digg

Join DiggAbout

Discover and share the best of the web!
Learn more about Digg by taking the tour.

See the original image at news.bbc.co.uk

Dubai to get 'moving' skyscraper

news.bbc.co.uk — Construction of the world's first moving building, a 80-storey tower with revolving floors which give it an ever-shifting shape, is due to begin.

Bury
show profanity settings
expand all
  • egudahl, on 06/25/2008, -10/+72Rather disingenuous of the architect to show those cool moving curves of the building corners sinuously moving up the sides. After the motors are turned on and the owners adjust their rotation independently, the building will look like the last view: randomly distributed orientations. like a pile of stacked old newpapers
    • chaos7, on 06/26/2008, -1/+3yup i was thinking that myself
    • znicket, on 06/26/2008, -0/+9I was thinking that this could be something mandated by the inhabitants. They could rather agree on synchronous movement.
    • bippitybop1, on 06/26/2008, -4/+1I feel like I just watched a C++ routine get processed.
    • purple, on 06/26/2008, -2/+28Good luck washing the windows on this monstrosity.
    • zooplibob, on 06/26/2008, -0/+27From another article: http://wcbstv.com/national/dubai.david.fisher.2.75 ...

      "A few penthouse villas would spin on command using a voice-activated computer. The motion of the rest of the building would be choreographed in patterns that could be altered over time."

      So unless you're rich, a computer program will determine what view you see that day.
      • Kristijan12, on 06/26/2008, -2/+31Who in that building wont be rich?
      • Rendezvous, on 06/26/2008, -5/+6Sure, because if you are not rich you surely will be able to afford one of these apartments.
      • jlmillstein, on 06/26/2008, -0/+4Don't know why he is being dugg down, it's correct that you would have to be rich to live in the building. According to the article, apartments will go for anything from $3.7m to $36m. I'd say thats a good chunk of change.
    • bluezinc, on 06/26/2008, -3/+7Did anybody wonder why the article made it a point to tell us that David Fisher is Italian?

      "'It's the first building that rotates, moves, and changes shape,' said architect David Fisher, who is Italian, at a news conference in New York."
      • Samg85, on 06/26/2008, -0/+6Maybe because David Fisher doesn't sound like an Italian name. If I was to guess the nationality of a David Fisher I would guess he's either English, American, or Australian.
      • LoveAndSeagulls, on 06/26/2008, -0/+3probably would've sounded smoother if the author said italian architect. oh well.
      • vofuse, on 06/26/2008, -0/+5Since the architect was in New York discussing a building he's designing for Dubai, maybe the writer felt the architect's nationality would be of interest, since it further emphasizes the international milieu of the event.
    • blinkfink182, on 06/26/2008, -0/+9Careful, don't call him an architect yet...

      "I call these buildings designed by time, shaped by life," said the Florence-based architect, who has never built a sky-scraper before.

      Now *that's* the real WTF.
      • megamod, on 06/26/2008, -1/+4when you see it you'll ***** bricks!
      • Codwhy, on 06/26/2008, -1/+3Well the architect(s) who built the Burj Al Arab or whatever that hotel is called had never built skyscrapers, or even anything other then school buildings and small offices.

        Sheik Mohammad cares more about unique and groundbreaking designs then old talent architects who have made livings doing the same thing over and over again


    • ep53, on 06/26/2008, -0/+2Its moved by the wind, unless mabe they can "Lock" there section. The wind also generates electricity.
  • deusny, on 06/25/2008, -19/+260but can it run crysis?
    • tama00, on 06/26/2008, -29/+3im sorry i have to digg you down im just sick to death of that meme.
      • awtripp, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1i'm sorry but i'm ***** tired of "people being sick to death of memes". so ***** off.

        yeah. eat it.

    • jluebbert, on 06/26/2008, -22/+3but will it blend?
    • theOster, on 06/26/2008, -1/+41not only will it run crysis, but it *will* ***** blend. AND there is talk of a god damn beowolf cluster of these things. christ i'm watsed
      • jluebbert, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1You get more diggs than I do because you include the f-word and your wasted! Double the points!
    • worldchanger, on 06/26/2008, -4/+2epic.
    • jnava121, on 06/26/2008, -1/+2yes , and in DX 11 the bullet casings will hit you in the face and burn your skin because the graphics will be so real....
    • madrobber23, on 06/26/2008, -1/+0haha well done sir
  • Ex3poo, on 06/25/2008, -17/+6I'll believe it.After seeing there previous designs.
  • scarysnow, on 06/26/2008, -19/+10If they don't build it, the terrorists win.
    • blazes816, on 06/26/2008, -17/+1Dubai is in the middle east. They ARE the terrorists.
      • Beastmasta, on 06/26/2008, -1/+14LAWL MIDDLE EAST = TERRORISTS!

