150 lifts and enough facilities that residents need never leave the building. It will also lead the way in sustainable design.
The Nakheel Tower is NDY's biggest project to date, and the firm will provide services to an approximate 30-40% of the overall project value, including hydraulics, air conditioning, fire protection and evacuation systems.
In order to meet the task ahead, NDY has opened an office in Dubai. With ten staff already in place, it plans to double this number by the end of 2008, and continue recruiting into next year.
The sheer scale of the project will create a range of different and new challenges that NDY will have to mitigate, including:
- Temperature - the Tower experiences five different climactic conditions and, as a result, there are design considerations at each level. One such consideration is known as a 'reverse stack effect'. This will cause high pressure differences between inside the building and outside which will require careful management to prevent such problems as doors being very difficult to open, lift doors jamming and high air loss from air conditioned spaces.
- All water systems will require pumping in stages because pressure requirement exceeds the pressure rating of equipment and pipework. In the case of chilled water, the number of stages which can be used is limited by the temperature rise as the water passes though the heat exchangers between each pressure stage.
- Electrical systems - the project has the power requirements equivalent to those of a small city, necessitating substations throughout the Tower. Back up power supplies will also be crucial because in the case of fire the Tower's 156 lifts will be essential for evacuation.
- Environmental considerations - these will include an on-site black water treatment plant, providing the equivalent of 10 Olympic-sized swimming pools of recycled water per day. This water will be used for irrigation within the overall development.
Dennis O'Brien, NDY director, said:
'The Nakheel Tower represents one of the most groundbreaking construction and infrastructure projects in the world to date, and we relish the opportunity to be involved. Every project raises fresh challenges but none more so than this one. NDY is committed to finding the most effective solution for each challenge.'
'As a business, this project also presents the opportunity for NDY to grow into the Middle East, with the launch of our new office in this expanding market strengthening the firm's international position,' O'Brien added.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Nakheel invites contractors to submit plans for Tall Tower in Dubai
Contractors have until 20 November to bid for 1-kilometre-high skyscraper.
Selected companies have been invited to submit proposals by 20 November for a tower at least 1 kilometre high at the AED140bn ($38bn) Nakheel Harbour & Tower development in Dubai.
The companies are the local/Australian Al-Habtoor Leighton, the local/UK Al-Naboodah Laing O'Rourke, South Africa's Murray & Roberts Construction (Middle East), South Korea's Samsung Corporation, Japan's Taisei Corporation, and France's Vinci Construction Grand Projets.
The AED30bn tower will be developed over a period of 10 years. The client plans to shortlist two groups by the end of the year and select one group to provide pre-construction services by early 2009. The pre-construction period is expected to last for at least one year.
Enabling works on the development are being executed by France's Soletanche Bachy. The package is scheduled for completion in October 2010, and work on the tower's superstructure is expected to follow shortly after.
In June, sources close to the project said the tower had been designed to be 1.4km tall. However, Nakheel has only confirmed that it will be more than 1km high. Once finished, it will be taller than the Burj Dubai, which is expected to be about 820 metres high when completed in 2009.
The Tall Tower was originally called the Pinnacle and was to be located on the Palm Jumeirah, before becoming part of the Dubai Waterfront scheme, when it was renamed Al-Burj. The consultancy team for the tower includes UK-based WSP, US-based Leslie E Robertson Associates and Australia's Woods Bagot.
The development will be built alongside the proposed Arabian Canal and next to Ibn Battuta Mall and Jumeirah islands. It will cover an area of 2.7km and will be home to more than 55,000 people (MEED 8:10:08).
"The cost of construction of the tower, canal and other buildings will be AED140bn," Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, chairman of Dubai World and Nakheel told those attending the formal launch of the project on 5 October.
The development will include 250,000 square metres of hotels and hospitality space, and 100,000 sq m of retail space.
Other Nakheel projects have been affected by the global credit crisis. Work on its multi-billion dollar Palm Deira project has been scaled back, and it is now unclear what its development strategy across its $100bn-plus portfolio will be in the coming months.
