While major projects in New York City such as the Moynihan Station, Ground Zero, and the Atlantic Yards have trouble getting off the ground, the Middle East seems to show no hesitation in reaching for the stars and building astonishing high-rise developments.
An article by Barry Wigmore in today's edition of London's Daily Mail, for example, reported that "Plans for a mile-high tower in the Saudi Arabian desert have been unveiled by the billionaire owner of London's Savoy Hotel."
The article said that Prince al-Walid bin Talal, who bought the Savoy in 2005 for 1.25 billion pounds, is planning the mixed-use skyscraper for a new city near Jeddah, the second largest city in Saudi Arabia, and that the project is estimated to cost 5 billion pounds.
The prince's company, Riyadh-based Kingdom Holdings, has set up a joint venture with the London firms Hyder Consulting and Arup. The article noted that construction of the tower will rely heavily on helicopters and to resist winds it will have a "damper" and two towers, each more than 700 feet high will be erected at its flanks and connected by skywalks to provide more stabilization.
The world's tallest tower now under construction is in Dubai where it is estimated it will be topped out at about 2,300 feet.
An article by Barry Wigmore in today's edition of London's Daily Mail, for example, reported that "Plans for a mile-high tower in the Saudi Arabian desert have been unveiled by the billionaire owner of London's Savoy Hotel."
The article said that Prince al-Walid bin Talal, who bought the Savoy in 2005 for 1.25 billion pounds, is planning the mixed-use skyscraper for a new city near Jeddah, the second largest city in Saudi Arabia, and that the project is estimated to cost 5 billion pounds.
The prince's company, Riyadh-based Kingdom Holdings, has set up a joint venture with the London firms Hyder Consulting and Arup. The article noted that construction of the tower will rely heavily on helicopters and to resist winds it will have a "damper" and two towers, each more than 700 feet high will be erected at its flanks and connected by skywalks to provide more stabilization.
The world's tallest tower now under construction is in Dubai where it is estimated it will be topped out at about 2,300 feet.
Architecture Critic
Carter Horsley
Since 1997, Carter B. Horsley has been the editorial director of CityRealty. He began his journalistic career at The New York Times in 1961 where he spent 26 years as a reporter specializing in real estate & architectural news. In 1987, he became the architecture critic and real estate editor of The New York Post.
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