        no, sorry you're wrong.
      • AbdullahAbuDawu, on 09/12/2008, -0/+2You must not have been to Dubai lately. They are the farthest thing from Islamic Fundamentalism. Also, you're an idiot.
      • blazes816, on 06/27/2008, -0/+1I forgot the sarcasm tag apparently.
    • trenchfever, on 06/26/2008, -4/+1hackneyed banality of a joke. but still I lol'd :D
    • Asianwaste, on 06/26/2008, -1/+5It moves so that it can dodge oncoming planes.
  • Andrewbot, on 06/26/2008, -9/+34I understand the concept, but how would one travel from one specified floor to the other? I read earlier about a concrete tube in the center, but how would one get into it (assuming there is a lift inside)? Unless the entire tube is made of doors, would one have to wait till their apartment door matches the elevator door?
    • cheesycow5, on 06/26/2008, -0/+41Possibility:The center tube could be surrounded by a non-spinning platform, as a sort of buffer back into the normal world.
      • wolferz, on 06/26/2008, -3/+4Problem with that: Sprained ankles.
        • Knowltey, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1Jeez wolferz, how fast do you think they are rotating this?

          It's not an amusement park thrill ride, it still has to be liveable without making stuff slide off, It'd be the same risk of sprained ankle as stepping onto a moving sidewalk or escalator.
        • wolferz, on 06/27/2008, -0/+1@knowltey

          There's a lot of sprained ankles from those every year....
    • Kanilas, on 06/26/2008, -0/+7If you look at the floorplan, there's a kind of circular hallway directly next to the center ring. So you can step out of the center elevator, and into this hallway that runs an entire circle in your apartment.
    • thecoolestguy, on 06/26/2008, -3/+3You can have the elevator spin when it reaches the floor at the same speed that that floor is spinning, so that when the door opens, the ground on the outside of the elevator and the ground in the elevator are motionless relative to each other.
      • Knowltey, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1that would work too, but the non-spinning platform would be easier to implement.
    • cvindustries, on 06/26/2008, -9/+7Thank you, Andrew Bot, for choosing a career that is not architect/engineer/problem solver.
      • Pstmann, on 06/26/2008, -2/+1How does asking a question disqualify you from being a good architect/engineer/problem solver? I would think that would actually help.
    • silfiriel, on 06/26/2008, -0/+3Where do you live?
      I have no idea....a building in Dubai!?
    • amoo3, on 06/26/2008, -0/+6Well basically theres a series of poles that stretch from top to bottom, much like in a firehouse, and when you want to go down you simply jump onto one of them.
    • urbano35, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1I like how he keeps referring to 'someone' as 'one'. Makes one feel less important...
  • mattc908, on 06/26/2008, -13/+5Maybe it can code for DNA =p.
    • ieatpizza, on 06/26/2008, -0/+8maybe your DNA is broken and you need a new one
      • r3negadeX, on 08/11/2008, -1/+3Extra 21st chromosome, oh no!
        • UsablePuddle, on 06/26/2008, -1/+2Ouch, i think that crosses the line a little, still funny though.
  • KidTechno, on 06/26/2008, -6/+115jenga!
  • TheWorm, on 06/26/2008, -3/+104What ISN'T being developed in Dubai? I've even seen plans for a spaceport.
    • nycmac247, on 06/26/2008, -14/+16no plans for what to do when the oil money runs out OR global warming causes water level to rise
      ALSO no plans for child labor laws, no plans for crackdowns on forced prostitution and human trafficking.
      • hakkola, on 06/26/2008, -2/+18You obviously haven't read a single article on Dubai, because they're doing a hell of a lot to make sure they still have money when the oil runs out.
        • Iztikeit, on 06/26/2008, -6/+2Not really. That tourism thing isn't going to work for them.
        • Codwhy, on 06/26/2008, -1/+2I'm sure the tourism thing is going to work just fine, considering the groundbreaking feats of architecture that have been built there, and the palm and world islands, and this.

          now if the UAE changed its drug policies it would be a #1 destination
      • regeya, on 06/26/2008, -4/+4Nice to see that some people are seeing how deep the rabbit hole goes.

