Trip to Dubai: Burj Khalifa

The architecture in Dubai is amazing and the fact it has the tallest building in the world just puts the icing on the cake.

The Burj Khalifa stands 828m/2,717ft tall and has the fastest elevators with a speed of 64km/h, or 18m/s. The elevator ride its self was an amazement, like something straight out of charlie and the chocolate factory. Then stepping out to the view of Dubai was truly mind blowing.

It was also interesting to learn the background behind the design of the Burj Khalifa. The whole building was designed with organic influences and actual shape of the building is based on a six leaf orchid flower. Like the arabesque patterns, the design of the Burj Khalifa has been drawn up using shape and pattern.

Trip to Dubai: Design Influences

I recently took a trip to Dubai not only was i blown away by the heat, but i was equally amazed by the architecture and design Dubai had to offer.

The malls themselves were full of beautiful features to look at. I'd often find myself walking around looking up to the ceilings and due to the vast size of the malls i seemed to find something new each time i went:

Although Dubai itself is quite a modern city i was very interested in the traditional Islamic art. In one of the malls i found a small museum which talked about the origins of Islamic art. I learn that the most distinguished type of Islamic art was called the Arabesque. It is a fusion of pure mathematics and the art of space to create a geometric art. The patterns are apparently designed to encourage deep thought and spiritual contemplation. I thought this linked nicely to the 23 project i had completed just before i went to Dubai. Although in a much more modern and a much less spiritual way.

Anyway here are some examples of arabesque being used which i found on my travels: