CONSTRUCTION & TECHNOLOGY

Last month's pyrotechnics-rich gala launch of the world's tallest building, Burj Khalifa, presented unique and unprecedented challenges to the production design team. At 828 metres tall, the Burj Khalifa represents a triumph of human engineering and a riposte to Dubai's recent band of critics.

Dubai home prices were down 8.2 per cent from March last year, the property firm reported. But prices have increased 2.1 per cent since October, including a slight 0.6 per cent bump in the first three months of the year, the property firm reported.

The 107-storey tower, billed to be the tallest residential building on earth, is likely to be ready by late next year in the city that is also home to the 823 metres wonder Burj Khalifa. The 414-metre tall Princess Tower in Dubai's high-profile Dubai Marina will be ready for delivery by fourth quarter of 2011, its constructor has said.

Work crews have completed the foundation for the world's second tallest building one month ahead of schedule and are now constructing the ground structure of the 632-metre Shanghai Tower, second only to the 828-metre-tall Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

The fireworks display on New Year's Eve at Burj Khalifa will be the highest in the world and will be guided by satellites, XPRESS can exclusively reveal. The visual extravaganza will be put together by a 120-member team of Prisme International, the company behind the show at the Burj Khalifa launch on January 4.

Lewis joined Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) LLP in 1986, beginning his career at the New York City firm as a designer, and is today a director. The 75-year-old firm is known for designing many of the world’s tallest and most complex structures including the recently completed 160-floor Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The Checkers kitchen is the third addition to Armani/Dada kitchen range, following its predecessors, Bridge & Calyx. True to the Giorgio Armani style, the design of Checkers is extremely simple, sober and linear language. Checkers is a functional kitchen, ordered and efficient in its technological apparatus and specialized appliances.

The Kingdom Holding Company approved the plan to build the USD 30 billion Kingdom Tower in Jeddah the tallest building on Earth that will stand one mile high. The Kingdom Tower will be nearly double the height of the existing tallest building on the planet, the 2,717 foot Burj Khalifa in Dubai. It will be erected in Obhur just outside of the port city Jeddah.

The world’s tallest building is to ‘go dark’ on March 27, in order to observe Earth Hour, the global initiative against climate change. Emaar Properties, developer of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, is to switch off the exterior lights of its landmark developments from 8.30pm to 9.30pm.

Metro commuters travelling on Emirates Airline flights can now check in 24 hours in advance at kiosks in three stations as the carrier extends services available at Dubai International Airport. Kiosks have been installed at the Mall of the Emirates, Burj Khalifa and Financial Centre stations. The self-service devices are expected to provide an added convenience and to reduce waiting time at the airport, Emirates officials said. Passengers will need their reservation code or ticket number to use the service, which will be available until two hours before departure.