        Yep, folks, the Dubai development craze is a desperate attempt to change from an oil-based economy to a service-sector and entertainment economy, and are using their surplus of dollars to do it. Their projection is that they'll run out of oil in 2025, but as has been pointed out, it's permissible to lie to infidels (that's us!)
        • Navicerts, on 06/26/2008, -1/+2Once the oil runs out who is going to visit this city and bring money to it? and how?
        • InfiniteNothing, on 06/26/2008, -1/+3Tourists?
        • mr100percent, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1"but as has been pointed out, it's permissible to lie to infidels (that's us!)"

          What? That's a myth as old as the crusades, only recentlly reinvigorated by some misinformed right-wingers. The Quran and hadith specifically condemn lying as a big sin in Islam.
      • TheWorm, on 06/26/2008, -1/+2Everything they are building is going create for a booming economy when it's finished.
      • badjoke, on 06/26/2008, -1/+6The entire point of all this ***** is for when they run out of oil. They're building a HUGE tourism city-state.
      • magneticB, on 06/26/2008, -2/+6Less than 6% of Dubai's GDP comes from Oil now, they're made the transition already. As for child labour, prostitution, human trafficking - welcome to the real world..
    • diggrnumber1, on 06/26/2008, -1/+5here's another planned spaceport (this one in singapore: now richer than the US in terms of gdp/capita).

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore_spaceport

      "This spaceport will service the Space Adventures Explorer suborbital tourist rocketplane."
      • sunamc, on 06/26/2008, -1/+1@diggrnumber1

        I wish instead they built a space elevator that would be attacked by terrorists/revolutionists. The space elevator would then wrap around the planet destroying everything in it's path.
    • jacobu9, on 06/26/2008, -0/+18Dubai spaceport: You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious...
    • snapcase, on 06/26/2008, -3/+4What isn't being developed in Dubai? Social progress.

      I'll never go to the place when they will arrest a guy for having a bottle of melatonin in his luggage when you can buy it right over the counter legally in Dubai. Or a guy that had a piece of marijuana smaller than a grain of sugar stuck to the bottom of his shoe that he probably just stepped on on the street getting arrested with a no tolerance policy and a mandatory prison term.

      Oh and never catch a ride with someone after a night at a club, otherwise they may wind up driving you out to the middle of nowhere to sodomize you in turns. Then when you try to report them to the authorities you get arrested instead because in Dubai if another man rapes you it means you're a homosexual and with that being a crime, you'll promptly be tossed in a cell.

      Ah, Dubai. I can understand why everyone wants to go there.
      • jnava121, on 06/26/2008, -1/+5so was there a cover charge for that night club you went to?
      • Codwhy, on 06/26/2008, -0/+2While the UAE's ***** up drug policy (the mandatory prison for any amount, even .00001 g) will keep alot of people out (like me), the ultra rich tourists they are looking for most likely will take their own plane there, and not deal with the same ***** that you or I would.

        not saying its right, but thats why it will work for them
  • pianonotes1010, on 06/26/2008, -10/+64How the hell do they get funding for all of this *****?
    • rationalbeats, on 06/26/2008, -15/+89oil
    • Astroseksy, on 06/26/2008, -14/+101Oil.
    • Paktu, on 06/26/2008, -3/+57Actually, only 2% of Dubai's economy is oil. Most of it comes from tourism (taxes on hotels and booze) and financial services.
      • diggrnumber1, on 06/26/2008, -1/+18more like 6%, but that still doesn't account for all of this construction. you've got to hand it to them. nearby Qatar is now the world's richest country per person in terms of GDP/capita, but they still can't seem to get anything done. One theory is that oil rich countries tend to become "spoiled" and think they don't need to do anything to make money since they already have it in the form of oil. Also their leaders become corrupt, which results in inefficient income distribution.
        • kickass911, on 06/26/2008, -2/+4the ruler here in Dubai would never become corrupt the ruling family is very responsible and does only what is best for the country.
          Beside 80% of the population is expats they would not be able to do anything with out our support even though the country is a monarchy.
      • aphexconspiracy, on 06/26/2008, -3/+3It's still oil. Dubai is a city in the United Arab Emirates, whose capital, Abu Dhabi, provide a lot of the funding, culminating from oil.
        • Paktu, on 06/26/2008, -1/+5Not true. The individual emirates have a great degree of autonomy and have separate economies. In fact, if you go to the UAE-Oman border, you would be greeted (or cavity searched, perhaps) by the Abu Dhabi Border Patrol, not the United Arab Emirates Border Patrol.
      • 808ethan, on 06/26/2008, -1/+4Yes tourism and blah blah blah.
        Where did they get the start up capital to make those industries?

