The Burj Khalifa pierces the sky as the tallest building in the world. It symbolizes the modern ambition and engineering prowess of Dubai. Furthermore, it holds numerous world records beyond just its massive height. Consequently, this vertical city hides many secrets behind its shimmering glass facade. Explore these fascinating details about the desert giant.
Burj Khalifa
Burj Khalifa stands three times taller than the Eiffel Tower. Specifically, the structure reaches a staggering height of 828 meters. Therefore, it dwarfs almost every other skyscraper on the planet easily.
The design mimics a desert flower called the Spider Lily. Architects used the Hymenocallis flower to create the building’s unique Y-shaped foundation. This shape reduces wind forces on the tower significantly.
You can watch the sunset twice in one day. First, you watch it set from the ground level. Then, you rush up the elevator to see it set again from the top.
Muslims on higher floors fast longer during Ramadan. Because of the height, they can still see the sun after it sets on the ground. Thus, they must wait an extra two or three minutes to eat.
Cleaning the windows takes three months to complete. A team of 36 brave cleaners works tirelessly to wash the 24,000 windows. Immediately after they finish, they must start the process all over again.
The concrete used weighs as much as 100,000 elephants. Builders poured over 330,000 cubic meters of concrete to create the structure. This massive weight ensures the tower remains stable in the sand.
Burj Khalifa collects water from the air to water its gardens. The cooling system produces huge amounts of condensation in the humid climate. Smartly, the system recycles 15 million gallons of this water annually.
The temperature at the top is much colder than at the bottom. In fact, the summit is roughly 15 degrees Celsius cooler than the base. Consequently, you might need a jacket even on a hot day.
It holds the record for the highest occupied floor. People actually live and work at a height of 585 meters. Therefore, they look down on the clouds from their living room windows.
Giorgio Armani designed the hotel inside personally. The fashion icon created the interiors for the Armani Hotel Dubai. Interestingly, the hotel has no reception desk to make guests feel more at home.
The tip of the sphere is visible from 95 kilometers away. On a clear day, you can see the spire from a massive distance. This makes it a perfect beacon for travelers in the desert.
The elevators travel at a speed of 10 meters per second. They whisk visitors to the 124th floor in just one minute. Surprisingly, they are among the fastest elevators in the world.
The tower features more than 1,000 pieces of art. The developers commissioned artists from around the world to decorate the interiors. One lobby features a cymbal installation that sounds like falling water.
Burj Khalifa was originally named Burj Dubai. However, the developers changed the name at the last minute to honor Sheikh Khalifa. He provided crucial financial support to Dubai during the 2009 economic crisis.
Finally, the aluminum used equals the weight of five A380 aircraft. Construction crews installed immense amounts of metal to build the exterior cladding. This shiny skin reflects the heat and keeps the building cool.
