Remember way back last May when we talked about the twirling tower that seemed, well, off the wall? Surprise, surprise, it is set to start construction in Dubai this month.
Each of the 59 floors of the tower will be able to rotate independently of each other, and in between them will be wind turbines to generate all the power needed to run the tower, plus, apparently, several others. The tower is expected to generate 10 times the power it needs through solar panels on the roof and 48 wind turbines, each of which are expected to generate as much as 0.3 megawatts of electricity, creating an estimated 1,200,000 kilowatt hours of energy annually. These are some seriously big numbers…and we’ll see how they pan out.
As for the construction, the floors will be made of 12 individual units all created in a factory and spit out fully complete, with plumbing, electrical, air conditioning and everything else in place. The floors will then be fitted to a concrete tower core According to architect David Fisher, designer of the building, this construction will make it highly earthquake resistant, as well as just plain neat to watch as folks push the button that makes their floor spin.
An international press conference is set for June 24 in
Via Inhabitat
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written by Clatyon, June 13, 2008
Where is this set to be constructed? It is difficult to take this article seriously and believe that it is legitimate when the author cannot even provide the most basic information, such as where is this being built, and by whom?
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written by Ken Roberts, June 14, 2008
What's to prevent the occupants of the building from feeling the rotation forces?
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written by jayef, June 14, 2008
For those of us who have BPV (Benign Positional Vertigo) this design is a NO GO.
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written by Kris, June 16, 2008
1) Clayton, try reading the whole article, not just the title.
2) I'm betting that the individual floors would have enough mass to move only very slowly, so BPV maaay not be an issue. At the very least, you shouldn't be able to feel the centri-petal/fugal (depending on your reference frame) force. I would think the turbines themselves would move much faster than the floors. It would just be an utterly impractical design otherwise.
2) I'm betting that the individual floors would have enough mass to move only very slowly, so BPV maaay not be an issue. At the very least, you shouldn't be able to feel the centri-petal/fugal (depending on your reference frame) force. I would think the turbines themselves would move much faster than the floors. It would just be an utterly impractical design otherwise.
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written by Steve Seri, June 16, 2008
This Guy Fisher has been talking about this for years. The same old images and hype. Just google rotating buildings and look at the date in the articles
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written by Py Bedgoo, June 16, 2008
The only reason the floors rotate is the novelty of changing your view. I applaud the idea that this thing generates more power than it uses, but I will be VERY impressed if it can achieve anything close to that!
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written by Chuck, June 16, 2008
Nope I will surely turn down a seven figure salary job on this building 
The world should look at less expensive and way less complex options like what's on this websitehttp://www.savegassaveearth.com when trying to save energy
The world should look at less expensive and way less complex options like what's on this websitehttp://www.savegassaveearth.com when trying to save energy
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written by theirritablearchitect, June 16, 2008
"...the novelty of changing your view..."
You got that right.
You got that right.
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written by Clatyon, June 16, 2008
When is this set to be constructed? It is difficult to take this article seriously and believe that it is legitimate when the author cannot even provide the most basic information, such as when is this being built, and for what?
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written by DJSauvage, June 16, 2008
Without the BPV market, they'll never sell enough floors!
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written by Wait to see!, June 16, 2008
How would it affect the people living in the building from all the EMF that's getting emitted from whatever units that generate and transport the electricity. Not even mentioning how it will affect other electrical and household units.
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written by ClatyonCantSpellHisName, June 16, 2008
When is this set to be constructed? It is difficult to take this article seriously and believe that it is legitimate when the author cannot even provide the most basic information, such as when is this being built, and for what?
"...to start construction in Dubai this month." and since the article date is set in June, that would be June. Please READ a little....just a little. Everytime you don't read an angel loses it's wings.
"...to start construction in Dubai this month." and since the article date is set in June, that would be June. Please READ a little....just a little. Everytime you don't read an angel loses it's wings.
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written by Ian, June 16, 2008
I can't see this having any more of a negative health effect then siting beside your cars alternator. Electromagnetic radiation emitted by generators is in the low frequency AC ranges, and has no negative health effects (due to it's low penetration depth in skin.
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written by Ben Stip, June 16, 2008
Seriously Clayton did you not read the artical at all?
Surprise, surprise, it is set to start construction in Dubai this month.
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written by wh, June 16, 2008
How much noise is produced when rotating your floor or your neighbor above you? Is there a 10PM curfew so if you try to rotate your view in the middle of the night, the system won't let you? Are the wind turbines noisy?
The best part about this is the concept of building most of it in a factory then assembling the pieces on site.
The best part about this is the concept of building most of it in a factory then assembling the pieces on site.
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written by dude, June 16, 2008
Wait to see! : In response to your comment. The people won't have to worry about anything because EMF has never been shown to hurt anyone anyway. So why don't you recede into your eco-wave and be eco-friendly and not use non-eco devices like your computer so we won't ever have to eco-hear from you again 
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written by chapeen, June 16, 2008
Am i the only, or anyone is just blindfolded.This city is just the same as what we call blood diamond,people dying for others greed, except that I would call this blood oil.
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written by Justin, June 16, 2008
How would the plumbing work? Would your turd spin around with you?
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written by Paranor, June 16, 2008
Dude.. there have been several studies done on the effects of EMF radiation and potential harm on the human physiology. Studies have shown there is a marked increase in mental disorders to people living in close proximity to power sub-stations and high-voltage power lines (running at 60Hz anyway). So don't say EMF doesn't do anything, we don't have all the info yet, but it's sure not looking good.