        Oh yeah. Oil.
        • cryptomystic, on 06/26/2008, -2/+4Tourism? Who the hell goes to Dubai?
          It's a freakin' repressive Arab nation that is first off too hot and if you are caught kissing or even holding hands with your loved one in public you can be arrested and executed.
          Yup that's exactly where I want to spend my vacation.
        • Codwhy, on 06/26/2008, -0/+3the Ultra Rich base their business in Dubai because there are NO TAXES on corporations. this is why Halliburton headquarters are in Dubai.
        • diggrnumber1, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1halliburton hq is in houston
    • superman787, on 06/26/2008, -7/+2beat me to it. but yes, rich oil tycoons live there
    • Msoltanian, on 06/26/2008, -1/+4Funding? That's one week's paycheck for that whole project to one of those bad boys. No one funds anything in Dubai, everyone is just rich.
    • kosmoss, on 06/26/2008, -3/+22Every time you are at the gas pump, YOU fund it.
      • MadroxKran, on 06/26/2008, -1/+6I'd rather fund this than where my taxes are going.
    • 42Vindictive, on 06/26/2008, -1/+5You do realize that the rich live in the skyscrapers but the poor live down below right? Dubai has a very poor underlife that no one sees.
      • Paktu, on 06/26/2008, -0/+5I can confirm this is mostly true. The Indian/Pakistani laborers are not treated very well and live in poor conditions at their "labor camps".
      • stev31h, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1breaking news right here, theres rich AND poor in cities!
    • atish505, on 06/26/2008, -0/+10No it's not OIL as most people assume though OIL adds a lot to UAE economy. Dubai is one of the largest trade and logistics center, combined with tourism and entertainment.
    • dacjames, on 06/26/2008, -4/+6You stupid morons, less than %15 of our oil comes from the middle east (Canada >50, Mexico 30). Dubai runs on tourism of the super rich.
    • onlysoma, on 06/26/2008, -0/+5Dubai is also in a sort of Free Trade Zone, which attracts a lot of business. The funding comes from oil, but they're all investing it in tourism because they know the oil will lose profitability in the next 20 years.
    • josereyes0, on 06/26/2008, -0/+8Drainage! Drainage, Eli...
      • n88n, on 06/26/2008, -0/+3just watched that last night. I am not sure if I have ever seen a movie that left me that depressed afterwords. DDL is the man.

        say you are a false profit!
    • AbdullahAbuDawu, on 09/12/2008, -2/+1Selling out to capitalism
      • stinger666, on 06/26/2008, -1/+5They're arabs, not communists
        • AbdullahAbuDawu, on 09/12/2008, -0/+1Muslims. And Islam prevents the capitalist system.
  • Chainheart, on 06/26/2008, -3/+12Dr. Breen, you may want to see this...
  • Gbobrt4, on 06/26/2008, -10/+13This post seems very similar to..

    http://digg.com/environment/Construction_to_Start_ ...
    • Gbobrt4, on 06/26/2008, -2/+5Why is this being burried, this is an old post for people who read digg daily.
  • NathanCH, on 06/26/2008, -11/+6This is amazing. I thought the tallest building in the world would be good enough for one place. More concept images:

    http://www.flashindustries.com/forum/viewtopic.php ...
  • nobody98, on 06/26/2008, -5/+11wont it just make you feel ill?
    • Kristijan12, on 06/26/2008, -0/+5It is actually moving very slow.
      Nothing like animation.
      • IglooBurner, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1oh but how crazy would it be if it is just like the animation.
    • stev31h, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1or what if it actually spins counter to the earths axial rotation, counteracting the 360 degree rotation you make everyday, and therefore leaving you feeling even better then before? i smell a gold mine
  • Gndoab, on 06/26/2008, -5/+17I'm not sure what exactly the point of all these Ginormous buildings in Dubai is...

    When you look at London, or NYC, or Paris, or Tokyo, Or Seoul (so on and so forth), these cities have been around for hundreds of years...They were built up in response to need from the citizens there, not in hopes that if people build insane structures people will use them.

    This just seems kind of backwords.