It is likely that Nakheel, along with other developers in Dubai, will prioritise certain projects. The move to select a contractor for the Tall Tower suggests the scheme is a priority for Nakheel and the Dubai government.
In addition, the costs incurred during the preconstruction period will not be such a large financial burden as actual construction work such as dredging.
By 2011, when work on the tower's superstructure is due to start, the economic crisis may have passed, allowing Nakheel to proceed with work in a more benign financial climate.
Selected companies have been invited to submit proposals by 20 November for a tower at least 1 kilometre high at the AED140bn ($38bn) Nakheel Harbour & Tower development in Dubai.
The companies are the local/Australian Al-Habtoor Leighton, the local/UK Al-Naboodah Laing O'Rourke, South Africa's Murray & Roberts Construction (Middle East), South Korea's Samsung Corporation, Japan's Taisei Corporation, and France's Vinci Construction Grand Projets.
The AED30bn tower will be developed over a period of 10 years. The client plans to shortlist two groups by the end of the year and select one group to provide pre-construction services by early 2009. The pre-construction period is expected to last for at least one year.
Enabling works on the development are being executed by France's Soletanche Bachy. The package is scheduled for completion in October 2010, and work on the tower's superstructure is expected to follow shortly after.
In June, sources close to the project said the tower had been designed to be 1.4km tall. However, Nakheel has only confirmed that it will be more than 1km high. Once finished, it will be taller than the Burj Dubai, which is expected to be about 820 metres high when completed in 2009.
The Tall Tower was originally called the Pinnacle and was to be located on the Palm Jumeirah, before becoming part of the Dubai Waterfront scheme, when it was renamed Al-Burj. The consultancy team for the tower includes UK-based WSP, US-based Leslie E Robertson Associates and Australia's Woods Bagot.
The development will be built alongside the proposed Arabian Canal and next to Ibn Battuta Mall and Jumeirah islands. It will cover an area of 2.7km and will be home to more than 55,000 people (MEED 8:10:08).
"The cost of construction of the tower, canal and other buildings will be AED140bn," Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, chairman of Dubai World and Nakheel told those attending the formal launch of the project on 5 October.
The development will include 250,000 square metres of hotels and hospitality space, and 100,000 sq m of retail space.
Other Nakheel projects have been affected by the global credit crisis. Work on its multi-billion dollar Palm Deira project has been scaled back, and it is now unclear what its development strategy across its $100bn-plus portfolio will be in the coming months.
It is likely that Nakheel, along with other developers in Dubai, will prioritise certain projects. The move to select a contractor for the Tall Tower suggests the scheme is a priority for Nakheel and the Dubai government.
In addition, the costs incurred during the preconstruction period will not be such a large financial burden as actual construction work such as dredging.
By 2011, when work on the tower's superstructure is due to start, the economic crisis may have passed, allowing Nakheel to proceed with work in a more benign financial climate.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Nakheel Harbour & Tower Renders
The tower was designed by Woods Bagot architects and it will be built by Nakheel, the same developer which has built those fancy state-of-the-art man-made islands in Dubai. The skyscraper will be called Nakheel Tower and as a bonus, there will also be built world’s first inner city harbor.
The entire construction area will be of 270 hectares, and when the Nakheel Tower and Harbor will be finished, it will provide enough space for 55,00 inhabitants, workplaces for 45,000 people, and for millions of tourists every year. Although it will be one kilometer-high, the skyscraper will only feature 200 floors, but this could change as the developers don’t want to tell us more about the actual height as rivals could build taller towers.
The entire construction area will be of 270 hectares, and when the Nakheel Tower and Harbor will be finished, it will provide enough space for 55,00 inhabitants, workplaces for 45,000 people, and for millions of tourists every year. Although it will be one kilometer-high, the skyscraper will only feature 200 floors, but this could change as the developers don’t want to tell us more about the actual height as rivals could build taller towers.
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