As for the plumbing, i think it would all be put within the floor section, then attacted to an "O-Ring" system which allows the connections from the floor to move independant, but sealed within this ring. At least that's the 1st logical method I can come up with
As for the plumbing, i think it would all be put within the floor section, then attacted to an "O-Ring" system which allows the connections from the floor to move independant, but sealed within this ring. At least that's the 1st logical method I can come up with
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written by jp, June 16, 2008
The linked article refers to "horizontal" wind turbines. Conventional wind energy vernacular takes that to mean "horizontal axis" systems, which are not illustrated. Instead, vertical axis Savonious-style blades are illustrated, which are never as efficient as propeller-style blades. Even giving them the benefit of several doubts, and assuming 70m diameter and 3m tall (scale being hard to judge), it might take a 50 mph wind to coax half the power they claim out of one of those turbines. 4000 hours of 50 mph winds is problematic itself. Double the diameter or height of a blade to cut the windspeed in half.
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written by Axel, June 16, 2008
Sounds impressive, but the generating power works out to 137 kW average. Just the air-conditioning energy demand will be way higher. The Dubaians will leave behind the most interesting ruins once the oil stops.
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written by Axiom, June 17, 2008
Don't let envy make you attempt to bad talk Dubai, I'm American, non-Muslim, and not arabic, and I am moving to Dubai as soon as I get the chance. I have a friend moving over there later this year. Face it, America has nothing compared to Dubai. An from the looks of it, will have a lot less.
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written by jason, June 17, 2008
As an American in Dubai, I have to disagree with you Axiom. There is nothing in Dubai that is not equally and as easily available in the US. I guess they like to build more impressive buildings than the US, but thats about it.
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written by Andrew, June 19, 2008
Axel - It seems very likely doesn't it... As an architecture student I've discussed the developments in Dubai in a few classes; some professors say the Dubaians may become international leaders in sustainable design, or at least they could foot the bill. Personally, I think they're more interested in building large aw-striking towers, and oh yea, they spin and generate electricity so it's good for the environment. Right... Once they've spent who knows how many billions, maybe trillions of dollars from oil revenue, we'll see if they can sustain their city on tourism...
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written by b, June 24, 2008
haahhahahahhahahahahah wooooo cares people!~ get all worked up over something ou'll never see!
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written by Hyder Alamgir, June 28, 2008
All those who think that this project is not feasible have no idea of what Dubai is... the world's tallest building is being built in Dubai. It's already the tallest and still in construction. A taller building than the one under construction is already being planned. It's speculated to be around 1.4 KM tall. The current one is expected to rise to 800m. Dubai's building the world' largest metro and the world's largest airport... in fact, an airport city. Dubai already has the world's only 7-star hotel, the world's only undersea hotel, the world's largest indoor ski resort... and plenty more... need sources, lookup google... Dubai is everywhere!
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written by Hyder Alamgir, June 28, 2008
All those who think that this project is not feasible have no idea of what Dubai is... the world's tallest building is being built in Dubai. It's already the tallest and still in construction. A taller building than the one under construction is already being planned. It's speculated to be around 1.4 KM tall. The current one is expected to rise to 800m. Dubai's building the world' largest metro and the world's largest airport... in fact, an airport city. Dubai already has the world's only 7-star hotel, the world's only undersea hotel, the world's largest indoor ski resort... and plenty more... need sources, lookup google... Dubai is everywhere!
And for anyone wondering if they'd be buyers for this luxury... the Burj Dubai... world's tallest building under construction was sold out in 8 HOURS!
And for anyone wondering if they'd be buyers for this luxury... the Burj Dubai... world's tallest building under construction was sold out in 8 HOURS!
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written by Hyder Alamgir, June 28, 2008
And for anyone wondering if they'd be buyers for this sort of luxury... the Burj Dubai... world's tallest building under construction, was sold out in 8 HOURS!
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written by Q-Con, June 30, 2008
Greetings from Qatar - as for the dubai story - it's just amazing, they seem to be pushing the boundares of physics with this one - i am very sceptical but will be very happy if they actualy can make it work.
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written by gbettanini, July 17, 2008
I'm deeply skeptical about the energy production of the building which is overstimated of around 50 times. But the design is quiet good and the technical problems for plumbing, electricity etc in my opinion are resoluble. For the plumbing i would make two tanks one for fresh water and one for stained water on the moving part of the house, i would put eight or sixteeen columns with fresh water/dark waters in the concrete core. The tanks will be provided with a computerized valve and a flexible pipe only a few meters long that will connect to the nearest water column when the movement of the floor ends. For electricity i's only a problem of electromagnetic coupling and induction, two halves of a little transformer can be holded few millimeters apart, one half on the moving part of the house, the other half on the fixed part of the house. This system will have only a few more losses than a solid transformer. For electical supply you can use in a simpliest way brush contacts. For internet: wireless. No gas, only induction cooking devices.
Bye
GB
Bye
GB
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written by Engineer Boy, September 22, 2009
How to you evacuate in the case of a fire? HHMM
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written by Rather go to the moon, October 18, 2009
I enjoy building things too especially new stuff. I remember when we were building the World Trade Center. My co-workers said there was not way the towers could ever be knocked down. I said just wait till one floor falls and see what happens. They laughed. What's going to happen when someone decides to fly a plane in the side of this thing?
Stranger things have happened.
Country and proud of it.
Stranger things have happened.
Country and proud of it.
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