    Edit: I saw a picture of dubai in the early 90's and there was almost *NOTHING* there..I'll try and post said picture in the reply if I can find it. My point is, the huge cities of the world have been built up over hundreds of years...doing it in 10 makes me wonder what will do for an economy?
    • mbauer14, on 06/26/2008, -0/+7they are trying the diversify the economy away from oil.
      • Gndoab, on 06/26/2008, -0/+5Yes I understand that, and I think the thing is an archectual marvel...what I don't understand is, if there was nothing there 10 years ago, and now the place has tripled in population, what does everyone do (Other than construction?)

        I.E. In New York and Paris, entire industries are centered: Fashion, technology, culture, etc.

        What is centered in Dubai that can make all of these huge projects sustainable?
        • regeya, on 06/26/2008, -0/+4DING DING DING, you win the prize!

          They hope to be the financial center of the Middle East. Seems to me the whole thing is a huge gamble, though for now it seems to be working for them. History shows what happens to boom towns, though.
        • Goldennova, on 06/26/2008, -0/+2So far Dubai is getting these amazing, expensive hotels and skyscrapers, so it seems as though Dubai is trying to attract businesses and tourists at the same time. A few years from now as people start moving away from oil we will see what happens to Dubai.
    • Gndoab, on 06/26/2008, -0/+14I can't find the picture, but this is the census stats from wikipedia

      18221 1,200 [50]
      19001 10,000 [51]
      19301 20,000 [52]
      19401 38,000 [50]
      19541 20,000 [50]
      19601 40,000 [53]
      1968 58,971 [54]
      1975 183,000 [55]
      1985 370,800 [56]
      1995 674,000 [56]
      2005 1,204,000
      1 The town of Dubai first conducted a census in 1968. All population figures in this table prior to 1968 are estimates obtained from various sources.

      The population has more than tripled in 20 years. I don't understand how it can be sustainable.

      Edit: here it is (It was featured on Digg nonetheless!)
      http://www.magicalurbanism.com/?p=125
    • Kristijan12, on 06/26/2008, -2/+1Testosterone, besides future business tourist strategy.
    • skeletor07, on 06/26/2008, -0/+5Dubai has nearly 75% of the world's population within a 5 1/2 hour flight of the city. It's the most brilliant place to build a global tourism hub in the world.
      • protodon, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1That would be true of any city in the vicinity, if it were true at all.
  • cambob76, on 06/26/2008, -13/+10I still don't understand why they are building all this stuff on an island that is going to be under water in a matter of years.
  • zohaibusman, on 06/26/2008, -8/+2now they have to define many angels to hit
  • thedinomeister, on 06/26/2008, -10/+23In future news: Moving Skyscraper collapses into a pile of ruble.
    • twtmc, on 06/26/2008, -4/+10In future news: Moving Skyscraper collapses into motionless pile of ruble.
      • elperegrino, on 06/26/2008, -0/+6*somebody* spell rubble correctly.
    • baylat, on 06/26/2008, -3/+4In future news: After adding self learning AI, Moving Skyscraper is now moving around destroying buildings.
    • rz8472, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1Damn, rubles aren't worth much right now after the Yeltsin Administration. I was hoping it would collapse into a pile of Euros.
  • neoian, on 06/26/2008, -9/+3If I see another story about the same damn tower again... I WILL ***** BRICKS!
    • a2fan, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1Yeah, this is ... #5 or #6. I've lost count.
  • akermani, on 06/26/2008, -12/+8this is embarrassing dubai, can you slow down please
  • funkafaction, on 06/26/2008, -11/+6well at least they can now move their buildings when they see a plan coming at them ;/
    • KidTechno, on 06/26/2008, -2/+3so wrong...
    • Gemfinder, on 06/26/2008, -0/+4A plan? Yeah, a code and two pair of plans.
      But what would they do if a PLANE came at them? ;)
    • EssPii, on 06/26/2008, -1/+2yet so right...
  • nastronomical, on 06/26/2008, -6/+4ok so getting pass the gimick of moving apts...how is it useful?
    • Gemfinder, on 06/26/2008, -1/+14Always-changing view.
      Easy to find your way home. "Yeah, I live in the shapeshifting tower. My next door neighbour is King Elric. He keeps his pet dragon up in the penthouse."
      • thecoolestguy, on 06/26/2008, -0/+3dugg for King Elric and his pet dragon.
    • cvindustries, on 06/26/2008, -0/+4Number of construction workers on site reduced by 85%. Ability to mass produce a self-sufficient building. Wind turbine between floors is about as green as a skyscraper gets.
    • TheCatsPants, on 06/26/2008, -1/+2can sell every apartment for the same price cos they all have the same view?
  • ixelr8, on 06/26/2008, -9/+4I wonder how much of our oil money went into this.
    • tonyDigger, on 06/26/2008, -3/+2700 million.. that is 5.2 million barrels of Crude, this weeks average price.
      BTW, they don't fix the price of Crude anymore.. Their Supply increase threat didn't even reduce the price.

