Kingdom Tower

photo courtesy of AS+GG and CNN                                                                                                    

Kingdom Tower

Imagine you were on a plane and suddenly you see a shard like thing protruding above the clouds. That, my friends, is the Kingdom Tower.

I used to be a jogger back in the days and from experience, one kilometer is a breeze and most joggers can do it in less than 8 minutes, now imagine one kilometer, vertical. Yes, this super skyscraper will be the first to ever reach 1,000 meters, due to be completed to the latest 2020.

The total construction spans to about 530,000 square meters and is located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. it is a mixed-use building that provides a luxury hotel, apartments and office space. 

Along with other features, it will have the world's highest observatory. Overlooking the Red Sea, the terrace, which will be located on the 157th floor, will have partially glassed flooring with a view of the bottom as well. People with a fear of heights should not even dare enter this 

building.

The tower will also contain the world's highest elevator track. Reaching a record of 660 meters, it travels at 10 meters per second that allows visitors as well to access the tower's observation deck.

photo courtesy of AS+GG and CNN

photo courtesy of AS+GG and CNN

did I mention you could VIP an elevator with your phone as soon as you exit your car?

Adrian Smith, the architect of this wonder, was also responsible in designing the Burj Khalifa, currently the tallest building. Hence you will be able to see the similarities between the two: a sleek, streamlined form with a petal shaped base that resembles a desert flower.

photo courtesy of AS+GG and CNN

photo courtesy of AS+GG and CNN

the tower is shaped to counter gale winds, temperature increases and saltwater effects

photo courtesy of AS+GG and CNN

The glass curtain wall and wavy shape enforces the building's aesthetics 

photo courtesy of skyscrapercity

Sources:

CNN, 'Real high tech: how will the elevators work in the world's tallest building?' :

edition.cnn.com/2014/07/01/world/meast/kingdom-tower-how-will-the-elevators-work/

Architizer, 'Kingdom Tower' : 

architizer.com/projects/kingdom-tower-1/

Google Images