Burj Khalifa,
designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)
Burj Khalifa (read Burj Khalifa, Arabic: برج خليفة, also in Polish: Khalifa Tower), a structure located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is a skyscraper with a height of 828 meters, making it the tallest building in the world. Its name commemorates Sheikh Khalifa ibn Zajid Al Nahajjan, former president of the United Arab Emirates. The architectural design was created by the American {tag:Pracownia} studio, and construction was carried out by a consortium of Samsung Constructions, BESIX and Arabtec. The Burj Khalifa tower took over the title of world's tallest building from the Polish radio mast in Konstantynów, which measured 646 meters high.
innovative engineering approach
SOM architects and engineers developed advanced structural solutions to realize the construction of the tower's record height. The Burj Khalifa is constructed of reinforced concrete and covered with glass. The main structure is based on a central core, around which three wings are arranged, forming a Y-shaped projection. Each wing has its own concrete core and a system of perimeter columns, which ensures high rigidity and stability of the building.
Burj Khalifa (read Burj Khalifa) - the first floor projection resembles a Y-shape.
© Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)
intelligent arrangement of elements
As the height increases, the structure's wings gradually retract, reducing their mass and cross-section. This arrangement improves the stability of the tower and reduces the impact of wind forces. Thanks to the staggered arrangement used, the wind encountering each level encounters a different form of the building, ensuring that air vortices do not merge. In addition, this layout allows for optimal use of interior spaces and maximizes views of the city. In the upper levels of the building, the central core transitions into a slender spire, which emphasizes the vertical character of the building and exposes its height. This structure is optimized both functionally and aesthetically, combining advanced engineering with adaptation to local climatic conditions.
The Burj Khalifa (read Burj Khalifa) in Dubai was designed in detail early in the construction process
Photo by Nick Merrick | Hedrich Blessing © Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)
usable spaces
Inside the Khalifa Tower
The Burj Khalifa building, with more than 300,000 sq. ft. of usable space, was designed in detail early in the construction process. The lower floors of the structure house a hotel with interiors by Giorgio Armani, while the upper floors serve a variety of functions: office, retail and residential, offering luxury apartments. Observation terraces located on the top levels provide panoramic views of Dubai and the Persian Gulf.
Burj Khalifa (read Burj Khalifa) - cross-section of the building
© Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)
The first floor of the skyscraper is surrounded by public spaces designed with pedestrians in mind, including green spaces, water installations and promenades. Interior finish materials such as glass, stainless steel, dark stone and silver travertine have been carefully selected to ensure durability and sophistication. They are complemented by stucco, hand-woven carpets and Santos rose wood from Brazil, giving the spaces an atmosphere of comfort and exclusivity. What's more, the SOM studio has created a carefully selected art collection that includes more than 500 works by local and international artists.
The Burj Khalifa (read Burj Khalifa) in Dubai, at 828 meters high, is the tallest building in the world
Photo by Nick Merrick | Hedrich Blessing © Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)
design inspired by history and nature
The Burj Khalifa combines local cultural elements with modern technological solutions to achieve high performance in extreme desert conditions. Ribbons surrounding some floors of the facade reference geometric motifs of Islamic architecture, and the building's projection resembles the structure of the Hymenocallis (hymenoptera) desert flower.
sustainable engineering
In addition to its record-breaking height, the Burj Khalifa implements integrated solutions for MEP systems (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) to reduce environmental impact and material consumption. In turn, the building's curtain-type façade reduces insolation in summer, ensuring optimal thermal comfort.
The Burj Khalifa is not only the tallest building in the world, but also an example of architecture that integrates regional traditions with modern technology and innovative engineering solutions.
Elaborated: {tag:AuhorAiB}
Illustrations provided courtesy of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM).