      It is the wall street guys who fix the price now, for their greed.
  • JonnyMark, on 06/26/2008, -2/+222No offense, but you're gonna confuse a lotttta people when they're trying to face Mecca for prayers.
    • rheaume, on 06/26/2008, -1/+33Bloody brilliant sir
    • KingGorilla, on 06/26/2008, -1/+37That was ***** genius
    • 3amboo, on 06/26/2008, -2/+10Well said.
    • hapax, on 06/26/2008, -0/+36Gyroscopic prayer mat?
    • 1randomguyO8, on 06/26/2008, -4/+2Get a compass?
    • googooly, on 06/26/2008, -5/+6Holy *****, No one thought of that. George Carlin, is that you ? :*(
      • hapax, on 06/26/2008, -1/+5There'll probably be some sophisticated "mecca-tronics" to take care of that.
    • abushaikh, on 06/26/2008, -3/+1haha, thats genius
    • iqbal55, on 06/26/2008, -2/+4YOU should've been the designer, not that Italian guy
    • ninjacell, on 06/26/2008, -2/+3brilliant :)
    • iNunchuk, on 06/26/2008, -1/+2Well Done. Well Done Indeed.
    • InfiniteNothing, on 06/26/2008, -1/+4I wouldn't be surprised if 5 times a day the building is programmed so that most of the windows are perpendicular to Mecca
    • Noncentz, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1You my friend.... are a thinker
  • Mikhail101, on 06/26/2008, -6/+4Whats the point of all this, is this a point to show whos got the biggest metaphorical balls, better use could have been done with this money.
    • jascination, on 06/26/2008, -0/+12Its an apartment building whose power needs are entirely self supplied, so much so that he proposes it will even be able to feed more power into the grid. How is that not amazing?
      • regeya, on 06/26/2008, -6/+2Well, the money could have been used in oil-poor Islamic nations to build irrigation projects, desalination plants, etc. Instead it's being invested poorly in moving buildings, underwater restaurants, and animatronic Jurassic Parks.

        Granted, Americans would be doing it if they could, but we can't, so we can point fingers and act all pious ;-) In all seriousness, I question whether this is a good idea.
        • 1randomguyO8, on 06/26/2008, -1/+7Yes and the United States spends billions on its military, nuclear weapsons and its space program yet does not have any poor people.
      • guitarchitect, on 06/26/2008, -1/+0how is that true? far better buildings haven't accomplished the energy surplus yet - the numbers for this one are dodgy at best. I'm interested to see if this thing actually works, but I'm incredibly skeptical.
        • Codwhy, on 06/26/2008, -0/+4Wind Turbines..

          or do they not teach about Wind power in Guitarchitecture 101
    • UsablePuddle, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1It is a monumental step forward in green architecture, a lot of supposedly green buildings are not even capable of producing 20% of their own energy, this is a great way of showing the world that we can be green and not sacrifice everything.
  • sockpuppets, on 06/26/2008, -3/+4I think this would be cool for the first couple weeks of living there then get terribly annoying fairly quickly. Especially if you have kids running around constantly moving the view.
  • pimpbot1979, on 06/26/2008, -3/+4I hope they don't get tornadoes in Dubai or you'll have a lot of nauseous patrons.
  • tonyDigger, on 06/26/2008, -2/+6Saw this in the morning papers. An archictectural marvel or disaster? Looks ugly to me..
    National geographic had shown construction of a twin tower with wind turbines between the two towers..
    I guess here they are saying to fit the turbines between floors?
  • dhaugen, on 06/26/2008, -3/+3was i just trippin?
  • ninjasenses, on 06/26/2008, -2/+40"Im nauseous, Im nauseous, Im nauseous..."

