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Santiago Calatrava Architects
The Tower
The world's tallest tower has broken ground
It will have balconies capable of rotating out of the building.
THE TALLEST TOWER in the world began construction this week.
Work began on The Tower at Dubai Creek Harbour on Monday, starting a process that will see the structure climb above the Burj Khalifa.
The structure “will be the world’s tallest tower when completed in 2020,” said a statement issued at the ceremony.
Dubai’s developer giant Emaar Properties announced plans to build the viewing tower in April, saying it will be “a notch” higher than Burj Khalifa, which stands 828 metres high. However, the company hasn’t revealed the height of the tower.
The entire building will cost around €900 million and is designed by Spanish-Swiss architect Santiago Calatrava, best known here for being the man behind the Samuel Beckett Bridge in Dublin. He also known for the transport hub at the new World Trade Centre, the Caja Obelisk in Madrid and Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro.
In April, Emaar said the tower will be slender, evoking the image of a minaret, and will be anchored to the ground with sturdy cables.
It will contain three public observation decks, a cafe, events spaces and The Pinnacle Room, an events space and 360 viewing platform. It will have balconies capable of rotating out of the building.
Dubai has established a reputation for building dozens of futuristic skyscrapers, which have transformed its skyline.
Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Holding is building a tower in Jeddah that is planned to surpass the Burj Khalifa, rising more than a kilometre.
With AFP reporting.
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