Burj Al Arab Jumeirah

Led by the architect Tom Wright, Atkins designed a high-tech building to resemble the billowing sail of a traditional Arab ‘dhow’ or yacht.

Despite its height, 39% is made up of non-occupyable space, and the building has faced criticism because of its ostentatious levels of opulence and a favouring of style over function. Notwithstanding this however, since officially opening in December 1999, the Burj al Arab has succeeded in its aim of becoming an iconic symbol of Dubai.

Design and construction

The building’s layout is in the form of two wings spread in a V-shape, creating a ‘mast’ and enclosing a massive atrium. The façade is covered with two layers of architectural fabric, separated by 60 cm, in order to filter out excessive heat and sunlight.

Each of the 202 hotel suites consists of two levels, with a curved façade and balcony on the upper floor. These were prefabricated and installed on site into the concrete structure. To achieve adequate stiffness, giant metal trusses with a triangular section, each measuring 85 m long, were used on the exterior side walls. These have the effect of diagonally bracing the two side trusses and the large concrete ‘mast’. These trusses can expand and contract by up to 5 cm in a day, and to accommodate this a special steering linkage rod had to be designed.