    /roccos modern life
    • KaJuN4, on 06/26/2008, -1/+6Ah that brings back some good memories!
    • ego_slam, on 06/26/2008, -0/+2Someone stop the room, I want to get off!
    • deadmann, on 06/26/2008, -0/+2lmao, Jewish stereotypes I never picked up on.
  • RILWANK, on 06/26/2008, -6/+1I hate this Dubai frenzy *****... ***** Dubai. This is the same ***** America pulled in the turn of the century, promise foreign professions opportunity in a rapid expanding nation, and also promise many foreign blue collar workers jobs. This is the same ***** that spins around that whole global economy mess, and it's all funding by oil money, and other laundering. I will not praise anything of Dubai. Not one thing.
    • Paktu, on 06/26/2008, -0/+5Yeah, America really went downhill between 1900 and 2000. Between winning two world wars, a cold war, and becoming the planet's sole superpower, it's a wonder the USA still survives today.
      • regeya, on 06/26/2008, -2/+1Well, we were hardly the world's only superpower...well, not for long, at least. In all honesty, now that my home country isn't the sole power anymore, I can sleep better. I had nightmarish visions back when Russia collapsed of us electing a President that...well, I guess I had a vision of George W. Bush at that time, because most my predictions about Bush have come true.

        Now I just hope my prediction that we won't collapse in my lifetime will also come true ;-)
      • 1randomguyO8, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1Well it looks like China is filling in the gap left from the Soviet Union.
  • ryanscottdavis, on 06/26/2008, -4/+7"at voice command" ??

    how do you yell 360 degrees in Arabic?
    • RHA0, on 06/26/2008, -12/+6ALLAH AKBAR ALLAH AKBAR ALLAH AKBAR
      • AbdullahAbuDawu, on 09/12/2008, -0/+3Is that what that means? I had no idea why we say it all the time.
        • Foot56, on 06/26/2008, -2/+2You ever watch any lastest arabic terrorist movie flick they say that right before they kill someone. Allāhu Akbar, الله أكبر. Usually translated "God is great" or "God is [the] greatest,"
        • mr100percent, on 06/26/2008, -2/+1In seriousness, "Allahu Akbar" is a very common phrase used by Arabs and Muslims, more common than a Christian saying Hallelujah or "in the name of the father."

          It bothers me that Americans consider it a "terrorist phrase." Millions of American Muslims use it daily (it's part of the 5 daily prayers) and they reject terrorism. Does saying Hallelujiah automatically mean you're a right-wing Christian?
        • AbdullahAbuDawu, on 09/12/2008, -0/+1I say Allahu Ackbar at the least, 10 times per prayer, 20+ for the longest prayers, 5 times a day. At least!






          You're telling me it DOESN'T mean 360 degrees? WHAT HAVE I BEEN SAYING?!
        • mr100percent, on 07/07/2008, -0/+1Allahu Akbar means God is the Greatest.

          Literally it means God is Greater Than [Everything]
    • QuarterRican, on 06/26/2008, -8/+2Why do they call this the 360 tower? Because you turn 360 degrees and walk away.
      • sobe4u8k, on 06/26/2008, -1/+4360 degrees would put you facing the building again, i believe you are looking for 180 degrees.
        • QuarterRican, on 06/26/2008, -4/+1get troll'd harder plz.
        • Knowltey, on 06/26/2008, -0/+0(not literal here) he means that because the building is turning, you would actually rotate your body 360 degrees to turn 180 degrees in relation to the Earth
    • AbdullahAbuDawu, on 09/12/2008, -1/+6ثلاثماءه وستين درجة
      • XHashmeerX, on 06/26/2008, -0/+5Hopefully digging this reply won't make me out to be one of those guys who gets a tattoo in Chinese for it only to say "Flower Fairy."
  • Tenzy, on 06/26/2008, -1/+34Yes but is it an autobot or decepticon?
  • 2clone, on 06/26/2008, -11/+7Too bad it's in the middle of nowhere surounded by countries currently at war.

    Doubt anyone will be visiting soon.
    • 1randomguyO8, on 06/26/2008, -0/+5They probably get millions of tourism. That place is very popular and Turkey are both extremely popular tourism destinations.
      • hassanalbash, on 06/26/2008, -2/+4actually Dubai is among the safest places in the world........genius
    • mr100percent, on 06/26/2008, -0/+2That's like saying "Las Vegas is in the middle of nowhere, doubt anyone will be visiting soon."
  • trenchfever, on 06/26/2008, -8/+2Dubai: Prime attraction for douchebags
  • lukeb1222, on 06/26/2008, -0/+7I can't wait until somebody hacks the software the controls the turning - - talk about a huge (and fun?) target to hack.

    And maybe I'm missing something here... but wouldn't the motors used to turn the tower be pretty loud? I dunno, if I was paying millions of dollars for a spinning pre-fab condo, the last thing I want is to get woken up 'when nature feels like it' with my bed shaking to massive wind-drive motors.
    • badjoke, on 06/26/2008, -0/+4With all the money going into that thing, don't you think they'd throw in some noise dampening?
    • iticu, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1"Hey guys, I got a great idea; lets connect all this buildings software to the Internet!"
  • sourcitrus, on 06/26/2008, -1/+6"super freaking cool" is relative. If every building in dubai is "super freaking cool," it would be normal, which means nothing is amazing.
    • 1randomguyO8, on 06/26/2008, -1/+8If you're in a room surround by super hot half naked females would you think they are nothing special?
  • Astheria, on 06/26/2008, -2/+6"I call these buildings designed by time, shaped by life," said the Florence-based architect, who has never built a sky-scraper before.

    I bet this thing falls over.
  • Gemfinder, on 06/26/2008, -1/+2Nope, someone at Burning Man beat them to it. Remember Steam Victoria from a few years ago? A Victorian cottage, complete with witch-hat turret and widow's watch, on wheels, powered by a steam engine. They served high tea daily at 3:30.and went out for a jaunt across the Playa. Took the Mutant Vehicles concept to the level of Sheer Brilliance.
    The Dubai tower is still cool, though.
  • meltingcube, on 06/26/2008, -0/+2I don't think I would want to stay in a building that's constantly rotating, I would probably get sick after a while. Plus the cost of the apartments is a big turn off as well, especially for a building that generates its own power.
  • kkDonut, on 06/26/2008, -0/+16Enough with the UAE = oil *****!
    only 8% of there GDP is oil, the sheik in charge in the early 90's realized that they couldn't pull a profit off of oil forever, so they spent (and continue to) massive amounts on the tourism industry.
    • regeya, on 06/26/2008, -0/+4He just took a cue from other nations whose oil production is past peak...looking at my own country here. I hope for their sake that they're right about Sharia keeping their business people honest, because even our service sector has been stripped away and the banks have done their best to make the U.S. Dollar into Peso 2.0.
    • quail20, on 06/26/2008, -0/+4Dubai's biggest reason for growth is no taxes for companies. This resulted in a flood of corporations setting up their home base in Dubai, building impressive "look at me" structures, and creating the fastest growing economy on the planet.
  • krait, on 06/26/2008, -4/+6I'm no expert in the Muslim religion but are they going to be able to pray in that thing? How can you face Mecca in a moving building?
    • ThatGeek, on 06/26/2008, -0/+3it does stop you know. like, get a compass or something
  • sarchosis, on 06/26/2008, -1/+6As if working in a skyscraper isn't vomit-inducing enough, now they're putting a 'spin' on it.
    • Patrickdnj, on 06/26/2008, -1/+1Very..."PUNNY".....HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA





      Oh god, what is wrong with me.......
    • mr100percent, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1It looks like it will rotate very slowly
  • iDiggIt42, on 06/26/2008, -1/+163.7 to 36m? That's the broadest price range ever.
  • SWTN3SS, on 06/26/2008, -6/+1So is this what they are doing with the money we spend on gas?
  • tamupino, on 06/26/2008, -1/+10As an architect i am simultaneously delighted at the idea, and ecstatic that i'll never have to deal with the construction nightmare that building will surely become
  • tekpunk, on 06/26/2008, -5/+5um, why the hell does old stuff...ah f*ck it, not worth my time.
    • regeya, on 06/26/2008, -0/+3I know where you were going with that, and it made me LOL a little :->
  • TecK415, on 06/26/2008, -7/+2Yay for gas prices!! Woot woot.
  • ForebodenOdin, on 06/26/2008, -7/+2umm no ty...
  • Kristijan12, on 06/26/2008, -0/+4So you never get bored watching the city skyline.
  • Whiteknight117, on 06/26/2008, -0/+2I am envious of their skyscrapers I must say.
  • Fetching more discussions...
    Show 51 - 100 of 117 discussions
  •  

    Login or register to add a comment

    Create a new account or login to join in the conversation on Digg. You'll also be able to Digg stories to help promote things you like.


© Digg Inc. 2008 — Content posted by Digg users is dedicated to the public domain.
DIGG, DIGG IT, DUGG, DIGG THIS, Digg graphics, logos, designs, page headers, button icons, scripts, and other service names are the trademarks of Digg Inc.